Ytterbium has few industrial uses and no essential biological role for ytterbium is known. In the absence of Ca²⁺, Yb³⁺ restored 93% of Bacillus subtilis α-amylase activity (Smolka et al, 1971). Biosorption of Yb³⁺ by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Texier et al, 2002) and Mycobacterium smegmatis (Andres et al, 1993) has been investigated.

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Andres Y, MacCordick HJ, Hubert J-C. Adsorption of several actinide (Th, U) and lanthanide (La, Eu, Yb) ions by Mycobacterium smegmatis. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1993;39:413-417.