Team:Xiamen City/Human Practices
Summary
In this part, we document what we have done to refine our research topic and to launch promotion events for our entire project in the society. The primary goal of our project is to eliminate m-phenylenediamine via biological methods and hence to protect water sources. We try to place this research in a general social and economic background, to achieve which we conducted a series of professional investigation and interviews, ranging from Dr. Gengrong Liu, Professor in Economics from Xiamen University, Mr. Zheng from Quanzhou Shengyuan Environmental Protection Sewage Treatment Plant, Mr. Yuan from Nan Zi Environmental Protection Company and Dr. Liu from Tongan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. All these experts provide us with valuable perspectives on our research project, thanks to which we smoothly move forward.
Here are key information that we have obtained from our social investigations:
1.The origin of water pollution lies in economic property of water resources, insufficient government regulations, industrialization and market mechanism;
2.M-phenylenediamine is one of the major causing factors for serious illnesses, including cancer and kidney diseases;
3.The current degradation reatment of m-phenylenediamine are either chemical method or physical method. Chemical method may cause secondary pollution while physical method may not able to fully degrade m-phenylenediamine. Thus, a powerful biological method to degrade m-phenylenediamine may become a meaningful alternative to replace current chemical and physical methods;
4.Almost all the experts that we interviewed expressed his or her interest in supporting our research project, for which we felt really proud.
All these information, together with experts’ support confirmed our determination to further explore our research topic to overcome m-phenylenediamine through biological method. More importantly, we are inspired to develop our idea into real products which may bring about both economic and social benefit to the society, to achieve which we also prepare a business plan accordingly.
PURPOSE
Our research topic is inspired by the explosion accident at Xiangshui. The shocking event which caused serious casualties made us know about m-phenylenediamine, a chemical compound that may cause serious damage to our environment, especially water sources, at a tiny dose. We started considering whether we can efficiently degrade m-phenylenediamine environmentally or not.
In traditional treatment of m-phenylenediamine, chemical degradation is very popular. However, since the quantity of m-phenylenediamine in polluted water is quite small. To chemically degrade it, a large quantity of chemicals need to be introduced and hence some toxic side products will be generated, which may casue secondary water pollution. Meanwhile, this chemical degradation will also enhance the economic cost. For instance, Fenton Reaction, one of the most popular method applied in chemical engineering industry to degrade m-phenylenediamine, requires introduction of H2O2 and FeSO4 to change m-phenylenediamine to
H2C2O4 and CH3COOH. In this process, acid substance and Fe(OH)3 are produced, both of which cause damage to water sources. .
Regarding physical degradation methods, resin with drilled holes are usually
used to absorb m-phenylenediamine. Although this method does not cause secondary
water pollution, it can not totally eliminate the m-phenylenediamine contained in the
water.
We hope to develop a new microorganism, which is functional in degrading m-phenylenediamine.at a lower cost than chemical or physical methods do.
In this way, we wish to contribute to reducing the pollution of m-phenylenediamine without influencing the overall production capacity of this important material. As a result, the animal and botany habitat around m-phenylenediamine production factories will be well protected and hence the general natural environment will be protected.
DESIGN
In our initial design, two approaches are included to test potential feasibility:
The first experimental method is to transform the plasmid containing laccase gene fragment into escherichia coli MG1655 strain and make the exogenous DNA highly expressed in escherichia coli competent cells, so as to complete the transformation of the reaction product—— recombinant plasmid and verify its degradation on m-phenylediamine in the following experiments
The second experimental method is based on artificial selection and adaptive evolution to screen out the bacteria that can develop resistance to m-phenylenediamine and can be used as carbon and nitrogen source sludge domestication bacteria and escherichia coli. Due to the high mutation rate of bacteria and the fact that bacteria can decompose some aniline substances, it can be used as an appropriate biological material for adaptive evolution.
This is the original intention of our experiment. At the same time, we hope to explore the deep causes of water pollution from various aspects. Through discussion with professor Liu Genrong of Xiamen university, we have noticed that the water pollution is actually caused by a series of inevitable effects brought by the chemical siege. Therefore, after discussion, we decided to carry out laboratory experiments and improve our experiments through social research. In our further communication and discussion with professor Liu, we hope to summarize the reasons behind the pollution of m-phenylenediamine from the perspective of economics .
In order to understand whether m-phenylenediamine will exist in domestic water and the purification of conventional water pollution, we visited Quanzhou Sheng Yuan environmental protection sewage treatment plant, where we interviewed Mr. Zheng, a senior engineer there, to understand the sewage treatment process.
In order to intuitively understand the traditional treatment methods of m-phenylenediamine pollution, we communicated with Mr. Yuan, a senior engineer at Nan Zi environmental protection company to obtain the cost and side effects of conventional treatment methods, and discussed the feasibility of our experimental project with him.
In order to further understand the harm of m-phenylenediamine and other chemicals to human body, we interviewed Dr. Liu from Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Xiamen city, hoping to make more people realize the harm of toxic chemical substances to human body by understanding the impact of these chemicals on human health
EXECUTION
We conducted the following social research based on our analysis and experimental ideas:
SEWAGE TREATMENT FACTORY
Picture: Mr. Zheng (Engineer) is explaining the process of sewage treatment.
In order to know more about sewage and m-phenylenediamine, and get closer to the real degradation process, we came to Shenyuan Environmental Protection Company., We got in touch with the first line of sewage treatment site, we saw the step-by-step degradation process of the sewage in the harmful substances. From the main causes of water pollution to purification methods, Mr. Zheng helped us deepen our understanding of water inlet, biochemical tank, collection tank, phosphorus removal device and nitrogen removal device. While marveling at the elaborate device, we also had a deeper understanding and more ideas about what we do.
(Desilter)
(phosphorus removal device)
Then, we asked Professor Liu (Genrong Liu) of Xiamen University about the impact of water pollution and m-phenylenediamine pollution on social economy.
The picture above shows our project, LOGO and team uniform design.
Interview Nanzi Environmental Protection Company.
Then we interviewed engineer yuan, the chief technician of Nanzi Environmental Protection Company. He analyzed and explained m-phenylenediamine on a professional level. And help us analyze the feasibility of the project and improve the plan.
While conducting social research and visiting the site, we also conducted experiments in the laboratory to support our data base.
Finally, we also interviewed Dr. Liu from the clinical department of Tongan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Xiamen.
The picture shows that Dr. Liu was explaining the diseases caused by water pollution and the harm to our health.
Dr. Liu analyzed the effects of m-phenylenediamines, or phenyls, on the human body According to her, m-phenylenediamines is on earth major causes of some cancers and other diseases. In water-polluted areas, morbidity of cancer and other serious diseases are higher than other areas with clean water source. Moreover, Dr. Liu also mentioned that some harmful substances like m-phenylenediamines contained in water can not be eliminated through simply boiling up, This interview further confirmed our determination to proceed with our m-phenylenediamines elimination project since it will be very meaningful for both human health and the natural environment.