Team:Wroclaw/Filter

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Filter Project

We took extra care creating our project for the biofilter. We decided to use Yarrowia lipolytica due to it's GRAS status and natural defense mechanism in which they express proteins called metallothioneins responsible for chelating metal ions to decrease their toxicity. Then our yeast create a biofilm with accumulated pollution - important in the bioremediation process.

When our filter will reach it's maximum capacity, it will turn red (due to inserted genes responsible for producing lycopene) and release peachy smell (due to gamma-decalactone production that is natural for Y. lipolytica.



The frame of our filter will be made of sodium alginate, which itself can absorb as much as 178 miligrams of cadmium per one gram of alginate. It will not only safely immobilise our microorganism, but also greatly improve our biosorption capability. The filter will be mounted inside the ventilation shaft.

  • References
  • Bankar A., Zinjarde S., Shinde M., Gopalghare G., Ravikumar A., 2018. Heavy metal tolerance in marine strains of Yarrowia lipolytica. Extremophiles. Springer Japan (0123456789)
  • Braga, A., Belo, I., 2016. Biotechnological production of γ-decalactone, a peach like aroma, by Yarrowia lipolytica. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 32(10)
  • Järup L (2003) Hazards of heavy metal contamination. British Medical Bulletin 68(1): 167–182.
  • Matthäus, F., Ketelhot, M., Gatter, M., & Barth, G., 2014. Production of lycopene in the non-carotenoid-producing yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 80(5), 1660–1669
  • Sieczyńska K (2017) Metale ciężkie w kurzu z pomieszczeń zamkniętych użyteczności publicznej. Technologia i Jakość Wyrobów 62: 149–160.
  • Zabiegała B (2009) Jakość powietrza wewnętrznego - lotne związki organiczne jako wskaźnik jakości powietrza wewnętrznego. Monografie Komitetu Inżynierii Środowiska PAN 59(2): 303–315.