Improving Dye-Degrading Enzymes for Environmental and Human Health
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azo dyes- Annually, around 3 × 105 tons of textile dyes are discharged into wastewaters worldwide.
- Dyes are responsible for an estimated 17 – 20% of total industrial water pollution.
- Certain azo dye intermediates such as aromatic amines which are highly toxic and carcinogenic. The presence of these in effluent pose a threat against environment and human health.
- Azo dyes which release one of 22 specific aromatic amines are banned as they are known carcinogens. However, 18 more carcinogenic aromatic amines have now been found to be released by certain unbanned azo dyes.
- Chemical methods for treating azo dyes are often costly and can cause secondary pollution.
- There is a need in the textile industry to migrate from petrochemical fabrics to sustainable materials, and to reduce the cost of dye remediation.
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The 'Remedye'- Develop biosensors to test contaminants in waste effluents.
- Improve azo-dye degrading enzymes using directed evolution.
- Immobilise the enzymes for industrial applications.
- Produce synthetic silk as valuable material.
- Use our bioremediation solution and resultant production of valuable materials to move towards a circular economy.
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Contact Us
Edinburgh OG
Peter Wilson Building
University of Edinburgh
edigemmsc@ed.ac.uk
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