Sustainable environmental remediation via biomimetic multifunctional lignocellulosic nano-framework

Abstract

Chemical pollution threatens human health and ecosystem sustainability. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are expensive to clean up once emitted. Innovative and synergistic strategies are urgently needed, yet process integration and cost-effectiveness remain challenging. An in-situ PFAS remediation system is developed to employ a plant-derived biomimetic nano-framework to achieve highly efficient adsorption and subsequent fungal biotransformation synergistically. The multiple component framework is presented as Renewable Artificial Plant for In-situ Microbial Environmental Remediation (RAPIMER). RAPIMER exhibits high adsorption capacity for the PFAS compounds and diverse adsorption capability toward co-contaminants. Subsequently, RAPIMER provides the substrates and contaminants for in situ bioremediation via fungus Irpex lacteus and promotes PFAS detoxification. RAPIMER arises from cheap lignocellulosic sources, enabling a broader impact on sustainability and a means for low-cost pollutant remediation.

Sustainable remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites

“…Such materials and processes should be carefully designed to exploit multiple and complementary functionalities. For example, an innovative nanomaterial was developed for use in barrier systems using chemically modified lignocellulosic biomass, achieving high adsorption capacity due to amphiphilic properties, while enabling subsequent fungal-based biodegradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) contaminants 109 . The net CO 2 emissions of this material are 97% lower than treatment based on granular activated carbon.…”

Nanomaterial-Based Advanced Oxidation/Reduction Processes for the Degradation of PFAS

“…Metal oxides nanoparticles are also used as nanoadsorbent platforms for PFAS because they have high SSA and many surface functional groups [22]. Because PFAS soluble in water have a negative charge, the adsorption is maximized when the pH is lower than the point of zero-charge (PZC) of the oxide, namely: Al2O3, 7.3; Fe2O3, 7.6; and TiO2, 5.4 [73]. Besides the pH, the SSA and the surface hydroxyl density (SHD) are critical factors in the PFAS adsorption efficiency of the metal oxides, and the SSA (m 2 /g) and SHD (micromol/m 2 ) are, respectively: Al2O3, 198 and 31.2; Fe2O3, 41.7 and 21.0; TiO2, 64.1 and 35.5; and, SiO2, 278 and 18.3 [73].…”

“…Because PFAS soluble in water have a negative charge, the adsorption is maximized when the pH is lower than the point of zero-charge (PZC) of the oxide, namely: Al2O3, 7.3; Fe2O3, 7.6; and TiO2, 5.4 [73]. Besides the pH, the SSA and the surface hydroxyl density (SHD) are critical factors in the PFAS adsorption efficiency of the metal oxides, and the SSA (m 2 /g) and SHD (micromol/m 2 ) are, respectively: Al2O3, 198 and 31.2; Fe2O3, 41.7 and 21.0; TiO2, 64.1 and 35.5; and, SiO2, 278 and 18.3 [73]. Also, the formation of inner-sphere complexes at the surface of the metal ions by of metal cations increases the adsorption capacity [22,73].…”

Engineered Living Materials For Sustainability

“…Similarly, several bioremediation technologies use microorganisms’ native abilities to degrade toxic chemicals in scenarios, including cleaning up oil spills and contaminated soils . For example, scientists have recently developed living materials with artificial scaffolds hosting fungi to remediate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination …”

“…522 For example, scientists have recently developed living materials with artificial scaffolds hosting fungi to remediate per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. 523 Synthetic biology provides tools to enhance such capabilities further. Advances in genetic engineering enable porting enzymes and pathways with bioremediation potential from their native, nonengineerable hosts into genetically tractable chassis organisms.…”