Difference between revisions of "Team:Aix-Marseille"
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| − | </div> | + | <h1><a href="#about">Highway to Platinum <i class="fa fa-chevron-right" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></h1> |
| − | + | <h2>Converting pollution into ressources</h2> | |
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Thanks to its physical and chemical properties platinum has become a key component for the functioning of our society. One of the reason that platinum is so valuable is that it occurs in very low concentrations and associated to other metals. | Thanks to its physical and chemical properties platinum has become a key component for the functioning of our society. One of the reason that platinum is so valuable is that it occurs in very low concentrations and associated to other metals. | ||
| − | Because of this, there are only a few mines in the world that are profitable to exploit. And since recycling methods are not very developed, it is only a question of time until mining is no longer a solution. | + | Because of this, there are only a few [https://2016.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/Integrated_Practices/Mines mines] in the world that are profitable to exploit. And since recycling methods are not very developed, it is only a question of time until mining is no longer a solution. |
Unfortunately, predictions state that all known economically workable platinum deposits will be exhausted in 2064. Platinum shortage could have great socioeconomic consequences. | Unfortunately, predictions state that all known economically workable platinum deposits will be exhausted in 2064. Platinum shortage could have great socioeconomic consequences. | ||
| − | As an initiating step towards solving this issue we decided to design a novel method of recycling platinum from an unexploited source — soil next to highways. | + | As an initiating step towards solving this issue we decided to design a novel method of recycling platinum from an [https://2016.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/Description unexploited source] — soil next to highways. |
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<p class="lead">Many studies have shown that there are great quantities of platinum deposited in the soil next to roads, often in higher concentration than in mines.</p> | <p class="lead">Many studies have shown that there are great quantities of platinum deposited in the soil next to roads, often in higher concentration than in mines.</p> | ||
| − | The reason for this accumulation is the constant automobile traffic. | + | The reason for this accumulation is the constant [https://2016.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/Integrated_Practices/Environment automobile traffic]. |
Indeed, platinum is present in the catalytic converters of cars and trucks and it is released progressively in the exhausts. Therefore the platinum accumulates around the traffic routes, on asphalt, in soil, even in plants. | Indeed, platinum is present in the catalytic converters of cars and trucks and it is released progressively in the exhausts. Therefore the platinum accumulates around the traffic routes, on asphalt, in soil, even in plants. | ||
| − | To safely exploit this resource, we imagined a concentrating system that could be integrated into existing water processing and phytoremediation systems | + | To safely exploit this resource, we imagined a [https://2016.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/Description concentrating system] that could be integrated into existing [https://2016.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/Integrated_Practices/Environment water processing and phytoremediation systems.] |
</div></div></div> | </div></div></div> | ||
<div class="featurette featurette-science"><div> | <div class="featurette featurette-science"><div> | ||
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==The <span class="text-muted">science</span> behind== | ==The <span class="text-muted">science</span> behind== | ||
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The first step relies on the affinity of siderophores to bind solubilized Platinum atoms and, thus, favor the further solubilisation of more platinum compounds. We accomplish this by inserting a plasmid containing 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 siderophores to bind solubilized Platinum atoms and, thus, favor the further solubilisation of more platinum compounds. We accomplish this by inserting a plasmid containing the four enzymes (Des A, Des B, Des C, Des D) necessary to synthesise our siderophore — Desferrioxamine B, into E. coli. | ||
| − | At a second level, we plan to use the principle of biosorption. A modified | + | At a second level, we plan to use the [https://2016.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/Design principle of biosorption]. A modified FliC protein complex will be cloned into E. coli and enable the flagella of the bacterium to bind platinum atoms. This specificity will be possible thanks to a peptide that will be inserted into the sequence of the [https://2016.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/Composite_Part#BBa_K1951008_:_FliC_E._coli_producer FliC protein]. |
The benefit of using the biosorption is to obtain nanoparticles of platinum, a highly valuable form of the metal. | The benefit of using the biosorption is to obtain nanoparticles of platinum, a highly valuable form of the metal. | ||
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