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Selective Separation Of Metal Ions From Aqueous Process Streams Using Magnetite Adsorbent, Daniel Geottlich

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The effect of coexisting ions on the selectivity of adsorption onto magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) for various elements in aqueous solutions was investigated. Surrogate solutions of varying concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs), heavy metals, and gangue elements (low commercial value elements or metals) were mixed with MNPs. Selectivity experiments were performed on surrogate samples based on the composition of a REE ore concentrate and a leach liquor from the chlorinated products of the roasted REE ore concentrate. Adsorption efficiency of magnetite was determined by measuring ion concentration in a sample using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Magnetite is selective …

Enzymatic Degradation Of Microcystin-Lr By Microcystinase (Mlra), Faisal Alqhtani

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is affecting the water supply worldwide. Hence, a way to eliminate this toxin is an essential target. In this study, successful cloning of the mlrA gene and producing MlrA enzyme that can degrade the cyclic MC-LR to linearized MC-LR was done. MlrA protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL-21 (E. coli). Also, enhancing the MlrA yield by adding nickel to LB media was a success in producing more MlrA enzyme from the same volume. Even though the enzyme showed no activity after adding Ni, the enzyme was expressed at a higher yield. Furthermore, it was to investigate adding …

New Strategies To Combat Fouling In Membrane-Based Water Treatment Applications, Anna Malakian

All Dissertations

The main challenge of pressure-driven membrane operations is fouling, which refers to materials build-up on a membrane surface that increases the mass-transfer resistance of the membrane and, ultimately, the operating cost associated with higher-pressure operation and chemical cleaning. One way to combat fouling is the physical modification of a membrane surface by adding patterns of structural features that disrupt foulant deposition. My dissertation research goal was to develop the basic science needed to design new fouling-resistant membranes by understanding what factors most influence how foulants interact with patterned membrane surfaces.After introducing the basic methods used for membrane modification, Chapter 1 …

The Effect Of Amino Acids And Molar Peroxide Ratio On The Oxidation Of 2,4 Dinitroanisole In An Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diode/H2O2 Advanced Oxidation Process, Jeffry P. Hart

Theses and Dissertations

2,4 Dinitroanisole (DNAN) is an organic insensitive munition that is a likely candidate to replace trinitrotoluene (TNT) for a variety of purposes. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) are a promising method that have the potential to reduce a variety of persistent chemicals, however, the performance of these systems may be degraded by co-contaminants in the influent. In this contribution, DNAN, with casamino acids as a co-contaminant, was oxidized with Ultraviolet (UV) Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in an AOP in a laboratory. The UV/ H₂O₂ AOP was capable of degrading DNAN …

Biodegradable Biomaterials As Suitable Alternatives To Water Treatment Technologies, Most Farzana Yesmin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nitrates and phosphates are essential nutrients for plants growth. Their excess presence in water, however, could cause eutrophication affecting the water quality and altering the aquatic ecosystem. Algal blooms and the presence of toxins such as microcystin in freshwater bodies are hazardous to humans, animals, and wildlife. Conventional technologies such as ion exchange, distillation, reverse osmosis, and bioreactors aid immensely to remove nutrients; however, they are expensive. Furthermore, building new nitrate and phosphate treatment units, maintenance and post-disposal are costly too. In this regard, there exists an unmet need for alternative processes that are renewable and cost-effective to treat contaminated …

Multifunctional Nanocomposites Based On Bacterial Cellulose, Qisheng Jiang

McKelvey School of Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Cellulose is biodegradable, renewable, and abundant in nature thus cellulose (or paper)-based products can be inexpensively produced and recycled. Among cellulosic materials, bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) draws a special research attention due to the inherent three-dimensional nanofibrous structure, excellent mechanical flexibility, high purity and well-defined surface chemistry, and cost-efficient, scalable and environment-friendly synthesis. BNC can be biosynthesized by Gluconacetobacter xylinus, which is the most characterized BNC producer among various microorganisms. BNC is composed of highly pure cellulose nanofibrils, produced from well-defined dextrose through biochemical steps and subsequent self-assembling of the secreted cellulose fibrils which has the dimension ranges from 25 to …

