Overview

We have went through a series of great human practices!

They ameliorated our project and broadened the boundaries of our thinking. To more closely aligned with local requirements, we interviewed people from different professions in related fields, and obtained their suggestions. At the same time , we carried out a set of investigations.After determining the direction of our project, we have meetings with experts and professors, and in progress we attained improvements in matter of ethics, innovation, project feasibility and the most critical safety.

1.How did we determine our project?

At the first beginning, we carried out a background survey about nickel industry to figure out the values and problems.Meetings with the environment protection authority and enterprises provided us with related opinions from different aspects.Then we concluded them together to draw our blueprint this year.

2.How did we figure out what practices to do?

We tended to consider as many aspects as possible,so at first we maintained a network in mind that suggested what we can do to improve and broaden our project .

What is more, key bottlenecks emerge as we were on the way to achieve goals. Luckily, this help us launch human practices with explicit motivation and obtain richer information and inspiration while communications and visits.

3.What is the feedback did we received?

Integrated Human Practices

1.The Environmental Protection Agency

1. Communication with a staff of environmental protection department

In order to steer our project towards the best design for solving local problems, we invited Mr. Zhou Kui from Hubei Environmental Protection Department in our conference room.

1.1 Consideration

After listening to our introduction, Mr. Zhou Kui advised us to measure the concentration of Ni2+ in the wastewater after our treatment, and determine if it is significantly lower than the existing treatment method. He also suggested that we consider the costs and time for treatment processing, operator training, infrastructure construction, other up-front investment, routine equipment maintenance, and waste recycling. A favorable presentation of these comprehensive considerations will make our project more compelling to relevant enterprises.

1.2 Regulations on Sewage Discharge

At the same time, we also asked experts about domestic emissions in recent years. The Chinese government's regulations on sewage discharge are becoming more and more strict, so it is less likely that the lake water discharge will exceed the standard. The discharge standard for heavy metal sewage is related to the industry and the locality. The national standard is the most authoritative, but when the local standard is stricter, the local standard is adopted.

Also, while standards focus on the concentration levels, it should also be important to note the total amount over time. A factory spilling a small concentration, but in very large volume can do more damage than a factory with a high concentration but limited output.

We must not only pay attention to the emission concentration from the standard, but also the total amount of emissions. If our method can reduce the concentration of nickel ions by an order of magnitude or more , thus significantly reducing the total amount,that will be very attractive for some high-volume companies. We anticipate that our solution will also be significantly cheaper to implement and operate.

1.3 Current Method

A common current method for treating heavy metal effluent is to use physicochemical methods to reduce the concentration, then precipitate and filter, next use a microbial membrane treatment, and finally incinerate.

This inspired us to design a device to replace most of these many, complex processes with a simple three-step process; one chemical (change pH), one biological (remove Ni2+), and one physical (bio-safety measure).

1.4 Next HP Step

At the end of the meeting, the experts suggested that we go to a factory that is currently dealing with nickel-containing effluent, such as an automobile factory or circuit board factory, for further investigation.

Mr.Zhou, an expert from Hubei Environmental Protection Department

Communication with Mr.Zhou

Communication with Mr.Zhou

2. Visit to an effluent treatment plant at an automobile factory

2.1 Determine the processing flow of the factory

To better guide our project, we planned a visit to observe the actual processes used in the treatment of effluent containing heavy metals. After a brief communication with the engineers, we learned that their primary treatment technique of heavy metal effluent is a common physicochemical method, and after a series of treatments the metal concentration in the effluent meets the national standard.

We have learned that the factory adds lime and ferric chloride make the solution extremely alkaline. In addition, the whole physicochemical method is relatively tedious, and there are a great many ponds used.

2.2 Inspiration for our project

However, these lime and ferric chloride they used are likely to pollute the environment. The entire process of treating sewage takes a long time and a lot of energy, pools, and space are required.

This activity directly informed us to think about how we can replace the existing methods more advantageously. We expect to transform a cell that is greedy for nickel ions, combined with designed devices to solve nickel ion pollution problems with less time and consumption, providing a better alternative to industrial production, and realizing the vision of green production. As you can see now, our nickel hunter, gluttonous yeast is such a great assistant to us.

