Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 17 of 17

Full-Text Articles in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Harnessing Wastewater For Renewable Energy (2013-2), Aaron Adalja, Chalida U-Tapao Nov 2017

Harnessing Wastewater For Renewable Energy (2013-2), Aaron Adalja, Chalida U-Tapao

Aaron Adalja

This case study explores the options for using wastewater to produce renewable energy in the context of a public wastewater treatment plant. It provides an opportunity for students to synthesize knowledge from resource economics, engineering, environmental science, agriculture, and public policy to develop a transdisciplinary approach to a socio-environmental issue. The case is designed for upper division undergraduate courses in resource economics or environmental engineering, but several modifications are provided graduate course applications. Students assume the role of a newly hired analyst at a consulting firm in Washington, DC, that specializes in renewable energy solutions. They are charged with proposing …


Assessing Public Health Burden Associated With Exposure To Ambient Black Carbon In The United States, Ying Li, Daven K. Henze, Darby Jack, Barron H. Henderson, Patrick L. Kinney Apr 2017

Assessing Public Health Burden Associated With Exposure To Ambient Black Carbon In The United States, Ying Li, Daven K. Henze, Darby Jack, Barron H. Henderson, Patrick L. Kinney

Ying Li

Black carbon (BC) is a significant component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, which has been linked to a series of adverse health effects, in particular premature mortality. Recent scientific research indicates that BC also plays an important role in climate change. Therefore, controlling black carbon emissions provides an opportunity for a double dividend. This study quantifies the national burden of mortality and morbidity attributable to exposure to ambient BC in the United States (US). We use GEOS–Chem, a global 3-D model of atmospheric composition to estimate the 2010 annual average BC levels at 0.5 x 0.667° resolution, and …


Session E8: Can We Measure Cumulative Effects Of Hydro-Power On Migratory Fish? Development Of A Cumulative Effects Model Framework, Iain Stewart-Russon, Simon Palmer, David Fraser May 2016

Session E8: Can We Measure Cumulative Effects Of Hydro-Power On Migratory Fish? Development Of A Cumulative Effects Model Framework, Iain Stewart-Russon, Simon Palmer, David Fraser

David Fraser, PhD

Abstract: The Environment Agency provides guidance for run-of-river hydropower schemes in England, but concerns about small effects from multiple single schemes led to a project to determine how these can be assessed and to test an approach on migratory fish populations. We developed a model to assess the impact of multiple hydropower schemes. The model forecasts catchment-scale cumulative effects using three elements: hydropower scheme, spatial fish population and fish life cycle. The scheme element includes effects that are important to migratory fish and those that can be quantified. These are: 1) impediment to up- and downstream migration; 2) alleviation of …


Ultrasonic Enhanced Liquefaction And Saccharification Of Corn For Bio-Fuel Production, Samir Kumar Khanal, Melissa T. Montalbo, Johannes Van Leeuwen, Gowrishankar Srinivasan, David A. Grewell Sep 2015

Ultrasonic Enhanced Liquefaction And Saccharification Of Corn For Bio-Fuel Production, Samir Kumar Khanal, Melissa T. Montalbo, Johannes Van Leeuwen, Gowrishankar Srinivasan, David A. Grewell

Gowrishankar Srinivasan

Dry grind corn milling does not reach full efficiency of starch conversion to sugars and subsequently to ethanol because of limitations in the milling process. This paper examines the use of high-power ultrasonics to enhance the release of fermentable sugars from milled dry corn. In this work, 20 kHz ultrasonic energy was used to pretreat corn mash prior to enzymatic conversion of corn starch to glucose in a batch-mode. The ultrasonic amplitude was varied from 0, 191 to 320 µm pp . The corn mash was sonicated for 0 (control), 20 and 40 seconds. Other experimental variables that were studied …


Investigations And Management Of Epizootic Plague At Ice House Reservoir, Eldorado National Forest, California, 1994 And 1995, Kenneth R. Townzen, Malcolm A. Thompson, Charles R. Smith Jun 2015

Investigations And Management Of Epizootic Plague At Ice House Reservoir, Eldorado National Forest, California, 1994 And 1995, Kenneth R. Townzen, Malcolm A. Thompson, Charles R. Smith

Charles Kay Smith

The occurrence of plague (Yersinia pestic) at Ice House Reservoir in 1994 and 1995 was characteristic of widespread epizootics in high use recreational areas of California. Staff of the Vector-Borne Disease Section investigated these epizootics and found dense populations of plague susceptible California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) with high numbers of fleas, primarily Diamanus montanus, the most important plague vector. This combination indicated a high risk of plague exposure to campground users. A non-fatal human case of plague, contracted at Mountain Camp II, was reported after the initial epizootic investigation. The patient's exposure occurred prior to the reporting of the …


Dis And Distributed Watershed Models I, Jurgen Garbrecht, Fred L. Ogden, Paul A. Debarry, David R. Maidment Jun 2015

