lacergunn t1_isk8yp9 wrote on October 16, 2022 at 4:51 PM

Reply to comment by The-Last-Lion-Turtle in Australian research finds cost-effective way to recycle solar panels | Recycling by DrDaleks

If it's in groundwater, you can harvest the metals back up by engineering plants with genes from the ZIP family.

ZIP genes are responsible for metal uptake in plants, and with proper modification they can be made to pull raw metals out of groundwater, both repairing the local ecosystem and allowing the metals to be harvested for further use.

I really need to put a lab together.

WetNoodlyArms t1_iskas89 wrote on October 16, 2022 at 5:03 PM

Can I come work in your lab when you're up and running? Sounds fun.

I'm off to research ZIP genes

The-Last-Lion-Turtle t1_iskiwrb wrote on October 16, 2022 at 5:53 PM

Heavy metals or just typical ones like iron and copper?

lacergunn t1_iskj67n wrote on October 16, 2022 at 5:55 PM

Heavy metals, yeah. Silver, mercury, lead, nickel, cadmium, there's even a few naturally occurring species that can pick up Uranium

The-Last-Lion-Turtle t1_iskjz7r wrote on October 16, 2022 at 6:00 PM

Neat

I assume it's still easier to prevent the pollution than clean it up.