Environmental Chemistry Commons^™

The Correlation Of The Concentration Of Selected Metals Determined In Water And Fish Samples From A Public Pond., Paula Kay Edwards

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn) were measured in water, and fish samples caught from the pond at Fishery Park in Unicoi County, TN. The water samples were collected once a week for 8 weeks. The amounts of metals in the muscle tissues, gill, and liver of the two fish species were measured. This was to determine if any correlation exists between the metal contents in water and those in the fish samples. The concentration ranges for the heavy metals found in the water samples are as follows: Zn 0.04-0.13; Cu, 0.00-0.00; Pb, 0.00-0.59; Cd, …

The Vinylguaiacol/Indole Or Vgi ("Veggie") Ratio: A Novel Molecular Parameter To Evaluate The Relative Contributions Of Terrestrial And Aquatic Organic Matter To Sediments., Michael A. Kruge, Kevin K. Olsen, Jaroslaw W. Slusarczyk, Elaine Gomez

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The organic matter (OM) fraction of estuarine sediments is often distinctive and thus diagnostically useful in determinations of sedimentary provenance. Among the most fundamental distinctions to be made is that between terrestrial and aquatic OM. To supplement the parameters commonly used for this purpose (e.g., C/N and stable isotope ratios), we proposed the Vinylguaiacol/Indole or VGI ("Veggie") ratio, defined as [vinylguaiacol / (indole + vinylguaiacol)] using data produced by analytical pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of dried, homogenized sediment samples. The ratio employs the peak areas of these two compounds on the mass chromatograms of their molecular ions (m/z 150 and 117). …

On The Perfection Of Broccoli: Talking To Ed Brush, Lee Torda

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Synthesis And Catalytic Activity Of Nanostructured Cerium Oxide, Neil J. Lawrence

Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cerium oxide (ceria, CeO_2-x where x is 0 to 0.5) has been one of the most widely used heterogeneous catalysts particularly in three way catalytic converters. Most of the catalytic traits can be attributed to two properties of ceria: first, the high mobility and storage capacity of oxygen within the lattice; second, the ease with which cerium changes between Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ states. These properties, combined with the abundance of cerium on earth, make ceria a low-cost highly effective alternative to noble metal catalysts. Recent research has been focused on the nanoscale properties of ceria.

The effect …

Mechanical Properties Of High Blaine Portland Cement, Masoud Rastegar, Kamran Rahmati Shadbad, Ali Hadidi

Masoud Rastegar

No abstract provided.

Some Features Of The Concentration Oscillations In The Phenylacetylene Oxidative Carbonylation Reaction (In Russian), Sergey N. Gorodsky

Sergey N. Gorodsky

Some modes of concentration oscillations in the homogeneous system KI-PdI2-CO-O2-CH3OH are described in this paper.

Energetyka Niskoemisyjna, Wojciech M. Budzianowski

Wojciech Budzianowski

No abstract provided.

New Electrochemical And Optical Detection Methods For Biological And Environmental Applications, Royce Nicholas Dansby-Sparks

Doctoral Dissertations

Detection of chromium and vanadium is of interest for biomedical and environmental applications. The two metals have narrow limits between being essential and toxic for humans. Ultra-sensitive techniques have been studied to measure Cr and V at low concentrations found in human blood and environmental samples. Bismuth film and mercury-alloy electrodes have been developed as alternatives to traditional Hg-based electrodes for Cr and V detection. While catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetry (CAdSV) has been used to detect Cr and V, little is known about the process. The mechanisms of CAdSV have been probed to provide a better understanding of its exceptional …

Synthesis, Kinetic And Photocatalytic Studies Of Porphyrin-Ruthenium-Oxo Complexes, Yan Huang

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Macrocyclic ligand-complexed transition metal-oxo intermediates are the active oxidizing species in a variety of important biological and catalytic oxidation reactions. Many transition metal catalysts have been designed to mimic the predominant oxidation catalysts in Nature, namely the cytochrome P450 enzymes. Ruthenium porphyrin complexes have been the center of the research and have successfully been utilized, as catalysts, in major oxidation reactions such as the hydroxylation of alkanes. This study focuses on kinetic and photocatalytic studies of oxidation reactions with wellcharacterized high-valent ruthenium-oxo porphyrin complexes.
The trans-dioxoruthenium(VI) porphyrins have been among the best characterized metal-oxo intermediates and their involvement as …

Fluorescent Chemosensors For Toxic Organophosphorus Pesticides: A Review, Sherine O. Obare, Chandrima De, Wen Guo, Tajay L. Haywood, Tova A. Samuels, Clara P. Adams, Noah O. Masika, Desmond H. Murray, Ginger A. Anderson, Keith Campbell, Kenneth Fletcher

Faculty Publications

Many organophosphorus (OP) based compounds are highly toxic and powerful inhibitors of cholinesterases that generate serious environmental and human health concerns. Organothiophosphates with a thiophosphoryl (P=S) functional group constitute a broad class of these widely used pesticides. They are related to the more reactive phosphoryl (P=O) organophosphates, which include very lethal nerve agents and chemical warfare agents, such as, VX, Soman and Sarin. Unfortunately, widespread and frequent commercial use of OP-based compounds in agricultural lands has resulted in their presence as residues in crops, livestock, and poultry products and also led to their migration into aquifers. Thus, the design of …

