A bio-nano-enabled microcarrier for microplastic degradation

用于微塑料降解的生物纳米微载体

• 批准号: EP/Y016599/1
• 负责人: SWATI SHARMA
• 金额: $ 23.84万
• 依托单位: University of Birmingham
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FY016599%2F1
• 关键词: bio; nano; enabled; microcarrier; microplastic

Globally, trillions of microplastics (MPs) are present in the environment, a result of excessive use and their chemical complexity and poor biodegradability. Although MP biodegradation may occur naturally, the rate of breakdown is too slow to reverse theiraccumulation. The problem is further compounded by their ability to act as carriers/vectors for other contaminants. A cost- and ecofriendly cleanup technique is thus urgently needed that can address the chemical complexity and diversity of MPs. ProjectBioNanoPlast aims to revolutionise MP remediation by developing an integrated setup, combining physio-chemical and biological tools to produce and implement a sustainable MPs bioremediation tool. BioNanoPlast would select a consortium of naturally occurring bacteria and optimize the microbial nutrient requirements aiming to increase their MPs degradation capacity and biosurfactant production ability. In order to overcome the difficulties associated with MPs biodegradation, such as biotoxicity at high concentrations and low bio-affinity, a photocatalyst-coated core-shell microcarrier will be used. The design of the microcarrier, which has microorganisms encapsulated in a hydrophilic core and separated by a hydrophobic shell, would improve the adhesion and adsorption of MPs. In order to protect bacteria from high MPs levels, the shell will also be covered with a photocatalyst. Ecotoxicity analysis will also be performed to determine if the proposed tool is compatible with the environment prior to its application in the field. This state-of-the art approach will produce a novel integrated system that allows bacteria to be near MPs without being exposed to their excessive concentration. As a result, the proposed effort will create a core-shell bio-nano-carrier that will be tested for its integrated bioremediation potential on a range of labeled MPs, thus demonstrating fully its capability and efficacy against the most common MPs (PE, PET, PS).

在全球范围内，环境中存在数万亿微塑料（MP），这是过度使用及其化学复杂性和生物降解性差的结果。虽然MP的生物降解可以自然发生，但分解速度太慢，无法逆转其积累。这一问题因其作为其他污染物的载体/媒介的能力而进一步复杂化。因此，迫切需要一种成本和生态友好的清洁技术，可以解决MP的化学复杂性和多样性。ProjectBioNanoPlast旨在通过开发一个集成的设置，结合物理化学和生物工具来生产和实施可持续的MP生物修复工具，从而彻底改变MP修复。BioNanoPlast将选择天然存在的细菌的财团，并优化微生物营养需求，旨在提高其MP降解能力和生物表面活性剂生产能力。为了克服与MP生物降解相关的困难，例如高浓度下的生物毒性和低生物亲和性，将使用光催化剂涂覆的核壳微载体。微载体的设计将微生物包裹在亲水性核中，并由疏水性壳隔开，这将改善MP的粘附和吸附。为了保护细菌免受高水平的MP的影响，外壳还将覆盖有光催化剂。还将进行生态毒性分析，以确定拟议的工具在实地应用之前是否与环境相容。这种最先进的方法将产生一种新的集成系统，允许细菌接近MP，而不会暴露于其过度浓度。因此，拟议的努力将创造一种核壳生物纳米载体，将在一系列标记的MP上测试其综合生物修复潜力，从而充分证明其对最常见的MP（PE，PET，PS）的能力和功效。