Bacterial mineralization of struvite from wastewaters is one of the promising approaches to recover phosphorus. Bio-struvite method provide the chance to recover organic phosphorus which can’t be recycled by chemical precipitation, moreover the recovered struvite can be reused as a highly efficient slow-release fertilizer. Therefore, the microbial mineralization of struvite has recently been regarded as a promising strategy to overcome P shortage crisis.
Cr (VI) is a common contaminant due to its widespread use in industrial fields such as electroplating, pigment in dyes and stainless steel welding, which is highly soluble and toxic. In addition, Cr (VI) can be involved in various reduction process including enzymatic and non-enzymatic activities, thus affecting normal metabolism and resulting in alterations of DNA. However, the information about whether and how the heavy metal Cr (VI) affect the bacterial mineralization system is still lack.
Bacillus pumilus will be used to induce struvite mineralization in simulated Cr (VI)-bearing wastewaters and the composition, morphology by a wide range of techniques. The main purpose of the research is to evaluate the influence of Cr (VI) on microbial mineralization of struvite, and to understand its behavior in the mineralization system.
Bacillus pumilus is chosen as a model microbe because it has excellent performance to induce the formation of struvite, which already been studied in previous research.
The results obtained in this study may have important significance for further development of struvite biomineralization to recover P from eutrophic wastewaters, serve as a guidance for further development of struvite biomineralization and P recovery from Cr (VI)-containing wastewaters.
Undergraduate
1. effect of Cr (VI) on the growth of Bacillus pumilus, detect the damage may caused by Cr under protein and DNA level.
2. effect of Cr on the bio-struvite formation, morphology, yield and quality.
3. predict the binding site of Cr on the surface of struvite and how much of Cr content loaded in solid products
None
No lab has been assigned to this project