Multifunctional Nanocomposites Based On Bacterial Cellulose, Qisheng Jiang

McKelvey School of Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Cellulose is biodegradable, renewable, and abundant in nature thus cellulose (or paper)-based products can be inexpensively produced and recycled. Among cellulosic materials, bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) draws a special research attention due to the inherent three-dimensional nanofibrous structure, excellent mechanical flexibility, high purity and well-defined surface chemistry, and cost-efficient, scalable and environment-friendly synthesis. BNC can be biosynthesized by Gluconacetobacter xylinus, which is the most characterized BNC producer among various microorganisms. BNC is composed of highly pure cellulose nanofibrils, produced from well-defined dextrose through biochemical steps and subsequent self-assembling of the secreted cellulose fibrils which has the dimension ranges from 25 to …

A Cost Benefit Analysis Of Emerging Led Water Purification Systems In Expeditionary Environments, Alicia D. Binggeli

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force is a rapid mobile force responsible for national defense and reaction to calls for humanitarian aid across the globe. Rapid Global Mobility is a major tenant of the Air Force strategy. It provides the nation its global reach, underpins its role as a global power, and ensures that tomorrow, just as today, the United States can respond quickly and decisively to unexpected challenges to its interests. The ability to produce or acquire potable water is an essential piece of this tenant. Reverse Osmosis Water Purifications Units (ROWPUs), the workhorse for all military units, provide all the necessary …

Fabrication And Characterization Of A Composite Fibrous Construct With Photocatalytic Activity And Physical Adsorption Capabilities For Water Treatment Applications, Dominique Tresten Everett

All ETDs from UAB

Environmental pollution has exponentially increased since the industrial revolution due to many advancements in technology which has led to the use of innovative materials. In the manufacturing and fabrication processes of modern technology, society has become victim to the contamination via production byproducts. This issue needs to be addressed with greater efforts to solve this worldwide issue to ultimately minimize these potential detrimental public health effects and improve environmental preservation. This research study focuses on contributing to efforts with minimizing wastewater pollution by the fabrication and characterization of complex porosity gradient fibrous membrane that purifies via particle size exclusion, photocatalysis …

Investigation Of Interferences And Development Of Pre-Treatment Methods For Arsenic Analysis By Anodic Stripping Voltammetry, Paul Lewtas

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Contamination of drinking water is a serious health issue in many developing countries and there is a recognised need for low cost portable systems that are capable of analysing drinking water down to low ppb levels. Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) instruments meet these requirements but suffer interferences from other species which may also be present in the sample, particularly organics, other metals and sulfides. The last of these has received surprisingly little attention in the literature, despite being a proven interferent.

This study investigates the impact of each of these interference types, as well as a number of traditional and …

Water In The 21st Century, Grayson Michael Shor

Social Sciences

The aim of this research project is to provide a comprehensive and global analysis of water use in order to provide the reader with a comprehensive grasp of current and impending issues. The included five (5) chapters discuss water distribution, conservation, purification, law, international development, economic debates, ethical consideration, as well as educated estimations of the effects water related issues may cause in the next one-hundred years.

Environmental And Biological Applications And Implications Of Soft And Condensed Nanomaterials, Pengyu Chen

All Dissertations

Recent innovations and growth of nanotechnology have spurred exciting technological and commercial developments of nanomaterails. Their appealing physical and physicochemical properties offer great opportunities in biological and environmental applications, while in the meantime may compromise human health and environmental sustainability through either unintentional exposure or intentional discharge.
Accordingly, this dissertation exploits the physicochemical behavior of soft dendritic polymers for environmental remediation and condensed nano ZnO tetrapods for biological sensing (Chapter two-four), and further delineate the environmental implications of such nanomaterials using algae- the major constituent of the aquatic food chain-as a model system (Chapter five).
This dissertation is presented as …

Environmental Implications And Applications Of Nanomaterials, Priyanka Bhattacharya

