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Biodegradation Of Highly Weathered Deepwater Horizon Oil, Joel T. Bostic
Biodegradation Of Highly Weathered Deepwater Horizon Oil, Joel T. Bostic
Theses and Dissertations
Oil from the Deepwater Horizon (DwH) spill continues to be found on beaches five years post-spill. Understanding the role of microbes in removing DwH oil from sandy beaches is necessary to elucidate the fate of DwH oil in the coastal zone. Oiled sand patties and non-oiled sand were collected from affected beaches five years post- DwH. Biomarkers in oiled sand indicated that sand patties originated from the DwH spill, however the oil was heavily weathered and dominated by oxygenated hydrocarbons. Microbial communities, as measured by phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), were present on oiled sand patties and distinct from microbes on …
Sustainable Decolorization Of Reactive And Acid Dye Wastewater Using Photo-Fenton Oxidation Both With And Without Biodegradation: Laboratory And Field Studies, Marissa R. Jablonski
Sustainable Decolorization Of Reactive And Acid Dye Wastewater Using Photo-Fenton Oxidation Both With And Without Biodegradation: Laboratory And Field Studies, Marissa R. Jablonski
Theses and Dissertations
Photo-Fenton oxidation is an advanced oxidation process (AOP) used to degrade low-concentration textile dye wastewater using expensive chemicals. The technique has shown promise in laboratory-scale projects, but has not been scaled up sustainably to function for industry. Aerobic biodegradation is a common biological treatment method used in large-scale textile industrial applications that generates large amounts of hazardous biological waste. This waste is often left open to the elements and subsequently leaches into natural waterways or onto land. This is the first study of its kind to combine the two to treat cottage-scale industry-grade textile wastewater with a dye concentration of …
The Occurrence, Fate, Environmental Impact, And Management Implications Of Pharmaceutical And Personal Care Products In Wastewater And The Environment, Benjamin Donald Blair
The Occurrence, Fate, Environmental Impact, And Management Implications Of Pharmaceutical And Personal Care Products In Wastewater And The Environment, Benjamin Donald Blair
Theses and Dissertations
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are a critical part of modern life. However, there is growing evidence that the levels of PPCPs detected in wastewater effluent and in the environment have the potential to cause damage to aquatic organisms. These pollutants enter the aquatic environment primarily through human use, disposal in the drain or toilet, land application of biosolids, and veterinary sources. Numerous questions remain regarding the occurrence, fate, and impacts of PPCPs in wastewater, along with limited feasible management recommendations that would adequately mitigate the risk from these pollutants. This dissertation will present three advances in the field …
Soil Fertility Status And Degradation Of 2, 4, 6-Trinitrotoluene Contaminated Soils, Chelsea Kae Katseanes
Soil Fertility Status And Degradation Of 2, 4, 6-Trinitrotoluene Contaminated Soils, Chelsea Kae Katseanes
Theses and Dissertations
Current models for predicting the environmental fate of munitions constituents (MC) in soils are based mostly on chemical distribution parameters and neglect the larger considerations of other soil parameters. We are working towards a new approach based on the whole soil activity for predicting the long-term residence time and fate of MC in soils with connection to agronomic soil fertility concepts. These relationships are demonstrated by correlating experiments involving full physical and chemical characterization of eight taxonomically distinct soils, with batch reactor studies determining MC degradation potential. Soils were incubated in a slurry for 10 days in a closed reactor …
Biodegradation Of Organophosphate Chemical Warfare Agents By Activated Sludge, Steven J. Schuldt
Biodegradation Of Organophosphate Chemical Warfare Agents By Activated Sludge, Steven J. Schuldt
Theses and Dissertations
Organophosphates (OPs) have been widely used as Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs) as well as pesticides since World War II and still remain a threat to national security. While efforts have been taken at military installations and civilian communities to secure these chemicals and prevent their misuse, a determined adversary could still obtain and deploy them to injure, kill, or instill terror. The lethal properties of this group of compounds are primarily owed to their irreversible inhibition of the enzyme acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) and thus may alter the human nervous system or affect the hormonal balance of children in particular. In …
