Bioremediation

1
Bioremediation

• Hilary Briscoe, Johnloren Tso,
• Julio Carrillo

2
Trichloroethylene (TCE)

• TCE is a chemical used in many products
• Aerosol Spray
• General Anesthesia
• Polishing for Optical Lenses
• Extraction of caffeine from coffee
• Solvent for dry cleaning, cleansing fluid and glue

3
Trichloroethylene cont..

• Toxicity in the body
• hepatic necrosis
• nephropathy
• cardiac arthymias
• mental disorders
• cranial and peripheral neuropathy
• lesions of the brain and spinal chord
• suppression of the cough reflex

4
Environmental Effects of TCE
5
Vinyl Chloride

• Vinyl chloride
• Known carcinogen
• Damages the liver, lung, kidneys and heart
• Can prevent blood clotting
• Contact with the skin can cause redness and
  blisters
• Can cause nerve damage
• Has been known to cause a lack of sex drive in
  men
• Has been known to cause irregular menstrual
  periods in women
• Has been known to harm unborn offspring

6
Situation

• Find an efficient, cost-effective method to clean
  up a Trichloroethylene (TCE) spill in Northern
  Ontario.

7
Aerobic Vs. Anaerobic

• Aerobic
• Oxygenases
• (type of enzyme) break down contaminants during
  biodegradation

• Anaerobic
• produces harmful metabolites
• - Vinyl Chloride
• (mutagen carcinogen)

8
Problem

• Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b is a bacteria
  that breaks down TCE, but it does not grow in
  Northern Ontario.

9
The Plan

• Grow colonies of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b
• Isolate the gene responsible for breaking down
  TCE
• Insert the gene into bacteria that does grow in
  Ontario
• Reproduce this new genetically engineered
  bacteria and place it at the site of the spill

10
Conclusion

• Our plan is
• Environment friendly
• Not time consuming
• Cost effective