All Dissertations

Recent advances in material science and nanotechnology have given rise to a myriad of developments, while in the meantime call for research into the impacts of nanomaterials on the environment and human health. Although considerable progress has been made in the past decade concerning the behavior of nanomaterials in biological systems, such understanding is critically lacking with respect to the fate of nanomaterials in ecosystems.
Accordingly, this dissertation addresses the interactions between nanomaterials and algae--the major constituent of the aquatic food chain (Part I, Chapter two), and exploits the physicochemistry of nanoscaled synthetic dendritic polymers for environmental applications, especially for …

Modeling Of Complex Pentahedron Solar Still Covers To Optimize Distillate, Jeremy D. Lefevre

Theses and Dissertations

This work shows the results of modeling and optimizing pentahedron-shaped covers for application on a passive solar still. While modeling under the assumption of clear weather in Provo, Utah, United States of America, it was found that two main geometries resulted: A single slope still with fully vertical back and sidewalls and a south face tilted at 37.1°, absorbing a total of 8.98 megajoules of direct solar radiation. A half-pyramid shaped cover with vertical backwall, sidewalls tilted in at 60.6°, and a south face tilted in at 41.5°, absorbing 9.34 megajoules of direct solar radiation.With improved covers, solar radiation absorbed …

Evaluation Of An On-Line Device To Monitor Scale Formation In A Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Membrane Process, Jennifer C. Roque

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A modified two-element membrane pressure vessel assembly has been used to monitor process operational changes in a full-scale reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plant (WTP). This study evaluated the effectiveness of the assembly as an on-line monitoring device intended to detect scale formation conditions when connected to an operating RO process train. This study was implemented to support the requirements of a larger University of Central Florida (UCF) research project ongoing at the city of Sarasota’s Public Works and Utilities (City) water treatment facilities located in Sarasota, Florida. During the time-frame of this study, the City was in the process …

Solar Powered Water Purification System, Alina Carlson, Reece Kiriu, Andrew Nosé, Christopher Sugii, Erin Taketa, Alex Tamai

Mechanical Engineering Senior Theses

Santa Clara University's 2011-2012 Solar-Powered Water Purification System team is developing a solution to create a water distillation system, heated by solar troughs and solely powered by photovoltaic (PV) panels that can produce clean, drinkable water. This device would balance cost and efficiency to be marketable to lower-income locations, such as developing countries that suffer from shortages of clean water. In accomplishing this, the team will ensure that the system is sustainable and requires minimal maintenance.

Development Of A Novel Tio2-Polymeric Photocatalyst For Water Purification Both Under Uv And Solar Illuminations, Debjani Mukherjee

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Comprising about 70% of the Earth’s surface, water is undoubtedly the most precious natural resource. According to the W.H.O, around 3.5 million people are dying every year from different water related diseases. Different kinds of dyes and pharmaceutical products have been detected in drinking water, all over the world. These organic compounds being non removable by traditional water purification processes, made advanced oxidation processes come into existence. Among all kind of advanced oxidation processes, photocatalytic oxidation is the most promising one. The photocatalytic process is based on aqueous phase hydroxyl radical chemistry and couples low energy UV light with semiconductors …

Enhanced Membrane Distillation : Analytical And Deionization Applications, Ken Gethard

Dissertations

Membrane distillation (MD) is a newer technology that is being investigated for applications such as seawater desalination and concentration of fruit and sucrose solutions. The major advantage of MD over traditional thermal distillation is that it requires a substantially lower thermal energy requirement to power the process. This allows low grade energy sources such as waste heat or solar energy to be used with MD. Compared to concentration processes such as reversed osmosis or ion-exchange, MD does not require specialized equipment, high electrical consumption, the use of strong acids and bases nor does it generate hazardous waste as a by-product. …

Water Purification In Haiti : An Engineers Without Borders Project, Melissa Valoura