Aerobic Biodegradation Of Fuel Oxygenates, Adam M. Gutshall
Aerobic Biodegradation Of Fuel Oxygenates, Adam M. Gutshall
Theses and Dissertations
Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) is the most commonly used fuel oxygenate in the world. Its recalcitrant nature as well as its chemical properties have led to widespread groundwater contamination. Questions regarding its toxicity have spurred a search for viable oxygenate alternatives. Since biodegradability is a key indicator of a chemical’s environmental impact, this research used three different well-known methods, BOD5, respirometry, and GC analysis, to examine the extent and rates of aerobic biodegradation of MTBE along with tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). The common fuel component toluene was added to some of the samples to determine if the presence of …
Biodegradation Of Deicing Agents In Various Soil Types, Annmarie Halterman-O'Malley
Biodegradation Of Deicing Agents In Various Soil Types, Annmarie Halterman-O'Malley
Theses and Dissertations
Airports have found that spent deicing fluids eventually reach the airfield's stormwater system and soil surrounding the airfield. Due to toxic effects of spent deicing fluids, containing and collecting the fluid for treatment can be a very costly activity for airports. One alternative to dispose of the used deicing fluid is to institute a land treatment system if it can be proven that the deicing fluid is readily biodegradable in a soil system. The primary concern of this research effort was to monitor the behavior of a simulated aircraft deicing fluid in various soil systems. An automated respirometer monitored the …
Mobilization Of Trace Elements In Aquifers By Biodegradation Of Hydrocarbon Contaminants, Scott L. Kearney
Mobilization Of Trace Elements In Aquifers By Biodegradation Of Hydrocarbon Contaminants, Scott L. Kearney
Theses and Dissertations
This study had two objectives: (1) to determine the extent of metal mobility within petroleum-contaminated aquifers, (2) to determine if biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons can explain metal mobility. The approach reviewed analytical results from 2305 groundwater sampling events, taken from 958 wells, located at 136 sites found at 53 Air Force installations. The study showed that high levels of metals are present at petroleum hydrocarbon sites where metals would not generally be expected. Of the metals with drinking water maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), mercury and silver were detected the least frequently. Barium and copper were detected at the sites, but …
Evaluation Of The Natural Biodegradation Of Aircraft Deicing Fluid Components In Soils, Laura M. Johnson
Evaluation Of The Natural Biodegradation Of Aircraft Deicing Fluid Components In Soils, Laura M. Johnson
Theses and Dissertations
This research effort was conducted to analyze the biodegradation of propylene glycol (PG) and tolyltriazole in two different soil types; a sandy soil and a high clay soil. Both an automated respirometer and a high performance liquid chromatograph (H PLO) were used in the analysis. Two separate experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, one level of tolyltriazole was added to the soils to determine whether or not there was a difference in the biodegradation rates of tolyltriazole in the two soils. The respirometer results indicated that there was a significant difference between the respiration rates of the microorganisms in …
Investigation Of Biodegradation Processes In Solid Waste Landfills, Philip A. Colborn
Investigation Of Biodegradation Processes In Solid Waste Landfills, Philip A. Colborn
Theses and Dissertations
Greater demands on landfill capacity, stricter regulations intended to minimize landfill environmental impacts, and the economic potential associated with landfill operations have shifted the emphasis of landfill disposal toward methods concerned with the long term performance and capacity of landfills. Two opposing philosophies have emerged in constructing and managing landfills: the dry tomb and the wet cell. The key to managing a landfill from the wet cell viewpoint is first understanding the biodegradation processes occurring within the landfill. This thesis attempts to determine the fundamental processes responsible for the degradation of solid waste by employing a system dynamics approach. A …