Study Of Nano Structure Mn/Alumina Catalyst Deactivation Through Catalytic Oxidation Of O-Vocs, Hosein Afshary

Hosein Afshary

the deactivation and selectivity behavior of nanostructure Mn/γ-Al2O3 catalyst in catalytic oxidation of an O-VOC (isopropanol) was studied. The polluted air was simulated and the catalyst was tested in the course of 50-h time-on-stream. Characterization of fresh and used catalysts was done using FT-IR, XRD, SEM and EDS methods. Comparing the testing results of this catalyst and that of the industrial Pt/Al2O3 catalyst showed that prepared catalyst can be suitable for substitution with the expensive pt/Al2O3 catalyst in environmental applications.

Assessing Commercial Organic And Conventionally Grown Vegetables By Monitoring Selected Heavy Metals Found In Them., Charles Kafui Dotse

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Commercially available organic and conventionally grown vegetables were studied by quantitative determination of selected metals in them and to determine if any differences found are statistically significant. These findings can help the consumers to determine if the vegetable products are within the recommended maximum limits as proposed by the joint FAO/WHO Expert committee on organic foods designation. Eight edible vegetables were purchased from local stores in both the organic and conventionally grown categories. Samples were digested with concentrated nitric acid and the metals monitored were zinc, copper, lead, iron, cadmium, and nickel using flame atomic absorption. The concentration range for …

Characterization Of Plutonium Particles Originating From The Bomarc Accident -1960, Richard Charles Gostic

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Within the U.S. arsenal, 32 accidents with nuclear weapons were reported between 1950 and 1980. One of these accidents occurred at McGuire AFB in 1960. A BOMARC missile armed with a nuclear warhead caught on fire and as a result the warhead was destroyed. Sub-millimeter particles consisting of weapons grade plutonium (WGPu) produced by this accident were distributed around the site and remained in the environment for 47 years. Soil cores known to contain WGPu particles produced by this accident were obtained. The particles were localized and removed from the soil with the aid of high resolution computed tomography. The …

Degradation Of Chlorophenols In Swine Waste, Srilatha Gangula

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Naturally occurring plant derived phenols can be degraded through bacteria in swine waste. Chlorinated phenols, which are not naturally present in the environment, are toxic and generated from industrial activities as such petrochemical, pharmaceutical, plastic, rubber, pesticide, iron, steel, paper production, coal conversion, wood preserving, and cellulose bleaching. Large scale coal gasification and carbonization plants are another source of chlorinated phenols. Although not normally present in the environment, chlorinated phenols are structurally similar to many plant derived phenolics.

It is our hypothesis that bacteria located in swine wastes may also have the ability to degrade chlorinated phenols. Identifying situations (and …

A Novel Pervious Cement Reaction Barrier (Pcrb) In Situ Arsenic Remediation System, Morgan Liane Jones

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

No abstract provided.

Classification And Fertility Of Soils In The Big South Fork National River And Recreation Area Based On Landscape Position And Geology, Ryan H. Blair

Masters Theses

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area encompasses more than 50,585 hectares (125,000 acres) of the Cumberland Plateau along the border of Tennessee and Kentucky. Highly dissected and steep terrain have made accessibility to much of the park limited, thus little work has been done to investigate the formation of these soils. Seven native soil profiles were selected for chemical and physical analysis representing Pennsylvanian-aged acidic sandstone and shale geology and landforms. The objectives of this study included the characterization of selected native profiles by physical and chemical analysis, as well as classification using US Soil Taxonomy, to …

Adaptivearc And The Future Of The Energy Industry, Trevor Chase

Earth and Soil Sciences

No abstract provided.

Environmental Analysis Of Toxic Metals Produced By Cigarette Smoking, Catherine H. Swandby, Melissa C. Rhoten, Joseph E. Garcia

Theses & Honors Papers

Trace metal elements introduced into our environment from anthropogenic sources can become toxic at high levels contributing to a host of human and animal health problems. The purpose of this work is to initially characterize toxic metals present in cigarette tobacco and ash using Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (ETAAS). The broader impact of this study is to assess the environmental effects of cigarette smoking around designated smoking areas on the Longwood University campus. Smokers may not be informed about the potential harm to the environment from "ashing" directly on the ground. If the toxic metals present in cigarette ash are …

Herbicides And Amphibian Populations, Zach Shirk

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Amphibians are a unique class of species that are found worldwide except Antarctica and Greenland. They range in size from a few millimeters to over six feet long. Amphibian’s habitats are as various as their size, but one thing in common is that amphibians require an aquatic location to breed. Amphibians live in deserts, mountain prairies, rain forest, wetlands, and almost everywhere in between. Amphibians are an integrated part of most natural ecosystems across the world. Amphibians are a critical part of many food chains; they provide the important link between secondary and tertiary consumers. Amphibians are indicator species in …