Theses

The objective of this thesis was to present the necessary steps to help a town in Haiti develop an organization focused on improving their water quality. It goes through the technology needed to create the organization and explains the procedures for implementing a charitable project in a foreign country. A narrative of the student project in Milot, Haiti, where students from the New Jersey Institute of Technology's Engineers Without Borders Chapter implemented a water purification project, explains the course of action that was taken and gives an example of a successful project. A summary of Haiti and its history paints …

Comparison Of The Dichlorination Of Organic N-Chloramines By Caroate And By Bisulfite: A Kinetic Study, Said H. Lubbad

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Bisulfite is commonly used to dechlorinate chlorinated municipal wastewater. However, several studies suggest that bisulfite is not effective in dechlorinating N-chlorinated amino components of wastewater. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an alternate dechlorinating agent, caroate (peroxysulfate), and to compare its rate of dechlorination of three different types of chloramines with that of bisulfite.

Four N-chlorinated amino compounds were investigated: N-chlorodiethylamine, N­ chloroalanylphenylalanine, N-chloroglycylphenylalanine, and N-[2-(N'-chloroimino)­ propanoyl]phenylalanine. These compounds were selected from different families of N­ chloramines to study the effect of structure on dechlorination by both caroate and bisulfite. At pH …

Development Of A Fluorescent Indicator For Inorganic Monochloramine, Xiaojun Dong Zou

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Current methods used to determine combined residual chlorine cannot distinguish between inorganic monochloramine (NH₂Cl) and organic chloramines. Studies described in this thesis were carried out to develop a novel method of determining the concentration of inorganic monochloramine in aqueous solutions. Based on the observation that the reaction of 3-formyl-1-methylpyridinium chloride (3FMPCl) with NH₂Cl produces a solution which is fluorescent, experiments were conducted to characterize the reaction and optimize the experimental conditions. Using the finalized protocol, NH₂Cl measurements were made in the presence and absence of organic amines and compared with a commonly used N, …

Reactions Of Aqueous Chlorine With Alanylphenylalanine In Model Solutions And In A Wastewater, Thomas C. Fox

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Model solutions of the dipeptide alanylphenylalanine were chlorinated to four different chlorine-to-amino nitrogen (Cl₂/Ala-Phe) mole ratios and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. At mole ratios ≤ 1, N-chloroalanylphenylalanine was the only major product. As the Cl₂/Ala-Phe mole ratio was increased to ≥ 2, N,N-dichloroalanylphenylalanine was the only major product. In model solutions (pH 7.0) the dichlorinated dipeptide decomposed (t_1/2= 4.1 hr) to form a stable N-chloroketimine, which has a half-life of 125 hours. This N-chloroketimine then decomposed to form phenylalanine.

To follow these reactions in a wastewater, alanyl-p-[ …

Chlorination Products Of Glycylphenylalanine In Model Solutions And A Wastewater, Daniel J. Keefe

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Model solutions of the dipeptide glycylphenylalanine were chlorinated to five different chlorine-to-amino nitrogen (Cl/N) mole ratios and analyzed after 30 min by high performance liquid chromatography. At mole ratios of ≤ 1, N-chloroglycylphenylalanine (I) appeared to be the only major product. At a mole ratio ≤ 2, N, N-dichloroglycylphenylalanine (II) was the only product. Compound II decomposes in model solutions (t_1/2= 6.4 hr) at pH 7.0 to form a compound tentatively identified as an H-chloroaldimine (III). Compound III in turn decomposes (t_1/2= 36 hr) in model solutions at pH 7. o to (IV) . From ^{13 …}

Reactions Of Aqueous Chlorine With Valine In Model Solutions And In Wastewater, Erika Forrer Mccormick

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Solutions of the amino acid valine were chlorinated to seven chlorine-to-nitrogen mole (Cl/N) ratios and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The chlorination products found were N-chlorovaline, isobutyraldehyde, isobutyronitrile, and N-chloroisobutyraldimine. Their product distribution depends on the level of chlorination and pH. The main products identified at the lower CI/N mole ratios were N-chlorovaline and isobutyraldehyde, whereas at the higher CI/N mole ratios isobutyronitrile and N-chloroisobutyraldimine were identified as the main products. The concentration and the chlorination products of valine in municipal wastewater were also determined. The chlorination products of …