2.3 Inspiration for device design

Inspired by our inspection of the workshop, we constructed a device model consisting of three ponds, a collection tank, a main treatment tank, and a finalbio-filtering tank. With this design, we need far fewer ponds than the conventional processes. We noted that the plant is fully automated and remotely controlled, which is consistent with our vision of remote monitoring.

Visiting the sewage treatment plant

Visiting the central control room

3. Communication with a professor of Huazhong Agricultural University (HAU)

After we formed our initial vision for our project, we payed a visit to Professor Zheng Shixue, who is studying environmental microbiology at HAU, and discussed the feasibility and development direction of our project.

3.1 Experimental Design

Prof. Zheng said that our genetic circuit could theoretically achieve the goal that we hope that engineering bacteria can absorb nickel ions in a larger amount. The hexahistidine peptide expressed by the hexa-his gene can not only absorb Ni²⁺, but can also absorb other positive-valence heavy metal ions. Although it has no specificity, it can achieve total repair, and the experiment may have better effects than anticipated.

Visiting the central control room

Also, he reminded us that the experimental process in the laboratory provides a suitable environment for the yeast, therefore our results should be very good. But generally, microorganisms used for sewage treatment are mixed cells and their outer layer has polysaccharides or special biofilms for self-protection. When the laboratory product is put into practical use, the poor conditions of the real environment may lead to limited efficacy of the system.To alleviate this problem, we chose to use yeast instead of bacteria.

3.2 Better yeast immobilization

In order to prevent the yeast from leaking, we hope to immobilize the yeast. Originally we used calcium alginate as a raw material for yeast immobilization, but Prof. Zheng believes that it may decrease the cell activity and the gel beads should be resistant enough. He suggested biological landfill or the replacement of embedding materials.

With the study of a great deal of literature, we changed the material into PVA(polyvinyl alcohol). The gel beads formed by PVA has a rubber-like mesh structure with good mechanical properties; it is also resistant to acid and alcohol.

3.3 Biological Safety

We are looking forward to providing a better alternative for industrial plants through this system, replacing current chemical-based solutions with biological processes. Prof. Zheng said that the engineered yeast could be put into the natural environment only after a relatively long period of critically modified organism safety assessment. Only metabolic products of engineered bacteria, strains acquired by mutation breeding, and non-engineered strains screened from the natural environment can be put into environmental applications without a GMO safety assessment. This reinforced our safety awareness, and guided the design of our device to prevent genetic leakage of engineered bacteria into the environment.

We talked with professor Zheng about our plan.

GMO safety assessment of engineered bacteria

4. Saw that innovative technology can realize additional advantages at Yellow Crane Tower Distillery

We learned that the general process for industrial wastewater treatment is first a physicochemical method, followed by an activated sludge method.However, it is known that sludge treatment is prone to secondary pollution and bring burden on the ecological environment.

We went to Yellow Crane Tower Distillery, which has adopted new technology to treat effluent. The process produces energy with very little sludge. We visited the workshops and learned that the new strains with methane bacteria added not only handled COD, BOD and ammonia nitrogen well, but also increased the amount of methane gas which is subsequently used in factories to generate electricity. They also changed the traditional process of using oxidation ponds to biological exposure filters. A biological closed loop system has great improvements in energy, environmental protection and economy.

This visit made us realize that good technology can bring great energy advantages.It also inspired us to design a process to recycle our product to reclaim the Nickel, making our project a complete closed loop.

Communicate with staff

Sewage treatment pond

5. Investigation about the yeast recovery method at Angel Yeast Co., Ltd

Angel Yeast Company.

Angel Yeast Co., Ltd was founded in 1986. As a listed high-tech yeast company in China, it specializes in the production of yeast and yeast derivatives.

In order to achieve a closed loop for absorption-recovery of nickel ions, we also needed to design a method for re-extracting the absorbed nickel ions. On August 26, 2019, our team came to the Industrial Park of Angel Yeast Co., Ltd. in Yichang City to consult the industrial method to break down yeast.

We talked with professor Zheng about our plan.

