TAS_TAIPEI 2017

NANO

TRAP

The small size of nanoparticles is both an advantage and a problem. The high surface area allows them to catalyze chemical reactions more efficiently, but most wastewater treatment plants lack the ability to clean up such small particles, thus allowing nanoparticles to enter the environment and pose health risks for humans, plants, and aquatic life. As nanoparticle usage expands into medical, industrial, and consumer products, it is important to prevent nanoparticles from harming the environment. Our project aims to remove nanoparticles using two approaches: trapping citrate-capped nanoparticles with a modified form of the membrane protein proteorhodopsin and increasing the production of E.coli biofilm to entrap nanoparticles in the extracellular matrix. Ultimately, we wish to clean nanoparticle waste by implementing our trapping mechanism into centralized wastewater treatment plants to efficiently capture all nanoparticles before treated water is released back into the environment.
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