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The biotechnological research
at PEER involves a multi-dimensional
approach to bioprocesses
which combines appropriate
fundamental aspects of microbiology,
cell biology, molecular
biology, physiology, biochemistry,
enzymology, genetics, and
chemistry with the practice
of petroleum engineering.
Our emphasis is on the versatility
of microbial metabolism
and the intrinsic ability
of microorganisms to media
biogeochemical cycles. Our
current research focus on
mainly three areas:
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1) Better
understand the molecular
genetics and optimize the
process of biosurfactants
synthesis in P. aeruginosa
and Bacillus subtilis.
Two biosurfactants produced
by those two bacteria strains,
rhamnolipid and surfactin,
are both controlled by two-way
quorum sensing mechanism.
We have successfully produced
rhamnolipid in heterologous
hosts by cloning the necessary
genes onto over-expressing
plasmids. We are studying
the possibilities to genetically
engineer high-potent bacteria
stains that can produce
cost-effective biosurfactants
for oil industrial applications,
such as MEOR.
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| 2) Gain the
fundamental scientific understanding
of CH4 generation by methanogenic
bacteria at thermophilic conditions.
Specifically, our research
will answer the following
questions: |
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-How do acetate-consuming
methanogen and H2-CO2-consuming
methanogen contribute to
the thermophilic anaerobic
treatment?
- Are the biological nutrients,
nitrogen, phosphorous and
inorganic metal ions, sufficient
enough to support the growth
of different groups of bacteria?
- How do the environmental
conditions, especially temperature
and pressure affect the
efficiency and speed of
anaerobic methanogenic process?
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| 3) Study how
CO 2 reduction occurs and
how CH4 is generated by methanogenic
bacteria. Our interests
have been focused on an uncommon
but well documented bio-methanogenesis
as shown in the equation below: |
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4H 2 +
CO2 ------> CH4 + 2 H2O
+ ATP
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| This process
is also believed to be a strictly
anaerobic process, where the
H2 is supplied from a fermentation
reaction by a different bacterial
group (interspecies hydrogen
transfer mechanism). Uncover
the mechanisms of this methanogenic
process will leads us to the
new methods of carbon sequestration. |
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