The staff introduced us to their method of treating yeast to obtain yeast peptides, which is a low-cost method for the stable production of yeast peptide products. The papain they use can separate cells, interrupt the extracellular matrix that binds the cells, and further lyse the cells themselves. We adopted the step of adding papain to our process of recovering nickel ions to achieve the goal of releasing nickel ions from the disrupt engineered yeast.

6. Conference:CCiC

We participated in The sixth iGEMer conference in China (CCiC) . Field experts gave comments and technical support for teams’ projects, and industry professionals gave us more insights and broaden our horizons. The meeting enabled us to communicate and collaborate better with many teams.

To increase the interaction between listeners and speakers, we recommend that teams use various Html5 template tools to create a mobile-friendly, wikis-like page.

CCiC Opening Ceremony

Poster Session:The judge was giving us advice

7.An Environmental Protection Company

7. An Environmental Protection Company

We have made a mini factory model and proposed a working scheme for the equipment. But to turn the model into equipment for practical application, there are still a lot of professional considerations. Therefore, We had an online meeting with Nanfang Environmental Protection & Middle-land Industial Co.,Ld. The company has answered our confusion from a professional perspective.

We identified concrete as a building material for the ponds, and the company added that corrosion-resistant paint should also be used to enhance the stability of the equipment.

Regarding how to lift the filterable tank used to replace yeast, on the one hand, the company said that it will not affect the aeration effect, we can safely adopt. On the one hand, they noted us that our original plan to the use the robot arm cost is relatively high and industry generally use hanging or hand-pulling hoist to lift the tank.

Finally, security is always our concern. The company answered the safety questions about the device, they said that considering that yeast is a fungus with both anaerobic, may have methane, hydrogen sulfide and so on, need to be equipped with explosion-proof motors, armored cables, flexible connectors and so on.

An Engineers in the Company

This activity has made the application device we designed safer and more economical, and the professional advice has improved the design of the device in all its aspects.

Education & Public Engagement

We want to let the public of different ages understand synthetic biology, and we are not willing to stop in the city. We hope that this effect can also be passed to the countryside. For the public of different ages and regions, we tailored the forms and content of science popularization for them who participated in the event.

Our activities are as following:

1. Let kindergarten children get into science

On July 13^th and 14^th, we went to a kindergarten to allow children to perform hands-on experiments with carbon dioxide. The kindergarten provided small experimental clothes to the children, and the parents came to the classroom to participate.

1.1 In-depth teaching methods

Prepare carbon dioxide with lemon and baking soda.

In order to facilitate understanding, a series of interesting experiments were conducted. In the experiment of blowing out candles, carbon dioxide was prepared with lemon and acetic acid, which we used to extinguish the candles. Through this experiment, they intuitively learned that carbon dioxide does not support combustion. The chemical reagents we prepared, lemon and acetic acid, are safe, so we encouraged children to perform the experiment themselves. We believe that do-it-yourself, hands-on scientific experiments will better inspire their curiosity about science.

1.2 The enthusiasm and curiosity

It was very exciting to find that after the final event there were several children who were still in the classroom and were reluctant to leave, asking us to do more experiments for them. They had so enjoyed working with their parents, covering one or two candles with a glass cover, and discovering that the oxygen would be consumed, causing the candles to extinguish. While 3-5 year old children can't understand the deeper principles, nevertheless the enthusiasm and curiosity in their eyes was exciting to see, and suggests we laid a good paving stone for their later entry into the sciences.

After the class, children were doing experiments on their own.

Preparing classroom suppiles

1.3 Continue their scientific experiments

We sent commemorative bags to the parents, which included experimental reagents such as baking soda and lemon. The purpose was to help kids continue their scientific experiments with their parents at home. If one or two experiments from our activity leaves an impression, then this event was meaningful.

2. Introducing middle school students to biology

In order to further promote science education in secondary schools, we gave a lecture on biology to some middle school students from Tongji Affiliated High School of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, along with some members of the HUST-IGEM team.

We introduced the children to some basic concepts of microorganisms, from the composition of microbial cells to the role of the major organelles of microorganisms. We focused on explaining the role of mitochondria as a power plant and the survival mechanism of biological cells.

