Interactions of phosphate solubilising microorganisms with natural rare-earth phosphate minerals: a study utilizing Western Australian monazite

Many microbial species are capable of solubilising insoluble forms of phosphate and are used in agriculture to improve plant growth. In this study, we apply the use of known phosphate solubilising microbes (PSM) to the release of rare-earth elements (REE) from the rare-earth phosphate mineral, monazite. Two significant aspects are explored: the interaction of PSM with monazite and the resultant bioleaching efficiency. By utilizing an array of experiments, we aimed to delineate the influence of various microbial strains on the liberation of REEs from the matrix of monazite. The results indicate that the effectiveness of solubilisation is contingent upon the specific PSM employed as well as the monazite’s structural and compositional attributes. This study provides critical insights into the potential of utilizing biological methods for the recovery of valuable REEs from complex mineral sources, ultimately contributing to sustainable mining practices and enhancing resource availability for high-tech applications. Further investigations are warranted to optimize conditions for maximal REE extraction using microbial processes.