WEAVE N4-0351

Abstract

According to WHO, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic pollutants of significant concern due to their toxic, genotoxic, mutagenic and/or carcinogenic properties and further due to their persistence and resistance toward biodegradation. Physical and chemical treatment methods of polluted sites are costly and often fail or result in the formation of more persistent products. Although microbial degradation is the most suitable alternative solution, it can result in left-over recalcitrant fractions, toxic for higher animals or inhibitory for microorganisms. In the proposed project, we are aiming to overcome these challenges. Herewith, we will develop hybrid particle/hydrogel/bacterial carriers that: (i) incorporate a hydrophobic matrix increasing the sorption of recalcitrant PAHs that are present in low concentrations and making them available to the PAH degrading microbial consortium, (ii) support a spatial distribution of microbial cells, resulting in the formation of for aerobic and anaerobic niches, and (iii) ensure oxidative degradation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Such advanced carriers, which adsorb adverse molecules present in the environment, are already becoming important constituents of modern sustainable development and in this project, we would like to advance the technology by functionalizing it with microbial consortia that selectively perform specific metabolic transformations of PAHs.

Abstract

Po podatkih WHO so policiklični aromatski ogljikovodiki (PAH) skupina organskih onesnaževal, ki vzbujajo veliko zaskrbljenost zaradi svojih toksičnih, genotoksičnih, mutagenih in/ali rakotvornih lastnosti ter svoje obstojnosti in odpornosti proti biorazgradnji. Fizikalne in kemične metode obdelave onesnaženih območij so drage in pogosto neuspešne ali povzročijo nastanek bolj obstojnih produktov. Čeprav je mikrobna razgradnja najprimernejša alternativna rešitev, lahko povzroči ostanke neposlušnih frakcij, ki so strupene za višje živali ali zaviralne za mikroorganizme. V predlaganem projektu želimo te izzive premagati, tako da bomo razvili hibridne nosilce iz delcev, hidrogela in bakterij, ki: (i) vključujejo hidrofobno matrico, ki povečuje sorpcijo rekalcitrantnih PAH, ki so prisotni v nizkih koncentracijah, in jih daje na voljo konzorciju mikrobov, ki razgrajujejo PAH, (ii) podpirajo prostorsko porazdelitev mikrobnih celic, kar ima za posledico nastanek aerobnih in anaerobnih niš, in (iii) zagotavlja oksidativno razgradnjo poliaromatskih ogljikovodikov. Takšni napredni nosilci, ki adsorbirajo škodljive molekule, prisotne v okolju, že postajajo pomembne sestavine sodobnega trajnostnega razvoja in v tem projektu želimo tehnologijo nadalje razviti tako, da jo funkcionaliziramo s konzorcijem mikroorganiozmov, t.j. bakterij, ki selektivno izvajajo specifične presnovne transformacije PAH.