Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Evaluation Of Biological Treatability Of Soil Contaminated With Manufactured Gas Plant Waste, J. S. Ginn, Ronald C. Sims, I. P. Murarka

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

The biological treatability of subsurface soil contaminated with manufactured gas plant (MGP) waste was evaluated. Mineralization assays incorporating ¹⁴C-phenanthrene were used to evaluate the biotransformation potential of indigenous microorganisms at the site. Multi-phase laboratory microcosms were used to evaluate the interphase transfer potential and chemical mass distribution of phenanthrene. The Microtox™ bioassay was used to evaluate detoxification trends at the site. Mineralization results indicated that indigenous microorganisms at the site were capable of transforming phenanthrene, a component of coal-tar creosote. Results also indicated that spiked ¹⁴C-phenanthrene mineralization was influenced by nutrient addition and by the amount of contamination. …

Treatment Of Pentachlorophenol With Manganese Oxide Addition To Biotic And Abiotic Sediments, R. Petrie, J. E. Mclean, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Laboratory microcosms containing subsamples of a complex environmental sediment were used to evaluate the addition of oxidized manganese as the primary electron acceptor in the presence of pentachlorophenol (PCP) as the primary electron donor. Manganese oxide (MnO₂) particles were added to poisoned abiotic and non-poisoned biotic microcosms and incubated at 11°C in the presence of sediment samples that were shown capable of mineralizing PCP with indigenous microorganisms. Reduction in PCP concentration and production of reduced manganese was measured for both abiotic and biotic systems.

PCP was observed to be transformed most rapidly and to the greatest extent in …

Mn-Catalyzed Oxidation Of Naphthalenediol, G. Whelan, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

This study investigates the effects that manganese(IV) dioxide particles have on 2,3-naphthalenediol at varying pH levels (i.e., initial pH of 4.58, 5.85, and 8.75) and under different organic concentration conditions (4×¹⁰⁻³, 4×¹⁰⁻⁴, and 4×¹⁰⁻⁵ M), and assesses the importance of Mn oxides on abiotic catalysis of the multiple-ringed aromatic compound. Proton concentration affected the rates of reductive dissolution; as the pH values increased, the rate of reductive dissolution decreased, as predicted by theory. Also, as the concentration of naphthalenediol increased, the rate of reductive dissolution increased, although not proportionally; thus indicating that a majority of …

Auger Design For Uniform Unloading Of Granular Material: I. Rectangular Cross-Section Containers, David D. Jones, Michael F. Kocher

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Design equations were developed for two auger configurations that for practical purposes generate uniform vertical flow of granular material through containers or boxes having a rectangular cross-section. Both configurations have uniform outside diameters so the simple geometry of the conventional U-trough housings could be used with these augers. One configuration had a uniform pitch for the auger flighting and decreasing inside diameter. The other had a uniform inside diameter and a decreasing pitch of the flighting with distance from the outlet end of the auger. Both configurations dramatically improved the uniformity of flow over the conventional auger. However, confidence intervals …

Corn Residue Cover On The Soil Surface After Planting For Various Tillage And Planting Systems, David P. Shelton, Elbert C. Dickey, Stephen D. Kachman, K.T. Fairbanks

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Crop residue left on the soil surface after planting is one of the most cost-effective soil erosion control practices, and is a primary component of the majority of conservation plan that have been developed to comply with the conservation provisions of the 1985 Food Security Act. However, from contacts in Extension meetings and demonstrations, it became apparent that formers frequently misunderstood certain aspects of crop residue management, particularly the effects that tillage and other operations had on residue cover. To help address some of these questions, we measured percent residue cover remaining on the soil surface after planting for 69 …

Mn-Catalyzed Oxidation Of Multiple-Ringed Aromatics, G. Whelan, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

The role of manganese (Mn) oxides in catalyzing the abiotic oxidation of polynuclear aromatic compounds (PNAs) has been investigated by monitoring the oxidation of dihydrodiol and dione PNAs and corresponding reduction of Mn in an aqueous environment. 1,4-, 1,3-, and 2,3-naphthalenediol, 1,4-naphthoquinone, and l,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthracenedione (Quinizarin) were oxidized in an oxic, aqueous environment, where each of these organic compounds is soluble in water, except Quinizarin. A mathematical model is presented, which describes the redox reactions, and suggests that electron transfer/organic release from the oxide surface is rate limiting with the reaction apparently proceeding through a free-radical formation. Results indicate significant oxidation …

Does Junk Dna Regulate Gene Expression In Humans, M. A. Hulten, Michael W. Stacey, S. J. Armstrong

Bioelectrics Publications

No abstract provided.

