Aug 3, 2023
“Hello Everyone! I’m Matthew Edghill, a third year Biochemistry Specialist undergrad from Barbados. My research in the Mahadevan Lab involves two distinct metabolic engineering projects:
Firstly, I am conducting a long term adaptive laboratory evolution experiment, to optimize a strain of Escherichia coli for ethylene glycol (EG) assimilation. I will then assay the gene expression of this evolved strain to identify which mutations are beneficial for assimilation, and reengineer an optimized strain using this knowledge.
Currently, the feedstocks that bacteria consume during bioprocess engineering, require large quantities of resources to produce. However, since EG can be bio-upcycled from plastics like PET, it could be used as an environmentally friendly alternative feedstock.
Secondly, I am characterizing multiple engineered fatty acid decarboxylases, to determine the scope of substrates they could catalyse. These enzymes could convert fatty acids to alkenes, which are critical compounds for synthesis in chemical industry, reducing industrial reliance on raw materials from fossil fuels.”
Aug 3, 2023
Wastewater treatment plants currently produce biogas as a byproduct – a low value greenhouse gas (GHG). Abbas’s work, entitled “Transport of Medium Chain Fatty Acids Through Rubbery Polymer Films,” is part of a collaboration between the Advanced Membrane and Microbiome Engineering labs to replace biogas with bio-sourced medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). MCFAs are valuable chemicals, currently produced unsustainably from palm oil, and their production would increase the economic viability of wastewater treatment operations.
Abbas’s role in the project is to assess the impact of polymer chemistry on the separation of MCFAs. He synthesizes films of polydimethylsiloxane and custom polyacrylates, followed by testing MCFA transport in diffusion cells and quantifying permeate concentrations using GC/MS.
Aug 3, 2023
Food waste and food security are intertwined, particularly in the context of climate action. Food waste vastly contributes to Canada’s GHG emissions, while climate change exacerbates food insecurity. This research project will address the significant food waste generated by U of T while simultaneously tackling student food insecurity. I’ll investigate effective and equitable strategies to minimize food waste at the post-production stage and ensure accessible food security programs on campus. Recognizing that a significant amount of campus food is discarded while students are food insecure, I will explore avenues for redistributing surplus food to address both environmental and social concerns. I’ll investigate existing barriers and propose innovative solutions to provide equitable food security initiatives on campus. By developing a proposal for effective food redistribution mechanisms, the project aims to reduce waste, promote responsible consumption, and alleviate food insecurity.
Aug 3, 2023
Guangming’s research is titled: “Kinetic Consequences of the Intercorrelation between Acid and Redox Sites on Metal Oxides for Drop-in Oxygenates Synthesis from Sustainable Bio-based Methanol.”
Aug 2, 2023
“The goal of my research project is to develop a novel biosynthesis pathway in Pseudomonas putida to convert waste lignin into adipic acid. The proposed process can theoretically produce adipic acid while emitting 60-80% less CO2 equivalents and consuming 20% less energy than conventional methods. My work explores the use of enoate reductase enzymes to synthesize adipic acid from the endogenous muconate pathway, with future aims including enzyme engineering and host development using genetic interventions.”
Aug 2, 2023
Jinjin primarily works on a project that harnessing a CRISPR/Cas9 system to genetically engineer Acidithiobacillus ferridurans JAGS for better biomining performance. My proposed project is about utilization of genetic engineered A. ferridurans JAGS in biomining-coupled biofuel production. We believe this research holds the promise to “kill three birds with one stone”: (1) using pyrrhotite (PO, Fe1−xS, x = 0-0.125) tailings as a mineral resource to prevent acid mine drainage production; (2) bioleaching Nickel from PO tailings; (3) fixing CO2 and using energy in PO tailings to produce alkenes. These would generate benefits for economics, environment, and climate, and meet the climate positive energy goals.
Aug 2, 2023
Plastic waste management is a critical issue. This proposal focuses on deconstructing polystyrene waste using visible-light activated CdS photocatalysts and green solvents. The objectives are to synthesize CdS nano-catalysts, optimize reaction conditions, and evaluate the obtained phenolic products. This research aims to provide an alternative solution for upcycling polystyrene waste, reducing landfill waste and environmental pollution. The multidisciplinary approach integrates materials science, organic chemistry, and process economics principles. It aligns with sustainability goals, contributing to decarbonization and promoting a just transition in waste management.
