CAREER: Metals and Intermediates in Biodegradation of Ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA)

该项目的重点是乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA），一种广泛用于工业过程，家用清洁剂，消费食品和健康产品的人为螯合剂。当微生物的生物降解缓慢时，EDTA可以持续存在于环境中。螯合剂的环境影响尚未得到充分探讨，而其用途（特别是在无氯漂白应用中）正在迅速增加。该计划的重点是了解控制乙二胺四乙酸命运的化学和生物的相互作用，并扩大公众对环境系统和不可生物降解污染物的了解。 评价共污染金属对EDTA生物降解的影响。 研究了中间产物的形成对EDTA生物降解的影响。 提高对环境工程知识和技能的理解， 卡内基梅隆大学的本科生和研究生。 增强中学教师的环境基本意识 工程学和科学方法。 鼓励妇女和少数民族学生学习环境工程。 作为一个强有力的研究者和敬业的教育者，发展一个全国性的声誉。研究，教育和推广目标是一体化的。在实验室和建模方法的结果将被用来作为例子和案例研究在本科班，在高级研究生班的问题，并作为与中学教师的推广活动的讨论点。在推广活动期间与教师和学生的互动将被用来提高未来工程师对他们在促进科学素养方面的作用的认识。私家侦探的培训和经验，作为一个高中教师将允许使用的互动与各级教育工作者，以提高教学技能，并继续发展创造性的课堂活动。 该项目独有的活动包括开发关于人为螯合剂的使用、监管和环境影响的课程模块，并在我的实验室接待高中教师进行夏季研究。

This project focuses on Ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), an anthropogenic chelating agent widely used in industrial processes, household cleaners, and consumer food and health products. EDTA can persist in the environment when biodegradation by microorganisms is slow. Environmental effects of chelating agents have not been fully explored while uses (particularly in chlorine free bleaching applications) are increasing rapidly. The plan focuses on understanding the interactions of chemistry and biology that control the fate of EDTA and on expanding public understanding of environmental systems and non-biodegradable contaminants.The specific objectives of the plan are as follows: Evaluate the effect of co-contaminant metals on the biodegradation of EDTA. Investigate the effect of intermediate formation on the biodegradation of EDTA. Increase understanding of the knowledge and skills of environmental engineering among undergraduate and graduate students at Carnegie Mellon University. Enhance the awareness of secondary teachers to the fundamentals of environmental engineering and the scientific method. Encourage women and minority students to pursue environmental engineering. Develop a national reputation as a strong researcher and dedicated educator.The research, education, and outreach objectives are designed to be integrative. Results in the laboratory and in modeling methodologies will be used as examples and case studies in undergraduate classes, as problems in advanced graduate classes, and as discussion points in outreach activities with secondary teachers. The interactions with teachers and students during outreach activities will be used to raise the awareness of future engineers about their role in advancing scientific literacy. The P.I.'s training and experience as a high school teacher will allow the use of interactions with educators at all levels to enhance teaching skills and continue development of creative classroom activities. Activities that are unique to this project include development of a course module on the use, regulation and environmental effects of anthropogenic chelating agents, and hosting high school teachers for summer research in my laboratory.