Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Origin Of High Levels Of Ammonium In Groundwater, Ottawa County, Michigan, Derrick Lingle

Masters Theses

Groundwater from wells located in and around Hemlock Crossing Park in Ottawa County, Michigan has elevated levels of ammonium. High ammonium concentrations in potable water wells are a common indicator of anthropogenic impact, such as landfill leachate or agricultural activity. Ammonium can also occur in groundwater through the decay of natural organic material. Along with the retrieval of a complete glacial sediment core via rotasonic drilling, numerous chemical and isotopic parameters were used to determine the source of ammonium in the impacted aquifer.

Buried organic material, deposited during the Athens subepisode interglacial period, is in contact with groundwater containing elevated …

Kingston Fossil Plant Ash Spill & Corbicula Fluminea: Assessing The Effectiveness Of An Invasive Bivalve As A Biomonitor Of Coal Ash Pollution, Hannah Ruth Johnson

Masters Theses

The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of using the invasive Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, as a biomonitor for trace element bioavailability in the river system affected by the Kingston Fossil Plant coal ash spill of December 2008. I collected Corbicula from five different sites (n=20 per site) and analyzed both the soft body tissues and shells via inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). I then compared the concentrations of a suite of elements in Corbicula fluminea among sampling sites and examined the correlation between soft tissue and shell concentrations. The multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) …

Surface Complexation Modeling Of Cr(Vi) Absorption On Mineral Assemblages, Ann M. Gilchrist

Masters Theses

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a waste product of many anthropogenic processes. Because it is highly mobile, the improper disposal of Cr(VI) has caused widespread contamination. Because reduction and adsorption reactions may reduce the bioavailability and mobility of Cr(VI) in environmental systems, a better understanding of Cr(VI) adsorption behavior will improve remediation efforts.

Subsurfaces and soils are heterogeneous, however most studies focus on single sorbate/sorbent interactions to develop surface complexation models (SCM) for prediction of heavy metal adsorption. Theoretically, combining the SCMsdeveloped for single sorbate/sorbent systems should yield accurate predictions of adsorption in more complex systems (i.e., the component additivity approach …

Activated Carbon Preconditioning To Reduce Contaminant Leaching In Cement-Based Stabilization Of Soils, Renee Elizabeth Crane

Masters Theses

Powdered activated carbon (PAC) is often added with cement to enhance the stabilization and solidification (S/S) of materials contaminated with organic compounds. Adsorption of organic contaminants onto PAC can reduce leaching of organic contaminants. Simultaneous addition of PAC and cement reduces soil handling costs, but cement hydration reactions coat PAC with Ca(OH)2 before contaminants can be adsorbed onto PAC. Laboratory studies were done on four aged, contaminated soils from manufactured gas plant sites to compare the performance of S/S treatment with simultaneous addition of PAC and cement vs. cement addition after preconditioning with PAC to enhance contaminant adsorption. Performance was …

Using Soil Organic Matter As An Iron Chelate To Enhance The Efficiency Of Modified Fenton Oxidition Of Diesel Fuel In Arctic Soils, Mary K. Sherwood

Masters Theses

Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the use of modified fenton chemistry on the treatment of three soils from the Canadian arctic, all with abundant soil organic matter, iron and manganese oxides, and diesel fuel contamination. The purpose of these studies was to (I) to assess modified fenton chemistry as a treatment option for petroleum-contaminated arctic soils, and (2) to evaluate the impact of soil organic matter on the modified fenton treatment of soils. Modified fenton treatment was compared for reactions in which ethylenediaminetetraacetate was added as a chelate vs. reactions in which the native soil organic matter was the …

A Gis-Based Multi-Objective Optimization Of A Lignocellulosic Biomass Supply Chain: A Case Study In Tennessee, Zidong Wang

