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Environmental Engineering

1997

Biodegradation

Articles 1 - 4 of 4

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Mobilization Of Trace Elements In Aquifers By Biodegradation Of Hydrocarbon Contaminants, Scott L. Kearney Dec 1997

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 …


Investigation Of Biodegradation Processes In Solid Waste Landfills, Philip A. Colborn Dec 1997

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 …


Biodegradation Of Deicing Agents In Various Soil Types, Annmarie Halterman-O'Malley Dec 1997

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 …


Evaluation Of The Natural Biodegradation Of Aircraft Deicing Fluid Components In Soils, Laura M. Johnson Dec 1997

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 …