Bioleaching for Critical Minerals and Carbon Sequestration
Location
Havener Center, Miner Lounge / Wiese Atrium, 9:30am-11:30am
Start Date
4-1-2026 9:30 AM
End Date
4-1-2026 11:30 AM
Presentation Date
April 1, 2026; 9:30am-11:30am
Description
Critical minerals have received increased attention recently because they are essential for economic stability, modern technology, and national security. These minerals are scarce due to supply chain risks and limited alternatives. Bioleaching has emerged as a promising method of critical mineral recovery due to its low cost and low environmental impact. Our project seeks to utilize bioleaching to extract critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, and nickel found in chalcopyrite. We are also interested in solubilizing silicate minerals using microbial weathering and have isolated strains which can scavenge magnesium from olivine and serpentine minerals.
Biography
Brady Carlson is a senior at Missouri S&T majoring in Environmental Engineering. He has a strong passion for helping others and was drawn to the field by a desire to create sustainable solutions that improve communities. Brady was particularly interested in undergraduate research as a way to gain valuable professional experience while working on solving real world issues. Bioleaching for critical minerals is a project he began this semester, and he is eager to explore its potential and future applications.
Logan Williamson is a senior in Environmental Science and Economics. He is currently a Senior Resident Assistant and the Treasurer of the Birding Club here on campus. His research specializes in bioremediation, specifically PFAS remediation and biomining. Logan plans on getting his masters in Environmental Policy or Environmental Health and Safety. He has been working on a personal project consisting of a pollinator garden in Schumann Park and is planning on planting this spring! He is excited to share his research at this conference!
Meeting Name
2026 - Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Second Department
Economics
Document Type
Poster
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
event
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2026 The Authors, All rights reserved
Bioleaching for Critical Minerals and Carbon Sequestration
Havener Center, Miner Lounge / Wiese Atrium, 9:30am-11:30am
Critical minerals have received increased attention recently because they are essential for economic stability, modern technology, and national security. These minerals are scarce due to supply chain risks and limited alternatives. Bioleaching has emerged as a promising method of critical mineral recovery due to its low cost and low environmental impact. Our project seeks to utilize bioleaching to extract critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, and nickel found in chalcopyrite. We are also interested in solubilizing silicate minerals using microbial weathering and have isolated strains which can scavenge magnesium from olivine and serpentine minerals.
Comments
Advisor: Hunter Schroer, hwsr56@mst.edu