Dis And Distributed Watershed Models I, Jurgen Garbrecht, Fred L. Ogden, Paul A. Debarry, David R. Maidment

Fred L. Ogden

The increasing proliferation of spatial data, geographic information systems (GIS), and models for hydrologic applications provide many new investigation opportunities but also present a number of challenges for the uninitiated water resources practitioner. This two-part paper is intended for the practicing engineer who wants to expand into the arena of spatial data and distributed watershed modeling. It provides an integrated overview of the multiple facets of data-GIS-modeling issues and a source of background information for selection and application of GIS in watershed modeling. This first paper addresses selected spatial data issues, data structures and projections, data sources, and information on …


Ultrasonic Enhanced Liquefaction And Saccharification Of Corn For Bio-Fuel Production, Samir Kumar Khanal, Melissa T. Montalbo, Johannes Van Leeuwen, Gowrishankar Srinivasan, David A. Grewell May 2015

Ultrasonic Enhanced Liquefaction And Saccharification Of Corn For Bio-Fuel Production, Samir Kumar Khanal, Melissa T. Montalbo, Johannes Van Leeuwen, Gowrishankar Srinivasan, David A. Grewell

Gowrishankar Srinivasan

Dry grind corn milling does not reach full efficiency of starch conversion to sugars and subsequently to ethanol because of limitations in the milling process. This paper examines the use of high-power ultrasonics to enhance the release of fermentable sugars from milled dry corn. In this work, 20 kHz ultrasonic energy was used to pretreat corn mash prior to enzymatic conversion of corn starch to glucose in a batch-mode. The ultrasonic amplitude was varied from 0, 191 to 320 µm pp . The corn mash was sonicated for 0 (control), 20 and 40 seconds. Other experimental variables that were studied …


Peat And Coconut Fiber As Biofilters For Chromium Adsorption From Contaminated Wastewaters, Henryk Koloczek, Jaroslaw Chwastowski, Witold Zukowski Dec 2014

Peat And Coconut Fiber As Biofilters For Chromium Adsorption From Contaminated Wastewaters, Henryk Koloczek, Jaroslaw Chwastowski, Witold Zukowski

Witold Zukowski

Batch adsorption experiments were performed for the removal of chromium (III) and chromium (VI) ions from aqueous solutions using Canadian peat and coconut fiber. The Langmuir model was used to describe the adsorption isotherm. The maximum adsorption for peat reached 18.75 mg/g for Cr(III) and 8.02 mg/g for Cr(VI), whereas the value for fiber was slightly higher and reached 19.21 mg/g for Cr(III) and 9.54 mg/g for Cr(VI). Both chromium forms could be easily eluted from the materials. The adsorption of chromium forms to organic matter could be explained in terms of formation of donor-acceptor chemical covalent bound with hydroxyl …


Climate Change Adaptation Chapter: Marshfield, Massachusetts, Joshua H. Chase, Jonathan G. Cooper, Rory Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Filipe Antunes Lima, Sally R. Miller, Toni Marie Pignatelli Feb 2013

Climate Change Adaptation Chapter: Marshfield, Massachusetts, Joshua H. Chase, Jonathan G. Cooper, Rory Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Filipe Antunes Lima, Sally R. Miller, Toni Marie Pignatelli

Sally Miller

Climate change, understood as a statistically significant variation in the mean state of the climate or its variability, is the greatest environmental challenge of this generation (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2001). Marshfield is already being affected by changes in the climate that will have a profound effect on the town’s economy, public health, coastal resources, natural features, water systems, and public and private infrastructure. Adaptation strategies have been widely recognized as playing an important role in improving a community’s ability to respond to climate stressors by resisting damage and recovering quickly. Based on review of climate projections for the …


Rapid Determination Of Indirect Cod And Polyvinyl Alcohol From Textile Wastewater., Sandip S. Magdum, Gauri P. Minde, Kalyanraman V. Jan 2013

Rapid Determination Of Indirect Cod And Polyvinyl Alcohol From Textile Wastewater., Sandip S. Magdum, Gauri P. Minde, Kalyanraman V.

Sandip S. Magdum

PVA (Polyvinyl alcohol) is completely degraded and utilized by non-ubiquitous microorganisms as a sole source of carbon. PVA containing effluent treatments are not preferred because of high cost. PVA causes serious environmental pollution hence the objective of this work was to establish rapid and reliable method for analysis of COD (Chemical oxygen demand) and PVA concentration in textile desizing or any PVA containing effluent. Two indirect methods namely COD by TC (Total carbon) and TOC (Total organic carbon) were compared with COD chemical as standard. The percentage deviation of 0-0.8% PVA was same in both indirect COD by TC and …


An Efficient Biotreatment Process For Polyvinyl Alcohol Containing Textile Wastewater, Sandip S. Magdum, Gauri P. Minde, Upendra S. Adhyapak, Kalyanraman V. Jan 2013

An Efficient Biotreatment Process For Polyvinyl Alcohol Containing Textile Wastewater, Sandip S. Magdum, Gauri P. Minde, Upendra S. Adhyapak, Kalyanraman V.

