A copper removal process for water based upon biosynthesis of yersiniabactin, a metal-binding natural product

Selective metal removal from aqueous samples has wide-spanning environmental applications as well as implications in precious or rare metal recycling. In this work, a heterologous biosynthetic system was used to produce the natural product yersiniabactin (Ybt) for incorporation into a metal removal water treatment operation. Specifically, Ybt was adsorbed to resin within a packed-bed column prototype to continuously remove copper from water samples with results that included: 1) >80% removal capability; 2) variation in removal across pH levels, providing an opportunity for in situ resin regeneration and metal recovery; 3) selective removal from a copper-zinc mixture; and 4) application to environmental field water samples. In summary, the combined biosynthetic and recovery processes offer an alternative opportunity for selective removal of copper and other metals contaminating water samples.