The Week: Bacteria Turns Toxic Chemicals into Pure Gold

[Ellis]

In case you're wondering, this is how I made my millions...

Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered bacteria with the remarkable ability to turn toxic chemical compounds into 24-karat gold. The breakthrough, detailed in a combination art and biotechnology exhibition called "The Great Work of the Metal Lover," is described by researcher Adam Brown as modern day "neo-alchemy." Here's what you should know:

What is this bacteria, exactly?

The microbe, Cupriavidus metallidurans, possesses the unique ability to survive in extremely toxic environments. A few years ago, researchers discovered the bacteria growing on gold nuggets at two separate sites hundreds of miles apart in Australia. That got scientists thinking: Does this bacteria just happen to live in the vicinity of gold, or do they actually create gold?

Well... do these bacteria actually turn chemicals into gold?

Yes. Kazem Kashefi, assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, and Adam Brown, associate professor of electronic art and intermedia, discovered that C. metallidurans could grow and prosper if placed on gold chloride, an otherwise worthless yet toxic chemical. Using a portable laboratory made out of the bacteria, a glass bioreactor, and 24-karate gold-plated hardware, the team continually fed the bacterium "unprecedented amounts of gold chloride," says R&D Mag. Not only were the bacteria extraordinarily resistant to gold chloride's toxicity, but in about a week, they converted the toxic chemical into 99.9 percent pure gold. The details are a bit complicated, says Jesus Diaz at Gizmodo, but basically, "Cupriavidus metallidurans can eat toxins and poop out gold nuggets."

What does this mean for gold production?

Although the Michigan State University experiment was successful, it could be "cost prohibitive to reproduce [this] experiment on a larger scale," says R&D Mag. So don't expect to grow your own gold at home anytime soon.

Sources: Biofuel Digest, Gizmodo, R&D Mag, Science Daily

http://theweek.com/article/index/234341/the-bacteria-that-turns-toxic-chemicals-into-pure-gold?fb_action_ids=10151115492381144%2c10151115384691144&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7b%2210151115492381144%22:288960877871305%2c%2210151115384691144%22:440335042670862%7d&action_type_map=%7b%2210151115492381144%22:%22og.likes%22%2c%2210151115384691144%22:%22og.likes%22%7d&action_ref_map=%5b%5d

[CrypticVillain]

Talk about dirty money.....

[dfitzo53]

So it doesn't turn "toxic chemicals" into gold, it turns one toxic compound that already contains gold into pure gold.

Not that I expected it to magically change one element into another, but this doesn't seem all that useful unless gold chloride is something that is either naturally occuring in significant quantities, or the byproduct of processes we're already using.

[Ellis]

correct.....

Gold Chloride is created naturally on earth. This bacteria essentially separates the molecule and consumes the chlorine element, leaving behind 99.9% pure gold.

extra links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold(III)_chloride

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121002150031.htm

I find it interesting that no article has pointed out where in the world Gold(III) Chloride can be found. It takes exceptional conditions for gold to be dissolved in nature and the only things I've found suggest that all neutral waters (meaning, bodies of water that lack acidity) will not dissolve the water. I would say that Gold Chloride probably occurs in hotspots or extreme areas in the deep sea where acidic water spews from the sea floor.