NANOTRAP: A two-pronged approach to preventing nanoparticle pollution in wastewater systems
Experimental
Constructing DNA to make our ideas come to life. Click to EXPlore!
Modeling
Computational Biology provides us insight on how to apply experimental data to real world applications!
Prototype
Design, Build and Test: Putting our project to work.
Human Practices
It’s not only what happens in the lab, but also what happens in our community.
Safety
Safety first, especially in a lab. Here's how we maintained and investigated the integrity and security of our work environment.
About Us
Meet the team, the faces behind NANOTRAP.
Attributions
Thank you to all those who helped and supported us.
NANOTRAP
Nanoparticle Removal from Wastewater Systems
TAS_TAIPEI
2017 High School Grand Prize Winner
ABSTRACT
The small size of nanoparticles is both an advantage and a problem. Their high surface-area-to-volume ratio enables novel medical, industrial, and commercial applications. However, their small size also allows them to evade conventional filtration during water treatment, posing health risks to humans, plants, and aquatic life. Our project aims to remove nanoparticles using two approaches: 1) bind citrate-capped nanoparticles with the membrane protein proteorhodopsin and 2) trap nanoparticles using E. coli biofilm produced by overexpressing two regulators -- OmpR234 and CsgD. We envision integrating our trapping system in both rural and urban wastewater treatment plants to efficiently capture all nanoparticles before treated water is released into the environment.