Relatin Dissolved Oxygen Concentration To Fish Distribution In Jarecki Lake, Adam Sutton

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Abstract Water temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles were measured once every month from mid July to mid February in a relatively deep sand-pit lake in southeast Nebraska. These profiles showed depleted DO concentrations below the thermocline during summer stratification indicating areas fish will likely avoid in summer months. Colder temperatures in fall caused complete mixing of the water column allowing fish to inhabit all depths of the lake. An inverse temperature stratification occurred directly below the ice during winter months as ice cover cooled the surface water to below 4 degrees Celsius. Ice cover also blocked air – water …

Water-Soluble Soa From Alkene Ozonolysis: Composition And Droplet Activation Kinetics Inferences From Analysis Of Ccn Activity, A. Asa-Awuku, A. Nenes, Song Gao, R. C. Flagan, John H. Seinfeld

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

Cloud formation characteristics of the water-soluble organic fraction (WSOC) of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed from the ozonolysis of alkene hydrocarbons (terpinolene, 1-methlycycloheptene and cycloheptene) are studied. Based on size-resolved measurements of CCN activity (of the pure and salted WSOC samples) we estimate the average molar volume and surface tension depression associated with the WSOC using Köhler Theory Analysis (KTA). Consistent with known speciation, the results suggest that the WSOC are composed of low molecular weight species, with an effective molar mass below 200 g mol−1. The water-soluble carbon is also surface-active, depressing surface tension 10–15% from that of pure …

Investigation Of Deactivation Of Transition Metal Oxide Catalysts Supported On Γ-Al2o3 During Catalytic Oxidation Of Some Oxygen Containing Vocs In A Tubular Reactor, Hosein Afshary

Hosein Afshary

It is necessary to decrease the emission of Volatile organic compound ( VOCs ) to air and among of all destructive techniques used for decreasing these compounds, Catalytic Oxidation is considered a suitable technique but deactivation of catalysts through catalytic processes is one of the major problems and most be studied. In this Project, at First, gamma alumina supported metal oxide catalysts were made and also industrial Pt catalyst was prepared. Then structure of these catalysts was studied using XRD, SEM and FT-IR techniques. These techniques approved the nanostructure of catalysts. The amount of supported metals in each catalyst was …

Proposal Narrative, Morton Sternheim, Stephan Schneider

STEM Digital

No abstract provided.

Sorption Of Bovine Serum Albumin On Nano And Bulk Oxide Particles, Lei Song

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Manufactured oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have large production and widespread applications, which will inevitably enter the environment. NPs can interact with proteins in living beings due to the fact that NPs can transport into blood or across cell membranes into cells. Conformational change of protein molecules after sorption on oxide NPs has been reported. Therefore, it is important to understand the adsorption mechanism of protein onto oxide NPs surfaces. Although few works have reported protein adsorption behaviors, a general systematic comparison of the effects of particle size and surface groups on protein adsorption by widely studied NPs still needs to be …

Nitrogen Dioxide In The Urban Forest: Exposure And Uptake, Tanner B. Harris

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels were measured inside and adjacent to canopies of urban trees in Springfield, MA, over two growing seasons. Nitrogen dioxide levels were consistently and significantly higher inside tree canopies compared to levels outside. During the second growing season, ozone (O3), temperature, and relative humidity (RH) were also measured using samplers co-located with the NO2 samplers. Ozone levels were significantly lower inside the canopy whereas temperatures were higher inside the canopy, and RH was not different between inner and outer canopy locations. The results corroborate theoretical models predicting elevated NO2 and depressed O3 levels inside tree canopies based …

Detecting Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide With Btb, Stephan Schneider

IPY STEM Polar Connections

A study of the concentration of carbon dioxide gas in air samples requires an understanding of effective sampling techniques, the use of pH indicators, an understanding of chemical reactions that result on the formation of acidic compounds, and an understanding of the chemical processes that contribute to the composition and characteristics of Earth’s atmosphere.

Geochemical Investigation Of An Offshore Sewage Sludge Deposit, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, Michael A. Kruge, Albert Permanyer, Jordi Serra, Danlin Yu

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

For 20 years ending in the 1990’s the city of Barcelona discharged the products from a large primary sewage treatment plant directly into the Mediterranean Sea via underwater conduits. About ca. 3 million m³ of relict sewage sludge, rich in organic matter and heavy metals, has spread over an elongated area offshore, due to successive ruptures of the conduits. The use of the discharge pipes ceased, but he sludge deposit remains in place for the time being.

To understand the history and present state of the sludge deposit in advance of future remediation, a program of geophysical mapping, sampling, …

Grafika Inżynierska Ćw., Wojciech M. Budzianowski

Wojciech Budzianowski

No abstract provided.

Projektowanie Procesów Biotechnologicznych Proj., Wojciech M. Budzianowski

Wojciech Budzianowski

No abstract provided.

Projektowanie I Optymalizacja Procesów Proj., Wojciech M. Budzianowski

Wojciech Budzianowski

No abstract provided.