Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2020RI206B

Hybrid nano-bioreactors for the treatment of recalcitrant contaminants in drinking water.

Institute: Rhode Island
Year Established: 2020 Start Date: 2020-03-01 End Date: 2021-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $11,618 Total Non-Federal Funds: $26,505

Principal Investigators:

Abstract: This project aims to assess the application of an innovative approach that combines the use of novel nanomaterials and biodegradation for the removal of persistent organic pollutants and environmental endocrine disruptors in drinking water. To address this problem, we propose to assess the feasibility of using a hybrid nano-bioreactor that combines the use of novel nanomaterials as sorbent and as an electron shuttle for the increase of oxidation or reduction of these contaminants by the microorganism. Graphene oxide efficacy as photocatalytic sorbent has been reported for the removal of several pollutants. Additionally, graphene oxide has been recently reported to enhance metabolic pathways in some microorganisms due to the conductive properties of graphene oxide, which could promote extracellular electron transfers. Previous studies have used approaches to increase extracellular electron transfer for the reduction and/or oxidation of recalcitrant compounds. During this experimental phase, the response of E. coli K12 to the subchronic exposure with graphene oxide will be assessed as a function of four variables: i) concentration of graphene oxide, i) type of carbon source, iii) temperature and iv) pollutant.