Then we told the children some fundamental concepts of synthetic biotechnology, and the future of synthetic biology. At the same time, we also played a video demonstrating the science of gene editing for the children, and discussed important issues to establish a correct understanding of the role these sciences play.

The students were very interested and asked the following questions:

In this activity, many of the children's reactions were very positive, and they demonstrated an unexpectedly strong interest in biology. We held a kind of bio-knowledge brainstorm, where we carefully answered questions. In order to encourage the children to continue pursue their interest in biology (with an iGEM theme), we prepared iGEM logo badges, stickers and some small stationery items as souvenirs, which where a big hit with the students.

For us, this event may have just been one of many HP activities, but it was a singular day to the students, and we hold the hope that we have succeeded in stimulating a few children's interest in biology, opened up a new path for them, and revealed more possibilities for their futures. This is a very exciting thing.

Introducing middle school students to biology

Introducing middle school students to biology

3. Cooperation with volunteers to support the education

Figure 1. The result of the questionnaires.

When planning public education and participation activities, we realized that our thinking had been limited to the city. In order to bring synthetic biology to rural areas, we cooperated with the education volunteers from our university. After interviewing supporting teams from many cities, we found that most of the supporting teams rarely included biology classes in their teaching curriculum. We discussed ideas with them about adding biological courses, and offered them help with developing a biology curriculum.

The children in rural areas were interested in taking an experimental course during the summer vacation. The theme of this experimental activity was about turning iodine blue with starch, then causing the blue to fade by adding vitamin C. Although the equipment was objectively pretty simple, that did not hinder the children’s excitement and happiness during the class.

The teacher was explaining the structure of cells in Biology

Children are doing experimental activity

In the biology class, the teacher explained the structure of a cell, and the functions of some organelles in detail. The students knew that the function of cell walls is to protect cell environment; when it comes to chloroplasts, the children knew that it can carry out photosynthesis; when it comes to the nucleus, the children understood DNA, and knew that if the parents have double eyelids, the child is likely to have double eyelids.

The volunteer teachers also brought the notebook “SPACESHIP E.coli” brochure on synthetic biology designed by OUC-China to the children. The volunteers explained the contents of the comics to the children and helped them to better understand synthetic biology.

The children were given a notebook about Synthetic Biology.

4. The campus propaganda

4.1 A Scientific Exchange Meeting

The Scientific Exchange Meeting

In order to add more new blood to our iGEM team, and to promote the values of iGEM on campus, we held a scientific exchange meeting for freshmen, letting them talk about their four-year university plan. We invited some outstanding students from our lab to share their experiences and to answer the questions of the new students. We also shared our feelings and experiences participating in the iGEM competition in the past, and warmly invited them to sign up for the next iGEM.

4.2 Lab Open Day

We held the “Lab Open Day” event to give everyone a more intuitive experience of biological experiments. On that day, our iGEM team members guided and accompanied some students in performing some experiments to better understand biological knowledge and biosafety.

Lab Open Day

5.Science popularization for residents

5.1 Our theme, “heavy metals and life”

This year, we are committed to the treatment of nickel-ion pollution in industrial wastewater. As the project is associated with heavy metals, we took this opportunity to launch a public project with the theme of “heavy metals and life” in our community. This topic’s closeness to life has captured the attention and interest of many residents who decided to join us.

We began by providing an overview of dangers of heavy metals to human health, and then discussed what we can do to better prevent heavy metal ingestion by humans. Residents, and local residents' committee staff, showed an awareness of some sources, telling us things they knew about sources of pollution, such as seafood and cheap lipstick glaze. At the end, we introduced our project to the attendees, and talked about how we are using synthetic biology to treat nickel-ion contamination in wastewater. We introduced some typical applications of synthetic biology, (such as engineering bacteria for the diagnosis of early cancer, and designing and synthesizing artificial cells that can replace islet beta cells), with the hope of eliminating their doubts about the use of synthetic biology in life. These ideas were well received.

We are sharing our knowledge to residents

5.2 Long-term connection

After the event, our team members who participated in this popular science activity continued to answer questions about the impact of heavy metals on life through WeChat (a popular social media platform), and the neighborhood committee invited us to continue to carry out popular science activities in the future.