Welcome to this installment of Quandary This! Chemistry in the News. In today’s article, we will look at the ways in which precious metals can be “grown” in plants and extracted later.
Nickel is a crucial component in many modern technologies. It’s necessary to make everything from stainless steel appliances to electric vehicle batteries and aircraft. As demand for these and other innovations grows, so does the need for nickel. In fact, the International Energy Agency estimates that global demand for nickel will double between 2023 and 2040. Experts warn that we could face a significant nickel shortage as early as 2030.
Adding to the urgency, traditional nickel mining operations often come with serious environmental concerns and human rights issues. Yet, with no sign that demand will slow—given nickel’s widespread use—exploring sustainable alternatives is becoming increasingly important.
One promising solution comes in the form of an approach known as phytomining. A pioneering company is now using a special plant to extract nickel directly from the soil. Not only is phytomining potentially more environmentally friendly, but it also offers the possibility of expanding to other valuable metals in the future.
As industries search for cleaner and more ethical sources of essential materials, innovations like phytomining may play a key role in shaping the future of resource extraction.
Below are several types of questions that can be assigned to students at various levels of study.
Jump to Section:
General Questions (appropriate for all students)
Challenge 1: Literature Research
Challenge 2: Essay Investigation
Challenge 3: In-Depth Analysis
Suggested Reading
General Questions
Answer the following questions, using the C&EN article “Metalplant farms nickel instead of mining it” or another source of your choice.
- What makes O. chalcidica more useful than other plants in capturing nickel?
- What is phytomining?
- Aside from removing nickel from the ground, what is another benefit that Metalplant’s phytomining provides?
- Bioremediation is a process where a biological system is used to remove pollutants from the environment. If using plants to grow precious metals were used as bioremediation instead, what kind of site would you select to use this method?
- What are some concerns that scientists must think about when using plants as bioremediation?
Challenge 1: Literature Research
For Teaching Professionals: The following questions are intended to help students learn the critical skill of searching trusted sources of information, such as peer-reviewed literature, to find answers to specific questions. We encourage instructors to assign these questions to students enrolled in any introductory chemistry lab or lecture. By using literature to find the answers, students will learn to search and consume trusted scientific content with the intention of uncovering specific information. The grading is up to you, but we strongly recommend holding students accountable for presenting a clear answer to each question and accurately tying that answer to a properly cited source.
Prompt: For each of the following questions, provide an answer and cite the source of your information in ACS style. You can view citation examples and guidance in the ACS Style Quick Guide.
All the questions posed below can be answered in the journals, books, and news published by ACS Publications. While it is not the only reputable source of peer-reviewed information, the Suggested Reading list below may help you answer most, if not all, of these questions. Make sure you are logged in to your institution's library portal if you wish to search for additional sources on the ACS Publications website. (Note: not all articles deal with nickel directly. You can still use them as a reference for theoretically extracting nickel.)
- What is a test that can determine the amount of metal in a plant and in what part of the plant it has accumulated?
- In which part of the plant does most of the nickel accumulate?
- What is an effective method of refining metal out of biochar?
- What is one method of improving metal removal efficiency?
- What is the chemical structure or formula of the product resulting from the refining method you chose in question 3?
Challenge 2: Essay Investigation
For Teaching Professionals: The following essay question is intended to help students go one step beyond simple question and answer research. This exercise encourages students not only to consider multidisciplinary exploration around a topic but also to develop written communication skills. As with other questions in this series, the grading is up to you, but we encourage you to help students develop a clear and concise style. Where possible, utilize chemical drawing utilities or neat handwritten molecules and mechanisms. The ideal answer should take no more than one sheet of paper. The ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication can be a great reference.
Prompt: As metallic waste increases over time due to consumers’ upgrades, what are the environmental and health impacts of these waste products as they make their way into our lives again via routes like watershed contamination or erosion? Identify one or more pervasive pollutants. Provide an exploration of the contaminant, the mechanism of contamination, and the mechanical or biological mechanisms of the structures it attacks.
Challenge 3: In-Depth Analysis
For Teaching Professionals: The following question will challenge students to uncover understanding around the business and legal implications of technological advance. This challenge is helpful for anyone who wants to build depth of thinking and understanding around the real-world circumstances involved in the application of technology. This may include business students, journalism students, and students interested in studying business or intellectual property law.
Prompt: The patent for phytomining cites many research articles, including an ACS Publications article by Kumar et al. Given that patents are designed to secure ownership of novel discoveries and patent citations typically paint the landscape of “prior art” to demonstrate that their discovery is novel, what claim does the patent make that could be considered an advance upon the discoveries outlined in this article? (Hint: view the citation list to find the article.)
Suggested Reading
Simultaneous Hyperaccumulation of Nickel, Manganese, and Calcium in Alyssum Leaf Trichomes
Ground-Breaking and Safe Recycling of Hazardous Hyperaccumulators
Nickel Hyperaccumulator Biochar as a Ni-Adsorbent and Enhanced Bio-ore
Metalplant farms nickel instead of mining it
If you encounter content that is not free to read, please ensure you are logged into your institution’s library portal. If you still are unable to access the content you need, please recommend the content to your library or contact them directly to let them know there are articles you’d like to read.
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