Microbial Synthesis of Chalcogenide Nanoparticles Joyabrata Mal i Thesis committee: Thesis Promotor Prof. dr. ir Piet N.L. Lens Professor of Biotechnology UNESCO-IHE, Delft, The Netherlands Thesis Co-Promotors Dr. Y. V. Nancharaiah, (Scientific Officer G) Biofouling & Biofilm Processes Section, WSCD, Chemistry Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Department of Atomic Energy, India Dr. Hab. Eric D. van Hullebusch, Hab. Associate Professor in Biogeochemistry University of Paris-Est, Marne-la-Vallée, France Dr. Giovanni Esposito, Assistant Professor of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, Italy Other Members Prof. Geoff Gadd College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK Prof. Davide Zannoni Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy Dr. Paul Mason Department of Geosciences Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands This research was conducted under the auspices of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Environmental Technologies for Contaminated Solids, Soils, and Sediments (ETeCoS3) and the Graduate School for Socio-Economic and Natural Sciences of the Environment (SENSE). ii Joint PhD degree in Environmental Technology Docteur de l’Université Paris-Est Spécialité : Science et Technique de l’Environnement Dottore di Ricerca in Tecnologie Ambientali Degree of Doctor in Environmental Technology Tesi di Dottorato – Thèse – PhD thesis Joyabrata MAL Microbial Synthesis of Chalcogenide Nanoparticles Defended on November 18th, 2016 In front of the PhD committee Prof. Geoff Gadd Reviewer Prof. Davide Zannoni Reviewer Dr. Paul Mason Reviewer Prof. Piet Lens Promotor Dr. Hab. Eric van Hullebusch Co-Promotor Dr. Giovani Esposito Co-Promotor Prof. Fritz Holzwarth Examineur Erasmus Joint doctorate programme in Environmental Technology for Contaminated Solids, Soils and Sediments (ETeCoS3) iv Imagination is more important than knowledge. - Albert Einstein v vi Table of contents Table of Contents Page No. Acknowledgment……………………………………………………………………………………….XV Summary………………………………………………………………………………………............XVII Sommario…………………………………………………………………………………………….XVIII Samenvatting……………………………………………………………………………………………XX Résumé………………………………………………………………………………………………..XXII CHAPTER 1 ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Background .................................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2. Problem description ....................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3. Research objectives ....................................................................................................................................... 4 1.4. Structure of the thesis .................................................................................................................................... 5 1.5. References ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 2 ............................................................................................................................................................ 9 Literature review ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 11 2.2. Quantum dots and their properties .............................................................................................................. 11 2.3. Metal Chalcogenide QDs ............................................................................................................................ 12 2.4. Biological metal chalcogenides ................................................................................................................... 12 2.5. Sulfur based chalcogenides ......................................................................................................................... 14 2.5.1. Sulfur oxyanion reduction mechanisms .................................................................................................. 15 2.5.2. Biological synthesis of metal sulfides QDs ............................................................................................. 15 2.5.2.1. MeS QDs synthesis using bacteria ...................................................................................................... 16 2.5.2.2. MeS QDs synthesis using yeast/fungi ................................................................................................. 21 2.6. Selenium based chalcogenides .................................................................................................................... 24 2.6.1. Selenium oxyanion reduction mechanisms ............................................................................................. 24 vii 2.6.2. Biological synthesis of metal selenide QDs ............................................................................................ 26 2.6.2.1. MeSe QDs synthesis using bacteria..................................................................................................... 27 2.6.2.2. MeSe QDs synthesis using yeast/fungi ............................................................................................... 30 2.7. Tellurium based chalcogenides ................................................................................................................... 31 2.7.1. Tellurium oxyanion reduction mechanisms ............................................................................................ 32 2.7.2. Biological synthesis of cadmium telluride QDs ...................................................................................... 32 2.7.2.1. CdTe QDs synthesis using bacteria ..................................................................................................... 32 2.7.2.2. CdTe QDs synthesis using fungi/yeast ................................................................................................ 35 2.8. Mechanisms of biological synthesis of metal chalcogenides ...................................................................... 36 2.8.1. Localization of metal chalcogenides ....................................................................................................... 36 2.8.2. Size and shape of biogenic metal chalcogenides ..................................................................................... 37 2.9. Applications of chalcogenide QDs .............................................................................................................. 38 2.9.1. Cell imaging and tracking ....................................................................................................................... 39 2.9.1.1. In-vitro Imaging................................................................................................................................... 39 2.9.1.2. In-vivo imaging ................................................................................................................................... 40 2.9.1.3. Cell tracking ........................................................................................................................................ 41 2.9.2. Cancer imaging ........................................................................................................................................ 41 2.9.3. Cytotoxicity of MeCh QDs ..................................................................................................................... 42 2.10. References ............................................................................................................................................... 44 CHAPTER 3 .......................................................................................................................................................... 60 Biological removal of selenate and ammonium by activated sludge in a sequencing batch reactor ....................... 60 3.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 62 3.2. Materials and Methods ................................................................................................................................ 63 3.2.1. Source of biomass and synthetic wastewater .......................................................................................... 63 3.2.2. Synthetic wastewater ............................................................................................................................... 64 3.2.3. Sequencing batch reactor operation ......................................................................................................... 64 viii 3.2.4. Batch experiments – effect of ammonium on selenium removal ............................................................ 65 3.2.5. Analytical methods .................................................................................................................................