(6al) Biofilm Engineering for Human Health and Environmental Sustainability | AIChE

(6al) Biofilm Engineering for Human Health and Environmental Sustainability

Authors 

Mohamed, A. - Presenter, Washington State University
Beyenal, H., Washington State University

Biofilm Engineering for human health and environmental
sustainability

Research Statement:

My research focuses on the interface of electrochemistry and
biofilm processes in medical and environment applications. The medical research
focused on understanding and developing new strategies for controlling
pathogenic biofilms, such as wound biofilms. We developed a novel technology
for combatting wound biofilm infection by controlled production of biocides on
flexible electrodes embedded in a wound bandage. The work included the
development of primary wound scaffold containing flexible electrodes and the
design of control electronics. The controlled continuous production of biocides
on electrodes allowed the elimination of biofilm infections on wound surface,
without damaging the wound tissue. In addition, microsensors were used to study
the microscale gradients in wound biofilms and understand their response to
antibiotic treatment. This understanding allowed the development of enhanced
antibiotic delivery in biofilms based on diffusion-reaction theory.
Environmental applications focused on the utilization of biofilms that grow and
exchange electrons with inert electrodes, called electrochemically-active
biofilms (EABs). EABs can be used to speed up wastewater treatment, recover
energy from organic waste streams, or for the production biocommodities.
At fundamental level, my research involved in developing novel methods to
measure depth-resolved biofilm conductivity using innovative microelectrode
array assembly, which was used to investigate fundamental electron transfer
mechanisms in EABs. In addition, we investigated factors controlling the
scaleup of EAB electrodes, and operated a large pilot-scale reactor for
wastewater system. The innovation her is using solid electrodes as electron
acceptors, rather than the conventional aeration method (currently accounting
for 3-4% of US electrical energy consumption). In addition, we developed a
novel strategy improving the long-term stability of EABs based on potentiostatic control. We developed two autonomous
electronic platforms for monitoring bioelectrochemical
systems and for in-situ enrichment of EABs in remote locations. For
microorganisms that do not directly interact with electrodes, we utilize
electron shuttles to alter the fermentation profiles of microorganism for the
electrosynthesis of higher value reduced metabolic end products. Overall, my
PhD research demonstrated the use of electrochemistry and engineering tools to
control biofilm process to 1) prevent, delay, or treat pathogenic biofilm
infections for medical applications, 2) speed up wastewater treatment using an
innovative EAB-based system, and 3) shift the metabolic profile of
microorganisms to produce higher value products. 

Research Interests:

Biofilm engineering

Electrochemically active biofilms

Electrochemical Engineering

Microsensors (electrochemical) and applications in biology

Environmental microbiology and biotechnology

Bioinstrumentation

Teaching Interests:

Electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering

Transport phenomena

Numerical methods for chemical engineers

Bioinstrumentation

Bioprocess engineering