Engineering synergy of microbes and minerals for clean technology: integrating environmental remediation and converting waste to valuables

微生物和矿物质在清洁技术中的工程协同作用：整合环境修复并将废物转化为有价值的东西

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-06144
• 负责人: Chang, WonJae
• 金额: $ 1.89万
• 依托单位: University of Saskatchewan
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=741058
• 关键词: Engineering; synergy; microbes; minerals; clean

Canadian energy and natural resource industries are essential to Canada's economy and operate in highly competitive global markets. They face the challenge of dealing with environmental risks, receive tremendous attention from global movements, and are being held responsible for mitigating environmental disturbances. I have developed the long-term vision of my research to innovate clean technologies for Canada with these industries in mind. My NSERC DG research, Engineering synergy of microbes and minerals for clean technology: integrating environmental remediation and converting waste to valuables, is based on the following central concept: engineering the natural resilience of native pollutant-degrading microbes and mineralogical reactions for waste-to-valuables conversion. I recently identified external factors that can be controlled to naturally extend the bioremediation of oil-impacted soils in cold climates. Leveraging the seasonal resilience of indigenous stress-tolerant hydrocarbon-degrading microbial communities in freezing and frozen contaminated soils is possible, and its effects are reproducible, consistent, and meaningful in terms of meeting national environmental standards. This crucial finding has revealed new opportunities for research into stress-tolerant bioremediation for remote cold-climate sites that have no energy supply and decreased overall remediation times and costs. My research also shows that rapid natural mineralization in the presence of target contaminants is another natural resilience that can be utilized to advance remediation technology. The mayenite-to-hydrocalumite mineral transformation is highly effective at removing excess chloride ions, which cause salinity and corrosion and are a significant concern for soil health, water quality, and subsurface infrastructure. We successfully synthesized mayenite in an economical way, revealing a development opportunity for novel clean technology. The short-term objectives of my DG research program are to (1) further establish the governing mechanisms and optimize our methods of engineering the key factors involved in stress-tolerant bioremediation for petroleum-impacted soils in cold climates and (2) further develop our mineral-based desalination cycles for potash mine waste, integrate them with nutrient recovery, and assess the feasibility of using recovered nutrient-enriched minerals for the bioremediation of waste soils from oil and coal production. Potash mine waste products may ultimately be beneficial to oilfield waste treatment. My NSERC DG research will trigger transformative changes in concepts and practices within environmental remediation and mine waste management. It will produce hybrid remediation and waste management technologies that will become a significantly profitable part of a circular economy, rather than an environmental cost. This research is highly beneficial to sustainable development and environmental protection in Canada.

加拿大能源和自然资源行业对于加拿大的经济至关重要，在竞争激烈的全球市场中运作。他们面临应对环境风险，受到全球运动的极大关注的挑战，并负责减轻环境障碍。我已经开发了我的研究的长期愿景，以考虑到这些行业为加拿大创新清洁技术。我的NSERC DG研究，用于清洁技术的微生物和矿物质的工程协同作用：整合环境补救和将废物转换为贵重物品，基于以下核心概念：工程降解物质污染物的自然弹性以及对废物对废物的矿物学反应的自然弹性贵重物品转换。 我最近确定了可以控制的外部因素，以自然地延长寒冷气候中油性土壤的生物修复。可以在冰冻和冷冻污染的土壤中利用本地耐应力的碳氢化合物降解的微生物群落的季节性弹性，并且在满足国家环境标准方面，其影响是可重复的，一致且有意义的。这一至关重要的发现揭示了对没有能源供应并减少总体补救时间和成本减少的偏远冷气候遗址研究的新机会。我的研究还表明，在目标污染物存在下快速自然矿化是一种自然的弹性，可用于推进补救技术。 Mayenite到氢核石矿物质矿物质转化非常有效地去除多余的氯离子，这会导致盐度和腐蚀，并且对土壤健康，水质和地下基础设施的重大关注。我们以经济的方式成功地合成了Mayenite，这揭示了新型清洁技术的发展机会。 我的DG研究计划的短期目标是（1）进一步建立管理机制，并优化我们工程的方法，以在寒冷的气候中对石油冲击的土壤进行耐压力的生物修复涉及的关键因素，并且（2）进一步发展我们用于钾盐矿物质废物的矿物质淡化循环，将其与营养恢复融合，并评估使用恢复的营养富含富含养分的矿物的可行性，以从石油和煤炭生产中对废物土壤进行生物修复。钾盐矿废物最终可能有益于油田废物处理。 我的NSERC DG研究将触发环境修复和矿山废物管理中概念和实践的变革性变化。它将产生混合补救和废物管理技术，这些技术将成为循环经济的显着有利可图的一部分，而不是环境成本。这项研究对加拿大的可持续发展和环境保护非常有益。