Spatial and chemical characterization of metal-enriched cells

We aim to study a new biotechnological process based on metal biosorption by cyanobacteria and valorization of metal-enriched organic materials (e.g., catalysts). Since heterogeneous systems like biomaterials may provide multiple binding or accumulation sites for metals, nano-XRF and nano-XANES measurements may increase the knowledge of the uptake mechanisms as well as characterize the materials obtained at the end of the process at a lower spatial scale providing information on localization, accessibility and properties of the metals. We will study the location and the chemical forms of three different metals in 7 samples comparing multi-metal interactions and evaluating the effect of a sequential addition of metals since we have already observed a positive effect on Cu uptake by Zn and Ni. ID21 beamline has all the characteristics for a successful turnout of the experiment: a nano-SXM for 2D nano-XRF and nano-XANES ( 2-11 keV) that can be used in vacuum and cryo conditions.