Using nanotechnology for wastewater treatment and biomass upcycling

Increasing concerns about environmental pollution and the unsustainability of fossil fuel usage call for novel processes that connect the production and disposal of synthetic chemicals to the anabolic and catabolic capabilities of the biosphere. Central to this request is the development of recyclable catalysts that convert non-food biomass to chemical feed stocks or convert synthetic materials to biodegradable and benign small molecules. Our interdisciplinary team aims to develop biocompatible nanoparticles as carriers for catalysts with applications in wastewater treatment or in biomass upcycling. If successful, the project will open new, exciting avenues for enzymatic treatments in industrial settings with lower costs and a higher safety profile.