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Daniel Doherty

Doctoral Researcher, WG Klatt
Philipps-Universität Marburg
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Project: Tackling arsenic pollution with cyanobacteria: an efficient light-driven mechanism for arsenic removal

Project summary: Arsenic pollution is a significant threat to human health and the environment due to its widespread presence in soil and water. Conventional arsenic removal methods are expensive and labor intensive. Biovolatilization, an emerging method, uses microbial-driven arsenic methylation to volatilize arsenic and offers a promising alternative for complete removal, however, achieving the desired non-toxic state, trimethylarsine (TMA), is challenging. Our recent studies highlight the influence of light dynamics on TMA production by cyanobacteria, suggesting that volatilization rates can be fine-tuned by optimizing cultivation conditions. This project aims to develop an efficient and accessible arsenic biovolatilization system that utilizes light and genetically engineered cyanobacteria to efficiently remove arsenic from contaminated water. The outcome of this work will provide insight into the mechanisms of arsenic detoxification and lay the groundwork for practical applications in the fight against arsenic pollution.

Cooperation with: Jan Zarzycki (MPI-TM), Andreas Seubert (UMR), Daniel Schindler (MPI-TM)

Cooperation Partners