Sustainable carbon-negative biomining-coupled biofuel production using genetic engineered Acidithiobacillus ferridurans

Summary: Jinjin primarily works on a project that harnessing a CRISPR/Cas9 system to genetically engineer Acidithiobacillus ferridurans JAGS for better biomining performance. My proposed project is about utilization of genetic engineered A. ferridurans JAGS in biomining-coupled biofuel production. We believe this research holds the promise to “kill three birds with one stone”: (1) using pyrrhotite (PO, Fe1−xS, x = 0-0.125) tailings as a mineral resource to prevent acid mine drainage production; (2) bioleaching Nickel from PO tailings; (3) fixing CO2 and using energy in PO tailings to produce alkenes. These would generate benefits for economics, environment, and climate, and meet the climate positive energy goals.