Microbial recovery of rhodium from dilute solutions by the metal ion–reducing bacterium Shewanella algae

An environmentally friendly method using the metal ion-reducing bacterium Shewanella algae was developed to recover soluble Rh(III) from dilute solutions. Rhodium nanoparticles were deposited intracellularly in S. algae. Resting cells of S. algae were able to reduce aqueous Rh(III) to metallic Rh(0) at room temperature and neutral pH within 60 min, using lactate as the electron donor.