Date of Award

2011

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Kirchman, Paul A.

Thesis/Dissertation Co-Chair

Wetterer, James

Abstract

Lithium (Li) is used in many commercial products. With the recent development of a potent new lithium battery suitable for hybrid and plug-in electric cars, demand for lithium should soar. Seawater has low Li ion concentrations, and has not been considered a profitable commercial source of this element. For my thesis work, I attempted to develop a mutant strain of the marine bacteria Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae capable of sequestering lithium from seawater. I expose the bacteria to shortwave ultra violet (UV) light with the intent of obtaining a lithium dependent mutant. I was not successful at isolating such a mutant. However, I noted differences in colony size, between colonies grown in lithium media and sodium media, after UV treatment. Based on other research, the bacterial recovery methods of lithium and other metals from seawater remains a plausible option.

Comments

Includes bibliography.

Extent

25 p.

Identifier

FA00003553

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