Sandip S. Magdum

The aim of this work was to optimize the biodegradation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) containing actual textile wastewater for a sustainable treatment solution. The isolated microbial consortia of effective PVA degrader namely Candida Sp. and Pseudomonas Sp., which were responsible for symbiotic degradation of chemical oxidation demand (COD) and PVA from desizing wastewater. In the process optimization, the maximum aeration was essential to achieve a high degradation rate, where as stirring enhances further degradation and foam control. Batch experiments concluded with the need of 16 lpm/l and 150 rpm of air and stirring speed respectively for high rate of COD …


Applied And Mechanistic Studies Of Microbial 17beta-Estradiol Degradation, Zhongtian Li Nov 2012

Applied And Mechanistic Studies Of Microbial 17beta-Estradiol Degradation, Zhongtian Li

Z Li

The presence of natural estrogens, a class of endocrine disrupting compounds, in water has caused increasing concerns over their adverse impacts on the health of aquatic eco-systems and human beings. In this study, adsorption characteristics of two natural estrogens, 17β-estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1), on granular activated carbon (GAC) were investigated in isotherm tests and in a GAC column. The GAC column was then converted to a biologically active carbon (BAC) column and the removal efficiency of E2 and its primary biodegradation intermediate E1 were monitored. During BAC operation, the impacts of various reactor operation parameters, such as the carbon …


Recovery Of Sensitive Watersheds In The Northeastern United States From Chronic Acidification: The Role Of Soil Chemistry, Chris E. Johnson Jul 2012

Recovery Of Sensitive Watersheds In The Northeastern United States From Chronic Acidification: The Role Of Soil Chemistry, Chris E. Johnson

Chris E Johnson

No abstract provided.


Proteomic Analysis Of 17Β-Estradiol Degradation By Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia, Zhongtian Li May 2012

Proteomic Analysis Of 17Β-Estradiol Degradation By Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia, Zhongtian Li

Z Li

Microbial degradation plays a critical role in determining the environmental fate of steroid hormones, such as 17β-estradiol (E2). The molecular mechanisms governing the microbial transformation of E2 and its primary degradation intermediate, estrone (E1), are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to identify metabolism pathways that might be involved in microbial estrogen degradation. To achieve the objective, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain ZL1 was used as a model estrogen degrading bacterium and its protein expression level during E2/E1 degradation was studied using quantitative proteomics. During an E2 degradation experiment, strain ZL1 first converted E2 to E1 stoichiometrically. At 16 h …


Removing 17Β-Estradiol From Drinking Water In A Biologically Active Carbon (Bac) Reactor Modified From A Granular Activated Carbon (Gac) Reactor, Zhongtian Li Mar 2012

Removing 17Β-Estradiol From Drinking Water In A Biologically Active Carbon (Bac) Reactor Modified From A Granular Activated Carbon (Gac) Reactor, Zhongtian Li

Z Li

Estrogenic compounds in drinking water sources pose potential threats to human health. Treatment technologies are needed to effectively remove these compounds for the production of safe drinking water. In this study, GAC adsorption was first tested for its ability to remove a model estrogenic compound, 17β-estradiol (E2). Although GAC showed a relatively high adsorption capacity for E2 in isotherm experiments, it appeared to have a long mass transfer zone in a GAC column reactor, causing an early leakage of E2 in the effluent. With an influent E2 concentration of 20 μg/L, the GAC reactor was able to bring down effluent …


Bioretention: Evaluating Their Effectiveness For Improving Water Quality In New England Urban Environments, Mary Dehais Mar 2012

Bioretention: Evaluating Their Effectiveness For Improving Water Quality In New England Urban Environments, Mary Dehais

Mary Dehais

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is one of the leading causes of water quality problems in the United States. Bioretention has become one of the more frequently used stormwater management practices for addressing NPS pollution in urbanized watersheds in New England. Yet despite increased acceptance, bioretention is not widely practiced. This study explores and evaluates the efficacy of bioretention for protecting urban water quality. This research found that numerous monitoring methods are used by researchers and industry experts to assess the effectiveness of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) and low impact development (LID) practices that include bioretention. The two most common …


Homeland Security: Engaging The Frontlines - Symposium Proceedings, George H. Baker, Cheryl J. Elliott Apr 2006

Homeland Security: Engaging The Frontlines - Symposium Proceedings, George H. Baker, Cheryl J. Elliott

George H Baker

The rise of the American homeland security endeavor under the leadership of the new Department of Homeland Security has been heralded by several major national strategy documents. These documents have served to organize efforts at top levels within the government and industry. However, the national strategy guidance is not getting to many organizations and people at the grass-roots level who can make the most difference in preventing attacks, protecting systems, and recovering from catastrophic events, viz. the general citizenry, private infrastructure owners, and local governments. To better understand grass-roots issues and solutions, James Madison University, in cooperation with the Federal …