There are currently 6.5 million streetlights in the UK, with this number increasing every year. It costs around £88,500 per mile per year to run and maintain street lighting.
Bioluminescent plants are able to produce and emit their own light, if used for street lights this could provide a cheaper and more energy efficient option.
Luciferase enzymes are the complexes used to produce bioluminescence. During the reaction the enzymes produce an intermediate compound, responsible for the bioluminescence by emitting a photon of light (hv) according to the reaction below:
RCHO + FMNH2 + O2 - Luciferase -> RCOOH + FMN + H2O + hv
Figure 1 - A bio-luminescent plant
The luciferase gene for bioluminescence can be obtained from the bacteria Photobacterium leiognathi.
It can be inserted into plants to give bioluminescent plants via genetic engineering.
The plant used must be evergreen and hardy, ensuring the leaves and therefore street lighting is present all year round. The plant needs to be quick growing and have high surface area leaves in order to maximize the amount of light produced. It was decided that Prunus Lusitanica would be the best choice.
The quantum yield of a chemical reaction describes the probability of releasing a photon. The quantum yield of a bioluminescent reaction (the intensity of light produced by the plant) can be controlled using one of three techniques; nanoparticles, electromagnetic fields and supramolecular gels.
It is also important to consider negative impacts bioluminescent plants may have. Using bioluminescent plants will mean that the day length of the local ecosystem will be extended. Also, Prunus Lusitanica has naturally high toxicity levels, so further research is required into how this will affect local wildlife.
Figure 3 - Prunus Lusitanica plant
School of Mathematical Sciences, University of NottinghamUniversity Park NG7 2RD
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