Two recent NIEHS Superfund Research Programs were used (SRP). Research webinars: The Progress in Research (see Sidebar), grantees discussed innovative strategies for bioremediation — the process of using bacteria, fungi, and plants to break down contaminants.
“The purpose of these webinars is to facilitate a dialogue between scientists, field practitioners, and stakeholders early in the research process to ensure new projects are on a trajectory for successful technology transfer and application by end users,” Henry said. (Photo courtesy Steve McCaw/NIEHS)“One of the goals of SRP is to encourage multidisciplinary approaches to create sustainable solutions for reducing exposures to hazardous substances in the environment,” said SRP Health Scientist Administrator Heather Henry, Ph.D., during opening remarks. “By combining expertise in bioremediation and materials science, these grantees are developing novel remediation strategies that can protect health sustainably.”
More than 400 people from academia, industry and government attended each of the two sessions.
The breakdown of per- and/or polyfluoroalkyl compounds
The first session dealt with the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS). While the common theme was that PFAS can be difficult to break down technology that combines novel materials with bacteria can help.
“PFAS are a group of manmade chemicals of increasing concern,” explained Yujie Men, Ph.D., from the University of California, Riverside. “We encounter them in things we use every day, such as nonstick pans, water repellent materials, and some cosmetics.”
Men and their team, which includes trainees Shun Chen, front, as well as Huaqing Lu, Ph.D. back, are improving the system to remove PFAS from groundwater faster than other technologies. Yujie men.For example, Men discussed her team’s work to use Solar electricity can power nanomaterials(https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/srp/programs/Program_detail.cfm?Project_ID=R01ES032668)to allow bacteria to erupt the strong carbon-fluorine bond that holds PFAS molecules together.
Similarly, Peter Jaffé, Ph.D., from Princeton University, introduced his team’s work to develop Nanoparticles made from the mineral ferrihydrite(https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/srp/programs/Program_detail.cfm?Project_ID=R01ES032694)Printed with polyacrylic acid, which is a biodegradable material used in food packaging and diapers to retain moisture.
“In lab studies, we’ve seen that polyacrylic acids speed up the movement of our nanoparticles, allowing them to reach bacteria and create conditions that favor degradation of PFAS molecules,” said Jaffé. “In the future, we hope to explore how this can be implemented in the field.”
Diana Aga, Ph.D., from the State University of New York at Buffalo, discussed her team’s Two-step approach(https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/srp/programs/Program_detail.cfm?Project_ID=R01ES032717)Using graphene-metal-nanoparticles to start PFAS degradation and bacteria to complete the job.
Aga, left and her team, including Utsav Thapa (Ph.D.), right, analyze every step of the work to ensure that it does not produce toxic byproducts. (Photo courtesy of Douglas Levere/ State University of New York, Buffalo)To clean up contaminants, use sorbents
Another group of SRP grantees discussed their research to develop sorbents — which bind to and retain hazardous contaminants — that can be combined with bacteria to capture and degrade hazardous substances more efficiently.
“We are excited to be part of this team that NIEHS has put together to transition university research into novel field technologies,” said Upal Ghosh, Ph.D., from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Ghosh is a developer carbon-based sorbent materials(https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/srp/programs/Program_detail.cfm?Project_ID=R01ES032719)They can bind to chlorinated chemicals and enhance the ability for bacteria to breakdown them.
“Using bacteria and other microorganisms to clean up contaminants in the field is challenging,” explained Tim Mattes, Ph.D., from the University of Iowa. “Our team is Customizing activated carbon(https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/srp/programs/Program_detail.cfm?Project_ID=R01ES032671) to enhance the ability of bacteria to break down pollutants and improve the performance of these remediation strategies.”
Yuexiao Shen, Ph.D. from Texas Tech University, and Youneng Tang Ph.D. from Florida State University presented their work in developing technology. Sorbits that encourage the growth of clusters bacteria(https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/srp/programs/Program_detail.cfm?Project_ID=R01ES032692)to remove groundwater contaminants from their surfaces.
Don’t miss the The third and final sessionRegister for the webinar series May 13. The webinar series will take place on May 13. (Image courtesy Nature_Design/Pixabay.com“We are applying materials science to Create a system(https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/srp/programs/Program_detail.cfm?Project_ID=R01ES032707) that can treat contaminants for extended periods of time,” explained Lewis Semprini, Ph.D., from Oregon State University. “We use a slow-release compound in hydrogel beads that promotes the growth of bacteria to break down chemical mixtures.”
“The presentations demonstrated how materials science can improve the applicability of bioremediation by accelerating the speed of the process, preventing the formation of unintended byproducts, or facilitating the ability to clean up co-contaminants simultaneously,” said Henry.
(Mali Velasco, a researcher and communications specialist at MDB Inc., is a contractor for NIEHS Superfund Research Program.
