GOALI: Collaborative research: Biochar-catalyzed microbial reductive degradation of emerging organohalides

有机卤化物是一种常见的环境污染物，由于其毒性和在环境中的普遍存在，被美国环境保护局指定为优先污染物。因此，清除有机卤化物污染对保护人类健康具有重要意义。生物炭(有机物高温分解产生的物质)具有独特的表面特性，这使得人们对使用它们来清理环境污染物产生了兴趣。然而，人们对生物炭刺激有机卤化物生物降解的能力知之甚少。在这个项目中，来自三所大学的研究人员将调查生物炭如何帮助加强废水中有毒有机卤化物的清除。该项目的成果将通过与废水处理设施的合作，在现实条件下进行测试和应用。如果成功，这项研究有可能为美国最重要的一类污染物创造一种廉价而有效的处理技术。这项研究将检验生物炭可以通过加速细胞外电子传递来催化微生物对新兴有机卤化物进行脱卤化的假设。在这个项目中，该团队将：(1)通过两种已知模式细菌的纯培养，量化生物炭催化的微生物对有机卤化物及其降解产物的降解；(2)研究纳米级生物炭、最低价生物炭和纳米级最低价生物炭对生物和非生物脱卤化的影响；(3)分析在生物炭存在的情况下，自然微生物群落对有机卤化物的降解，并研究这一高级废水处理的潜在应用。该项目将为生物炭催化微生物降解新出现的有机卤化物提供及时的信息。作为零价铁和纳米零价铁的新型类似物，最低价生物炭和纳米最低价生物炭将被生产出来，并研究它们在有机卤化物降解中的作用。这一学术价值源于对生物炭性质在催化有机卤化物的微生物还原脱卤化中所起作用的新理解。该项目有可能为美国和其他国家的有机卤化物污染水的处理创造一种具有成本效益的战略。通过与联合国大学院长的未来学者计划和明尼苏达双城大学的北极星STEM联盟计划合作，调查人员将为第一代准备上大学的中学生和STEM领域未被充分代表的毕业生提供暑期研究实习机会，以提高对现代水质问题和技术解决方案的认识和知识。研究成果也将被整合到当前的本科生和研究生课程中。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Organohalides are common environmental contaminants designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as priority pollutants due to their toxicity and prevalence in the environment. Cleaning up organohalide pollution is thus important for the protection of human health. Biochars (materials generated from high-temperature decomposition of organic matter) have unique surface properties that has led to interest in using them to clean up environmental contaminants. However, relatively little is known about the ability of biochar to stimulate the biological degradation of organohalides. In this project, researchers from three Universities will investigate how biochar can help enhance the cleanup of toxic organohalides in wastewater. The findings of the project will be tested and applied under real-world conditions through collaboration with wastewater treatment facilities. If successful, this research has the potential to create an inexpensive and effective treatment technology for the most important class of pollutants in the U.S.This research will test the hypothesis that biochar can catalyze the microbial dehalogenation of emerging organohalides through accelerated extracellular electron transport. In this project, the team will: (1) quantify the biochar-catalyzed microbial degradation of organohalides and their degradation products by two pure cultures of known model bacteria; (2) study the effects of nano-sized biochar, lowest-valent biochar, and nano-sized lowest-valent biochar on biotic and abiotic dehalogenation; (3) analyze the degradation of organohalides by a natural microbial community in the presence of biochar and study this potential application for advanced wastewater treatment. This project will provide timely information for the biochar-catalyzed microbial degradation of emerging organohalides. Lowest-valent biochar and nano-sized lowest-valent biochar, as novel analogs to zero-valent iron and nano zero-valent iron, will be produced and studied for their role in the degradation of organohalides. The intellectual merit is derived from the novel understanding of the role biochar properties play in catalyzing the microbial reductive dehalogenation of organohalides. The project has the potential to create a cost-effective strategy for the treatment of organohalide-contaminated waters in the U.S. and other countries. By working with UNR's Dean's Future Scholars program and The North Star STEM Alliance program at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, the investigators will offer summer research internships for first-generation college-bound middle school students and underrepresented graduates in STEM fields to enhance awareness and knowledge of modern water quality problems and technological solutions. Research results will also be integrated into current undergraduate and graduate courses.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.