Bacterial biofilms as sustainable catalytic materials studied in customized microfluidic bioanalytical flow-cells

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The 12 principles of green chemistry offer a roadmap to move chemical industry to a sustainable paradigm. Catalysis is one of the major pillars of the green chemistry initiative, whereby reusable materials speed up reaction times, while reducing waste and reaction energy requirements. However, production of inorganic catalysts faces challenges due to volatility in raw material prices. As well, the unsustainable methods for raw material extraction can reduce their overall sustainability. Another approach can be found in living bacteria, the same biological catalysts that have driven Earth's geochemistry for billions of years and which have been used by humanity for centuries for production of food and beverages. Recently, so-called "whole-cell catalysis" has become an active area of research due its suitability for sustainable chemistry. Bacteria hold the potential for low-cost synthesis of fine chemicals, including chiral molecules and pharmaceuticals, natural food additives, and have applications in bioremediation and energy. In particular bacterial biofilms are promising because they can self-produce; their protective extracellular polymeric matrix can mitigate challenges related to harsh chemical environments; they have a preference for surface attachment, eliminating reaction steps associated with product/catalyst separation; and they are suitable for efficient flow reactor setups. After six years developing state-of-the-art microfluidic tools and methods to control bacterial biofilms, this proposal lays out a bold research and training plan to develop biofilms into propose-driven biocatalytic materials. We will direct our efforts to create the analytical tools required to better study biocatalytic reactions and utilize them in the development of applications in bioenergy. Our plan is outlined in three themes, (1) studies of bacterial catalysis reaction kinetics (2) applications to better performing microbial fuel cells, and (3) new characterization tools for next-stage biocatalysis development. This is a highly multidisciplinary research program, involving concepts in chemistry, microbiology, physics and engineering. Microfluidics is a constant theme in this program due to its unique ability to control and harness the potential of living biofilms as sustainable biomaterials. The training environment will bring together highly qualified personnel from a broad background where they will work together in a state-of-the-art CFI-funded laboratories amongst a growing network of bioanalytical researchers at Laval University. The successful implementation of this research program will boost Canadian expertise and the economy in key areas related to catalysis, microfluidics, and life-science analytics worth over $100B worldwide. Moreover, it addresses growing social awareness-and demand-around the need to implement new sustainable technology to rapidly reduce the environmental impact of pollution and waste.