Effect of Dissolved and Bacterial Cell Envelop-Bound Highly Reactive Thiols on the Redox Transformation and Methylation of Mercury in the Landfill Leachate Environment(2/3)

Project Details

Description

While much progress has been made in the past decades towards understanding the multifaceted aspects of mercury methylation, due in large part to the identification of the methylating genes, many fundamental questions remain. Indeed, recent evidence shows that bacterial cell envelope thiols can dominate Zn, Cd, and Hg sorption; however, the ability to quantitatively assess the importance of this on the speciation, distribution, bioavailability, and transformation of these elements in realistic systems is lacking.Here we propose to use the novel fluorophore approach to evaluate the environmental factors that control cell envelope R-SH site concentrations and binding affinities for Hg under realistic environmental conditions. Specifically, we will probe the role and effect of these R-SH sites on the redox transformation and methylation of Hg in the landfill leachate environment. Nonetheless, the results from this study can be applied not only to contaminant transport modeling, but also to bioremediation engineering and to understanding Hg cycling in the environment in general.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/08/1631/07/17

UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This project contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 15 - Life on Land
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

Keywords

  • bacterial cell envelop thiols
  • Hg redox transformation and methylation
  • landfill leachates

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