Glycomyces Lithiumensis Strain for Biological Lithium Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lithium extraction methods are inefficient, time-consuming, and environmentally harmful due to the use of toxic materials, leading to low economic feasibility and potential environmental contamination.

Innovation Solution

Utilization of a modified bacterial strain, Glycomyces lithiumensis (ECO002), to extract, produce, and amplify lithium from various substrates, including agriculture crop residues, oil, gas, and frac water, by inoculating the substrates with the bacteria and allowing them to colonize and grow, followed by harvesting the lithium using anodic and cathodic LED generators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If acid treatment and ion exchange methods are used to extract lithium, then lithium can be recovered from substrates, but the process takes significantly long time and has low efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelithium recovery amountVSAvoidextraction time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the extraction mechanism from chemical ion exchange to biological uptake. The modified bacteria express high-affinity lithium transporters (such as Trk operon proteins) that enable rapid lithium concentration from substrates, reducing extraction time from days/weeks to hours while maintaining high recovery amounts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical ion exchange system with a biological system. Bacteria with engineered lithium transporters actively pump lithium ions into their cells, substituting the slow passive ion exchange process with an active biological transport mechanism that operates much faster.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Quantity of substance

If acid treatment is used to recover lithium ions, then lithium extraction is achieved, but toxic materials cause environmental contamination and system corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelithium recovery amountVSAvoidenvironmental contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful acid treatment process into a beneficial biological process. Instead of using corrosive acids that contaminate the environment, the system uses engineered bacteria that naturally uptake lithium through cellular transport mechanisms, eliminating toxic chemicals while maintaining effective lithium recovery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces bacteria as an intermediary between the lithium-containing substrate and the recovery process. The bacteria serve as a biological mediator that selectively concentrates lithium from the substrate through their cell membranes and transporters, replacing the direct chemical extraction method with an indirect biological mediation that avoids toxic materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If traditional ion exchange methods are used, then lithium can be extracted, but the process requires toxic acids for post-treatment causing corrosion and environmental issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelithium extraction amountVSAvoidsystem corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the harmful post-treatment acid extraction step by using bacteria that have already concentrated lithium within their cells. The lithium is recovered from the bacterial biomass through benign processes such as thermal lysis or controlled cell disruption, replacing the corrosive acid treatment with non-corrosive recovery methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method enables efficient and environmentally friendly extraction and amplification of lithium from diverse substrates, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods by providing a stable and cost-effective process.

Implementation Method 1

contacting a substrate having trace amounts of lithium with a composition comprising an isolated modified bacterial strain Glycomyces lithiumensis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiological accumulation: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the bacterial strain... has the ability to extract, produce and/or amplify lithium from various substrates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiological transmutation:

Implementation Method 3

using an anodic and cathodic LED having a wavelength generator set at a range of 100 Hz-200 KHz in the liquid substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLED light emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS20250297210A1Compositions and methods for biological production and harvest of lithium

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 ECOBIOME HLDG LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an isolated Glycomyces lithiumensis (ECO002) strain deposited at the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection under the Accession number NRRL No. B-68190 according to the Budapest Treaty. The disclosed newly discovered and mutated bacterial strain is useful in lithium extraction, production, and amplification. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to a novel microorganism useful to extract, produce and/or amplify lithium from a substrate.