Managing manganese with microbes

Manganese is an essential micronutrient present in Minnesota’s groundwater, but in some areas, especially the southwestern part of the state, manganese levels are high enough to raise health concerns. Over time, at high concentrations, the metal can accumulate in the brain and result in neurological conditions among older adults. “There’s no cost-effective technology for removing manganese and other pollutants such as sulfate from our waterways,” says Satoshi Ishii, an associate professor in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate and a member of the University’s BioTechnology Institute (BTI). Instead, Ishii and fellow BTI member Cara Santelli, a geomicrobiologist and assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences turned to bioremediation to solve the problem. Continue reading the story from the BioTechnology Institute.