Masters Theses

To achieve an economically and environmentally sustainable lignocellulosic biomass (LCB)-based biofuel industry sector, the design and location of a sustainable LCB supply chain is important. In this study, a multi-objective optimization model integrated with high-resolution geographical data was developed to examine the optimal switchgrass supply chain for a potential biorefinery in Tennessee, specifically evaluating the potential tradeoffs between the objectives of minimizing plant-gate cost and GHG emissions from the switchgrass supply chain. The key findings of this study are as follows: both plant-gate feedstock cost and GHG emissions were sensitive to the type of land converted into switchgrass production, the …

Linking Stream Sediment Metrics And Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Status In East Tennessee Streams, Grant Thomas Lynch

Masters Theses

Excess sediment is one of the leading causes of impairment of the rivers and streams of Tennessee and in the United States. Sediment acts as a pollutant by degrading the quality of habitat for fish and other aquatic life. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) currently assesses the quality of streams in Tennessee by conducting benthic macroinvertebrate surveys. These surveys use seven biometrics to calculate Tennessee Macroinvertebrate Index (TMI) scores. This method is well tested and reliable, but it has not been shown to directly link changes in stream sediment characteristics to macroinvertebrate status. Finding a stream sediment …

Adsorption Of Antimony By Birnessite And The Impact Of Antimony On The Electrostatic Surface Properties Of Variable-Charge Soil Minerals, Kalyn Alaine Vergeer

Masters Theses

Antimony (Sb) is a toxin that can be found in high concentrations in the soil due to anthropogenic sources. Antimony exists in soil as Sb(V) in the monovalent antimonate hydroxyanion. The adsorption mechanisms of Sb(V) are not well-characterized. The objective of this study was to further elucidate Sb(V) adsorption mechanisms by examining the impact of adsorption on surface charging characteristics of gibbsite, goethite, birnessite, and kaolinite. Also examined was Sb(V), SO₄ [sulfate], and PO₄ [phosphate] adsorption by birnessite. Electrophoretic mobility and potentiometric titrations were employed to examine the ζ-potential [zeta-potential] and net proton surface charge density as a …

Vegetation Response To Oak Savanna And Woodland Restoration In The Mid-South Usa, Andrew Lee Vander Yacht

Masters Theses

The decline and degradation of oak savanna and woodland communities throughout the Mid-South underscores the need to develop management techniques capable of their efficient and successful restoration. Therefore, my objectives for this work were to document plant community response to variations in canopy disturbance level, fire seasonality, and herbicide control of hardwood midstories. In Chapter One, I provide a thorough review of the current body of knowledge concerning open-oak communities and their restoration, with specific focus on herbaceous and woody plant response to canopy disturbance, fire, and herbicide midstory management. Chapter Two details the response of herbaceous and woody vegetation …

Stand Dynamics And Fire History Of A Southern Appalachian Pine-Hardwood Forest On Rainy Mountain, Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia, U.S.A., Alex William Dye

Masters Theses

In the American Southeast, forest managers and conservationists are interested in evaluating how forest composition is changing in response to both human and natural disturbances. This study explored the stand dynamics of a pine-hardwood forest on Rainy Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest of Georgia over the last 115 years and analyzed the role fire has had as a disturbance in the forest. Increment cores were collected from trees in 30 plots, each 0.01 ha in area. The cores were used to determine date of establishment of each tree and create age structure charts for each plot and for the …

Creating Sustainable Economic And Ecological Growth In The Congo Basin: Bushmeat Consumption And Biodiversity Protection, Richelle Lynn Warnock

Masters Theses

This research examines the economic and ecological sustainability of bushmeat hunting in the Congo Basin, specifically the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo. Although bushmeat hunting has provided short term gain for individuals in the region, long term solutions focusing on micro and macro level interventions may provide community wide benefits, while protecting Congo Basin wildlife. Research shows that a focus on the development of key economic sectors such as agriculture, mineral resources and hydroelectricity, as well as the growth of infrastructure may provide viable economic gain for the Congo Basin. Ecotourism and improvements to forest management …

Development And Evaluation Of An Inquiry-Based Unit For Teaching About Paleoclimate And Climate Change, Steven Barone

Masters Theses

The purpose of this action research study is to develop and evaluate a sequence of four lessons for an introductory earth science course taken by future elementary teachers. Action research is a reflective process of data collection and analysis used by teachers to improve their classroom practice. This study’s goal is to produce a series of lessons that align with the course philosophy of student-driven learning through guided-inquiry and are effective at improving students’ understanding of climate change.

