Mentor: Zachary Shepard, University of Rhode Island
Co-Mentors: Vinka Craver, University of Rhode Island
Irene Andreu, University of Rhode Island

Project Location

University of Rhode Island-Kingston

Project Description

Bacteria, including those growing in Narragansett Bay, can fabricate nanoparticles using compounds obtained from their environment. These biologically manufactured nanoparticles can be exploited for a variety of applications ranging from biomedical to environmental remediation.

In this project, we propose to develop an enriched culture of microorganisms, from Narragansett Bay native population, that could biosynthesize manganese oxide nanoparticles. Manganese oxide is a material of interest because of its known strong oxidant properties that can be used for degradation of persistent pollutants in water. Manganese oxide nanoparticle’s reactivity is related to its physicochemical properties such as size, shape, and surface chemistry. Previous studies have shown that the properties of manganese nanoparticles produced by specific bacteria can be tuned controlling the culture conditions. In this study we will evaluate the impact of the enriched culture growing conditions (temperature, nutrient concentration, etc.) on the physicochemical and pollutant degradation potential of the biologically produced manganese oxide nanoparticles.

By biosynthesizing manganese oxide nanoparticles using bacteria and studying their properties, the student will contribute to the development of green and sustainable techniques for water purification. The student will learn how to culture and enrich bacterial communities and how to analyze nanomaterials using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy.