Microalgas y elementos químicos clave en la industria energética.I. El caso del litio : captura y fraccionamiento. II. Diversidad y adaptación exitosa : el caso del uranio

Résumé

Human activities have created disruptions in terrestrial systems. There is a great loss in biodiversity, water bodies acidification, eutrophication and global warming. The changes are such that the term “Anthropocene” was coined to refer to the current geological time. The future is unclear, but it is predicted that many ecosystems will be affected. Primary producers are the foundation of ecosystems. Within primary producers, microalgae - photosynthesizing microorganisms -, are relevant due to their ubiquity, diversity and ecological importance. Furthermore, with respect to climate change they are a great help since microalgae capture carbon dioxide while growing. Since the Industrial Revolution, humankind has emitted to the atmosphere massive amounts of carbon caused by the fossil fuel combustion to obtain energy, provoking an imbalance that results in global warming. At present, power generation and mobility are directed towards carbon-free sources. However, this means an increase in the utilization of certain chemical elements such as uranium and lithium. These elements have their own environmental concerns. Uranium is needed for nuclear fission energy, an efficient and low-carbon energy source. However, mining and uranium processing create great bodies of toxic acid water, causing extreme environments in the open air. Lithium is a key element in the manufacturing of batteries, but also in the nuclear fusion energy development. Nevertheless, new ways of obtaining and recycling lithium will be needed to respond to the demand with the least possible environmental damage. At the same time, new isotopic enrichment methods are required to make the process of 6Li isotope obtainment more efficient and sustainable, where microalgae might have an important role given their broad biotechnological usefulness...