Biological Metal Extraction

Evaluate alternative biological methods of metal extraction, such as bacterial bioleaching and phytoextraction.
Explain how phytomining uses plants to absorb metal compounds from low-grade ores, which are then harvested and burned to produce a metal-rich ash.
Explain how bioleaching uses bacteria to produce leachate solutions containing concentrated metal compounds.
Understand that these biological methods avoid the environmental impacts of traditional mining, such as digging, moving, and disposing of large amounts of rock.
Describe how metal compounds obtained through biological methods are processed to extract the pure metal (e.g., obtaining copper by displacement with scrap iron or by electrolysis).
Evaluate the environmental implications and viability of applying these biological sciences to secure scarce resources like copper.

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