The Genetic Tie, Dorothy E. Roberts

All Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Random Roughness Assessment By The Pin And Chain Method, John E. Gilley, E. R. Kottwitz

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Surface microrelief is frequently characterized using random roughness factors (RRF) defined by Allmaras et al. (1966). Random roughness factors are usually measured using a pin roughness meter or laser. Saleh (1993) recently proposed the chain method as a relatively simple, fast, and inexpensive technique for characterizing surface microrelief. The chain method is based on the principle that as a chain of given length is placed across a surface, the horizontal distance covered by the chain will decrease as surface roughness increases. Reductions in chain length caused by surface roughness are described as Saleh roughness factors (SRF).
In this study, RRF …

Soy Protein Isolate/Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Films, V. M. Ghorpade, A. Gennadios, M. A. Hanna, Curtis L. Weller

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Films were prepared by casting and drying alkaline aqueous film-forming solutions of soy protein isolate (SPI). Four additional types of films were made by combining SPI with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in SPI to PEO ratios of 19:1, 9:1, 4:1, and 1.5:1 (w/w). Glycerin was added to all film-forming solutions as a plasticizer at 60% of total solid weight. Addition of PEO decreased film tensile strength (TS) and increased elongation at break (E). TS values ranged from 1.4 to 3.9 MPa and E values ranged from 83 to 152%. Water vapor permeability of the films ranged from 3.0 x 10^{-9 …}

Thermomechanical Behavior Of Wheat Gluten Films: Effect Of Sucrose, Glycerin, And Sorbitol, George Cherian, Aristippos Gennadios, Curtis L. Weller, Pavinee Chinachoti

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Glass transition temperature (T_g) and mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of wheat gluten films containing glycerin, sucrose, glycerin-sucrose, and glycerin-sorbitol were studied. Glycerin and sucrose were immiscible; the wheat gluten film containing both solutes showed two separate thermal transitions (-58°C and -5°C, respectively). The low temperature (low-T) transition (-58°C) was due to a glycerin-rich region. The low-T tan δ peak height influenced the tensile strength and elongation linearly and the water vapor permeability (WVP) curvilinearly. However, the T_g failed to change with solute composition and exhibited low correlation with barrier and mechanical …

Darcy-Weisbach Roughness Coefficients For Surfaces With Residue And Gravel Cover, John E. Gilley, Eugene R. Kottwitz

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Several types of hydraulic resistance factors may be present on upland agricultural areas. It is not known whether roughness contributions from individual elements are additive or if interactions between resistance factors may occur. In this study, Darcy-Weisbach roughness coefficients were measured on surfaces containing corn-soybeans, sorghum-cotton, and sunflower-wheat residue in addition to gravel cover. Varying rates of flow were introduced into a flume in which residue and gravel materials were securely attached. Roughness coefficients were calculated from measurements of discharge rate and flow velocity for Reynolds number values varying from approximately 1,200 to 13,000. The laboratory data were then used …

Auger Design For Uniform Unloading Of Granular Material: Ii. Cylindrical Containers, Michael F. Kocher, David D. Jones

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

The analysis presented can be used to determine the design equations for augers that produce uniform vertical flow of granular material through containers with cylindrical cross-sections. The augers so designed have a constant outside diameter and a variable root or shaft diameter. Installed in cylindrical grain bins they could be used to convert a batch-in-bin dryer to a continuous flow dryer. The analysis is an extension of the work of Jones and Kocher (1995) who designed and tested such an auger for containers of rectangular cross-section, and determined flow to be uniform for practical purposes. The analysis follows the same …