Difference between revisions of "Team:Aix-Marseille/Description"
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| − | {{:Team:Aix-Marseille/Template-Top| | + | {{:Team:Aix-Marseille/Template-Top|Project Description}} |
| + | If you are looking for information about our improved part, [https://2016.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/Composite_Part#BBa_K1951008_:_FliC_E._coli_producer go here]. | ||
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| + | ==Video presentation== | ||
| + | <div style="margin:0 auto; width: 560px"> | ||
| + | <html><video width="560" height="315" controls> | ||
| + | <source src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/b/b8/T--Aix-Marseille--IGEM_AMU_2016_-_HIGHWAY_TO_PLATINUM.webm" type="video/webm"> | ||
| + | Your browser does not support the video tag. | ||
| + | </video></html> | ||
| + | </div> | ||
==The Problem== | ==The Problem== | ||
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*Platinum resources are draining and if recycling methods are not developed, the world could run out of platinum in the upcoming 50 years. | *Platinum resources are draining and if recycling methods are not developed, the world could run out of platinum in the upcoming 50 years. | ||
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| + | [[File:--File-T--Aix-Marseille--mining.jpg|500px|right]] | ||
*As a result of emissions from automobile catalytic converters there are high concentrations of platinum deposited in the soil next to highways and big roads, often higher than in mines. | *As a result of emissions from automobile catalytic converters there are high concentrations of platinum deposited in the soil next to highways and big roads, often higher than in mines. | ||
| − | *There is | + | *There is an issue with industrial wastewater treatment, minerals and metals accumulate so much that companies discard it instead of using decontamination treatment. Platinum concentrations are high in plants cause of the treatment of rainwater which is charged with metals et minerals. |
==Platinum is an Essential Metal== | ==Platinum is an Essential Metal== | ||
| + | [[File:T--Aix-Marseille--essential.jpeg|400px|left]] | ||
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Platinum is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious and highly unreactive transition metal. Thanks to its catalytic properties and remarkable resistance to corrosion even in high temperatures, it is a highly desired metal. | Platinum is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious and highly unreactive transition metal. Thanks to its catalytic properties and remarkable resistance to corrosion even in high temperatures, it is a highly desired metal. | ||
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==The Problem with current Platinum Extraction== | ==The Problem with current Platinum Extraction== | ||
| + | [[File:T--Aix-Marseille--extraction.jpeg|400px|right]] | ||
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Platinum is a rare metal because there are only a few mines in the world where it can be obtained. And even then it is usually only a byproduct of nickel and copper mining occurring in concentrations close to 2 g/t. During the process of extraction huge amounts of hydrochloric and sulfuric acid are used to eliminate impurities. | Platinum is a rare metal because there are only a few mines in the world where it can be obtained. And even then it is usually only a byproduct of nickel and copper mining occurring in concentrations close to 2 g/t. During the process of extraction huge amounts of hydrochloric and sulfuric acid are used to eliminate impurities. | ||
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Finally, there are also various socio medical complications associated with platinum mining. Miners and workers are usually exposed to unsafe chemical substances and toxic fumes. Safety measures are often disregarded. An alternative solution to mining could help in the resolution of this issue. | Finally, there are also various socio medical complications associated with platinum mining. Miners and workers are usually exposed to unsafe chemical substances and toxic fumes. Safety measures are often disregarded. An alternative solution to mining could help in the resolution of this issue. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Our Solution using synthetic biology== |
*Concentrate the platinum accumulated in plants because of phytoremediation or in sludge in rainwater treatment centers. | *Concentrate the platinum accumulated in plants because of phytoremediation or in sludge in rainwater treatment centers. | ||
*Purify the Platinum from other metals or inorganic compounds. | *Purify the Platinum from other metals or inorganic compounds. | ||
*Transform it into a highly desirable form - nanoparticles. | *Transform it into a highly desirable form - nanoparticles. | ||
| − | + | [[File:--File-T--Aix-Marseille--Nano.jpg|300px|center]] | |
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It is hard to imagine applying modern industrial methods as a solution for recycling the platinum in the soil of big highways. It would most certainly be very pollutive and a waste of energy, resources and time. | It is hard to imagine applying modern industrial methods as a solution for recycling the platinum in the soil of big highways. It would most certainly be very pollutive and a waste of energy, resources and time. | ||
| − | But we think a biological solution is possible. We thought, that after all bacteria have evolutionary adaptations that allow them to internalise metals. If we could exploit these systems and target platinum specifically enough, we could find a durable, simple, cheap and environmentally friendly solution | + | But we think a biological solution is possible. We thought, that after all bacteria have evolutionary adaptations that allow them to internalise metals. If we could exploit these systems and target platinum specifically enough, we could find a durable, simple, cheap and environmentally friendly solution. |
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The main goal of our project is to concentrate the platinum as much as possible. | The main goal of our project is to concentrate the platinum as much as possible. | ||
The first step relies on the affinity of small organic molecules, siderophores, to bind solubilized Platinum atoms and thus favor the further solubilisation of more platinum compounds. We accomplish this by inserting a plasmid containing an operon with the four enzymes (Des A, Des B, Des C, Des D) necessary to synthesise our siderophore - Desferrioxamine B, into E. coli. | The first step relies on the affinity of small organic molecules, siderophores, to bind solubilized Platinum atoms and thus favor the further solubilisation of more platinum compounds. We accomplish this by inserting a plasmid containing an operon with the four enzymes (Des A, Des B, Des C, Des D) necessary to synthesise our siderophore - Desferrioxamine B, into E. coli. | ||
| − | As a second level of concentrating the platinum even more, we plan to use the principle of biosorption. A modified | + | As a second level of concentrating the platinum even more, we plan to use the principle of biosorption. A modified FliC protein complex will be cloned into E. coli and enable the flagella of the bacterium so that it can bind platinum atoms. This specificity will be possible thanks to a recently discovered peptide that will be inserted into the sequence of the FliC protein. The benefit of using the biosorption is to obtain nanoparticles of platinum, a highly valuable form of the metal. |
</div>{{:Team:Aix-Marseille/Template-Footer}} | </div>{{:Team:Aix-Marseille/Template-Footer}} | ||
