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

该项目的重点是乙二胺四乙酸酯(EDTA)，这是一种广泛用于工业流程、家用清洁剂以及消费品和保健品的人为螯合剂。当微生物的生物降解速度缓慢时，EDTA可以在环境中持续存在。在使用(特别是在无氯漂白应用中)迅速增加的同时，螯合剂对环境的影响还没有得到充分的研究。该计划的重点是了解控制EDTA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。该计划的具体目标如下：评估共污染金属对EDTA生物降解的影响。考察中间体形成对EDTA生物降解的影响。增加卡内基梅隆大学本科生和研究生对环境工程知识和技能的了解。提高中学教师对环境工程基础知识和科学方法的认识。鼓励女性和少数族裔学生学习环境工程。建立作为强有力的研究人员和敬业教育工作者的国家声誉。研究、教育和推广目标被设计为综合的。实验室和建模方法的结果将作为本科生班级的范例和案例研究，作为高级研究生班级的问题，并作为与中学教师的外联活动的讨论点。在外展活动中与教师和学生的互动将用于提高未来工程师对他们在提高科学素养方面的作用的认识。P.I.S的培训和高中教师的经历将允许利用与各级教育工作者的互动来提高教学技能，并继续开展创造性的课堂活动。该项目独特的活动包括开发一个关于人为螯合剂的使用、调节和环境影响的课程模块，以及在我的实验室接待高中教师进行暑期研究。

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.