Trash to Treasure: Photocatalytic Reaction Cascades in Vesicle Microreactors (BUTT_U26DTP)

This exciting project will engineer light-driven microreactors converting nitrate to ammonia thereby delivering proof-of-principle for a sustainable technology converting a widespread pollutant, nitrate, to a valuable fertiliser and chemical feedstock, ammonia.

Harnessing sunlight as an abundant and sustainable source of energy to drive the upcycling of waste presents an attractive strategy to mitigate climate change. For this purpose smart bio-inspired systems are particularly attractive, and we previously demonstrated self-assembled vesicle microreactors performing photocatalytic production of a green fuel, hydrogen, and removal of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. Those reactions were driven by electrons supplied by robust, light-harvesting Carbon-Dots.

Building on our success, this project will assemble vesicles performing the photocatalytic reduction of nitrate to ammonia using an entrapped enzyme cascade. Effective transport of reactants and products across the vesicle bilayer will be achieved with protein nanowires, ionophores and pore-forming proteins.

The project will involve protein purification, protein engineering, spectroscopy, photochemistry, analytical chemistry and enzymology. Working in an enthusiastic and supportive team the student will become expert in state-of-the-art (bio)chemistry, biophysics and photocatalysis. They will also expand their knowledge of synthetic biology and green chemistry, and benefit from opportunities to participate in national and international conferences.

Informal enquiries are encouraged, please contact Professor Julea Butt (j.butt@uea.ac.uk) for further information.