https://video.igem.org/videos/watch/f1577482-66a1-4c62-bdfc-4a83542c1ccc Title: Bioprinted ElectroMining: Engineered Microbes Trapped in 3D-Bioprinted Hydrogels for EV Battery Metal Recovery Description: As electric vehicles grow in number, demand for battery metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel is rising fast. Simultaneously, many used EV batteries require safe recycling. Current recovery methods rely on strong acids, high temperatures, and energy-intensive processes, producing secondary waste and contamination risks. Our project, Bioprinted ElectroMining, offers a cleaner recovery method using synthetic biology and 3D bioprinting. We design novel multi-domain metal-binding proteins that selectively capture lithium, cobalt, and nickel from battery leachate and release them under controlled conditions for high-purity recovery. These proteins are produced by engineered microbes immobilized within 3D-bioprinted hydrogels, forming a contained, non-contaminating biological filter. The 3D-bioprinted structure acts as a reusable microfluidic device, controlling flow, contact time, washing, capture, and elution. This system aims to be safer, reusable, easier to separate, and less contaminating, creating a selective bioremediation platform with less chemical waste and better control than conventional methods. Official Page Sat, 29 Aug 2026 17:17:21 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://video.igem.org https://video.igem.org/client/assets/images/icons/icon-1500x1500.png https://video.igem.org/videos/watch/f1577482-66a1-4c62-bdfc-4a83542c1ccc All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://video.igem.org/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.