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

有机卤化物是常见的环境污染物，由于其毒性和在环境中的普遍性，被美国环境保护署指定为优先污染物。因此，清除有机卤化物污染对保护人类健康至关重要。生物炭（由有机物高温分解产生的材料）具有独特的表面性质，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，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研究生物炭如何帮助加强废水中有毒有机卤化物的清理。该项目的研究结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有效的处理技术。这项研究将测试生物炭可以通过加速细胞外电子传递催化新兴有机卤化物的微生物脱卤的假设。在本项目中，研究小组将：（1）通过两种已知模式菌的纯培养物，量化生物炭催化的有机卤化物及其降解产物的微生物降解;（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的影响;（3）分析了生物炭存在下天然微生物群落对有机卤化物的降解，并研究了生物炭在废水深度处理中的潜在应用。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。最低价生物炭和纳米最低价生物炭作为零价铁和纳米零价铁的新型类似物，将被制备并研究它们在有机卤化物降解中的作用。知识价值来自于对生物炭特性在催化有机卤化物的微生物还原脱卤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沃茨的处理创造一个具有成本效益的战略。通过与UNR的院长未来学者计划和明尼苏达大学双城分校的北星星STEM联盟计划合作，调查人员将为第一代大学预科中学生和STEM领域代表性不足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了解。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

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.