Research Seminars @ Illinois

Phosphorus (P) is an essential but nonrenewable nutrient, and its inefficient use and discharge from agricultural and industrial processes contribute to both resource depletion and environmental pollution. Organic phosphorus, particularly phytate, represents a major fraction of phosphorus in many waste streams but remains underutilized due to limited bioavailability and costly recovery methods. In this seminar, I will present my recent work on engineering phytase-functionalized polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bio-beads as a novel, recyclable biocatalyst for phosphorus conversion and recovery. By genetically displaying phytase enzymes on intracellularly synthesized PHA beads, we create a robust, self-immobilized enzyme system that enables efficient hydrolysis of organic phosphorus into bioavailable inorganic phosphate without the need for enzyme purification or chemical immobilization.

Speaker Biography: 

Wanqi Wang is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, working under the supervision of Dr. Na Wei. Her research focuses on cell engineering and biomaterial-based biocatalysts for sustainable resource recovery, with an emphasis on phosphorus and rare-earth element recycling. She integrates synthetic biology, enzyme engineering, and environmental biotechnology to develop scalable solutions for waste valorization and circular economy applications.