Stable N-Chloraldimines And Other Chlorination Products Of Phenylalanine In Model Solutions And In A Wastewater, Barbara L. Conyers

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Model solutions of the amino acid phenylalanine were chlorinated to seven Cl/N mole ratios. The by-products were characterized using gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, GC/MS, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. At the lower Cl/N ratios N-chlorophenylalanine and phenylacetaldehyde were identified as the main products while phenylacetonitrile and N-chlorophenylacetaldimine were the major products at Cl/N ratios of 2.0 and beyond. The concentration of phenylalanine in a municipal wastewater was determined. Using a radiotracer the chlorination products of phenylalanine in the wastewater at the 7 Cl/N ratios were identified as those seen in the model solutions. The distribution of …

Chemistry Of Organic N-Chloramines, Formation Of Arenesulfonamides By Derivatization Of Organic N-Chloramine With Sodium Arenesulfinate, Katherine F. Bowdring

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Organic N-chloramines are recognized by-products of chlorinated water systems. Because of their chemistry, none have been isolated or identified.

This paper discusses a method for the derivatization of the organic N-chloramines based on a nucleophillic substitution mechanism. N-Chloro derivatives of amines of various structures were studied including primary and secondary aliphatic amines, as well as amino acids. The effect of the presence of other functional groups including aromatic and unsaturated systems was investigated.

Derivatization was done by three different methods, one involving derivatization of the pure N-chloramine, and two involving derivatizations of the N-chloramine generated in situ. Seventeen arenesulfonamides have …

An Investigation Of Fabric Filtration For The Removal Of Colloidal Turbidity From A Laboratory Water, David Brent Jansen

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A kaolin in tapwater suspension was treated either with alum or one of two cationic polymers. The resulting suspension was filtered through various configurations of felt cloth filters. The kaolin suspension was adjusted to 100 JTU. Treatment by polymer consistently lowered the filtered effluent to less than 1 JTU. Jar tests were utilized to determine optimum coagulant dose for the tests. The formulation of a complete filter cake in the filter appeared to be the determining factor in the efficiency of water clarification by the filter. The literature lacked references to this concept as applied to water supply problems. The …

Evolution Of A Cooling Water Treatment Program At A Chemical Processing Plant, Lawrence P. Everson

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

During the construction of a chemical processing plant, a polyphosphate product was selected for use as a corrosion inhibitor in the open recirculating cooling tower system. After several months of operation, problems in the system made evident the fact that polyphosphate as a corrosion inhibitor was not acceptable. An organic corrosion inhibitor was substituted for the phosphate, resulting in improved corrosion protection and the elimination of phosphate fouling.

Nominal Molecular Weight Distributions Of Color, Toc, Tthm, Precursors And Acid Strength In A Highly Organic Potable Water Source, Jalil Fouroozi

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the relationships between molecular size and the TOC, TTHM, acid strength and color concentrations present in raw and coagulated water from Lake Washington. Three separate coagulants were utilized for investigation. There were: Al, Fe and Mg. Results indicated that the majority of the TOC, color and TTHM precursors were in the colloidal size range and removed by coagulation. The remaining TTHM precursors are mostly molecular and require a process other than coagulation for removal from the potable water before environmental standards are met.

The Effect Of Ozone On Trihalomethane Precursors In Raw And Magnesium Treated Lake Washington Water, James Kent Kimes

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A bench scale laboratory ozonator was constructed and determined to produce 27 mg O3/hr. A contacting system and experimental procedure was developed to approximate a mass balance of 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 ppm were applied to raw and magnesium treated water from Lake Washington which is the potable water source for Melbourne, Florida. The effect of ozone on trihalomethane precursors was studied by comparing THM formation at 1, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours following chlorination. The concentrations of each specie, chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochlormethane and bromoform are reported. The highest 96 hour TTHM concentrations reported were 2773 …