Enzyme-Mediated Machining of Chelators to Bind and Recover Valuable Metals

金属是电子设备和电气产品的重要组成部分。快速的处置周期在管理电子废物金属方面造成了重大问题，并在循环经济中为回收和再利用指明了机会。结合金属离子的有机化合物（螯合剂）是有用的，但可以改进从混合物中选择目标金属。本项目旨在剖析细菌生物合成螯合剂的方法，并以此为基础进行生物工程，开发出新型螯合剂。结果包括新的螯合剂和先进的金属选择性知识，有价金属回收带来的潜在环境和经济效益。该项目将有利于化学生物学研究训练的实际应用。

Metals are critical components of electronic devices and electrical products. Rapid disposal cycles create a major problem in managing e-waste metals and identifies an opportunity in the circular economy for recovery and re-use. Organic compounds that bind metal ions (chelators) are useful but could be improved to select a target metal from a mixture. This project aims to dissect a method used by bacteria to biosynthesize chelators and hijack this to bioengineer new classes of chelators. Outcomes include new chelators and advanced knowledge of metal selectivity, with potential environmental and economic benefits arising from recovery of valuable metals. The project will benefit chemical biology research training for real-world applications.