Three data sets were used to evaluate the lessons: 1) student knowledge gains on an objective pre- and post-test, 2) students’ self-reported …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of The All Power Labs Power Pallet As A Training Tool For Biomass Gasification Education, Christopher Che Frederick

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to provide a better understanding of classroom training with regard to renewable energies. A lecture series and survey were developed by the principle researcher and presented to students in the Alternative and Renewable Energy Systems class and Machine Design class at Eastern Illinois University. The lecture series introduced students to biomass gasification and its application at Eastern Illinois University. The survey analyzed participant's level of knowledge of gasification technologies. The survey's pre and post test scores were used to validate the effectiveness of the training.

The All Power Labs Power Pallet was utilized as …

Production Of 1,3-Propanediol From Glycerol Under Haloalkaline Conditions By Halanaerobium Hydrogeniformans, Daniel William Roush

Masters Theses

"With increased demands around the world to make modern lifestyles more environmentally friendly, the chemical commodity market has rapidly shifted. Through new technologies in chemical production, certain high value products have oversaturated the market and have become high-volume, low value waste products. The expansion of biodiesel production offers a prime example; high volumes of glycerol byproduct from this process have shifted glycerol from a high priced commodity to a common waste product. A number of microorganisms are known to synthesize the polymeric precursor 1,3-propanediol from glycerol; however, crude glycerol from biodiesel production creates a harsh environment for most microbes, and …

Wetting And Drying Cycles And The Fungal Communities On Leaf Litter In Streams, Kele Qwinn Thrailkill

Masters Theses

"Leaf litter is a major source of energy for streams in deciduous forests. Fungi play a critical role by converting the leaves into nutritional material for the rest of the food web. The breakdown of leaf litter and associated biota, including invertebrates and fungi, have been proposed as measures of stream health in systems affected by anthropogenic activity. Rates of leaf breakdown can be depressed in streams affected by acidity, metals, organic contaminants, and other stressors. Climate change may lead to alterations in stream hydrology such that streams experience more frequent floods as well as drying episodes. Fungal communities can …

Is Ethanol A Potential Solution To Reducing U.S. Foreign Oil Dependence?, Jasmina N. Patel

Masters Theses

In this study, we estimated the impact of increasing ethanol production on net imports of crude oil in the United States. We also examined whether factors such as com production, population, gross fixed capital formation and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 contributed to an increase in ethanol production. Using time series data from 1981 to 2012, the results of multiple regression models showed that ethanol production was a significant variable and had an inverse relation to net imports of crude oil. Our study also showed that the implementation of the 2005 Act and an increase in com production contributed …

Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Properties Of Metal-Ion Doped Borate Bioactive Glasses For Clinical Applications, Megan Ottomeyer

Masters Theses

"Bioactive glasses with antimicrobial properties can be implemented as coatings on medical devices and implants, as well as a treatment for tissue repair and prevention of common hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA A borate-containing glass, B3, is also undergoing clinical trials to assess wound-healing properties. The sensitivities of various bacteria to B3, B3-Ag, B3-Ga, and B3-I bioactive glasses were tested. In addition, the mechanism of action for the glasses was studied by spectroscopic enzyme kinetics experiments, Live-Dead staining fluorescence microscopy, and luminescence assays using two gene fusion strains of Escherichia coli.

It was found that gram-positive bacteria were more …