Environmental Engineering Commons^™

A Framework For Assessing Water Quality, Prioritizing Recovery Potential, And Analyzing Placement Of Best Management Practices, Tadesse Animaw Sinshaw

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Motivated by the U.S. EPA goals, this research developed a framework to support identification and restoration of nutrient-impaired water bodies. The study objectives were developing total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) prediction models, evaluating the impact of social indicators on assessing recovery potential, and developing a spatial decision support system for choice and placement of best management practices (BMPS). An artificial neural network was used to develop TN and TP predictive regional models for U.S. lakes using easily measurable and cost-effective variables. The performance of models was superior for regions trained with larger datasets and/or regions with lower temperature …

Effects Of Subsurface Drainage Systems On Water And Nitrogen Footprints Simulated With Rzwqm2, Kristina J. Craft, Matthew J. Helmers, Robert W. Malone, Carl H. Pederson, Linda R. Schott

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Developing drainage water management (DWM) systems in the Midwest to reduce nitrogen (N) transport to the northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone requires understanding of the long-term performance of these systems. Few studies have evaluated long-term impacts of DWM, and the simulation of controlled drainage (CD) with the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) is limited, while shallow drainage (SD) has not been examined. We tested RZWQM using nine years (2007-2015) of field data from southeast Iowa for CD, SD, conventional drainage (DD), and undrained (ND) systems and simulated the long-term (1971-2015) impacts. RZWQM accurately simulated N loss in subsurface …

A Tunable, Three-Dimensional In Vitro Culture Model Of Growth Plate Cartilage Using Alginate Hydrogel Scaffolds, Alek G. Erickson, Taylor D. Laughlin, Sarah M. Romereim, Catherine N. Sargus-Patino, Angela K. Pannier, Andrew T. Dudley

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Defining the final size and geometry of engineered tissues through precise control of the scalar and vector components of tissue growth is a necessary benchmark for regenerative medicine, but it has proved to be a significant challenge for tissue engineers. The growth plate cartilage that promotes elongation of the long bones is a good model system for studying morphogenetic mechanisms because cartilage is composed of a single cell type, the chondrocyte; chondrocytes are readily maintained in culture; and growth trajectory is predominately in a single vector. In this cartilage, growth is generated via a differentiation program that is spatially and …

Bioaccessibility Of Lead From Contaminated Soil Using Phosphate Treatment -- Physiologically Based Extraction Test And In Vitro Gastrointestinal Method Test, Austin Charles Doss

Masters Theses

"Phosphate treatments are used to immobilize lead in soil by forming pyromorphite. Soil from Bonne Terre, Mo was collected to study whether such treatment decreases the bioaccessibility of lead. The soil was treated using 0.5 soil wt% of phosphate. Treatments were: none, phosphoric acid, triple super phosphate, and organic bone meal. Each sample was studied after one, four, sixteen, and twenty weeks; during this time span, water was added approximating the average rainfall rate. Percolated water was collected to test the leached phosphate concentrations. Phosphate was below the detection limit in that leachate. Remediated soil samples were used in Physiologically …

Cellulose And Sulfate Degradation In A Biochemical Reactor During Treatment Of Mine Drainage, Sweta Ojha

Masters Theses

"Seventy-two biochemical reactors were set up, and operated using a mixture of chip-bark, horse manure, and gravel as the biochemical treatment substrate. The simulated mine water containing sulfate (1000 mg/l) was pumped into each reactor at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/minute (approximate), giving an empty bed contact time of 8 days. The main idea is that the microorganisms present in horse manure would convert the cellulose in chip-bark into volatile fatty acids. The produced volatile fatty acid would enhance the metabolism of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) initially present in horse manure, which would degrade (and eventually remove) the sulfate from …

การดูดซับสารกลุ่มยาต้านการอักเสบชนิดไม่ใช่สเตียรอยด์โดยวัสดุโครงข่ายโลหะอินทรีย์ที่ขึ้นรูปด้วยอัลจิเนตและโพลิไวนิลลิดีนฟลูออไรด์, ภัทรพรรณ มงคลภัทรสุข

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยนี้มุ่งเน้นเพื่อศึกษาความเป็นไปได้ในการประยุกต์ใช้วัสดุโครงข่ายโลหะอินทรีย์ (MOFs) ชนิด MIL-53(Al) และ ZIF-8(Zn) ที่ขึ้นรูปเป็นเม็ดด้วยอัลจิเนตและโพลิไวนิลลิดีนฟลูออไรด์เพื่อดูดซับสารกลุ่มยาต้านการอักเสบชนิดไม่ใช่สเตียรอยด์ ได้แก่ ไอบูโพรเฟน (IBP) คีโตโปรเฟน (KET) และนาพรอกเซน (NPX) จากผลการทดลองภายใต้ระบบทีละเท พบว่า MIL-53(Al) มีอัตราเร็วในการดูดซับและความจุการดูดซับสารตกค้างทางยาทั้ง 3 ตัวสูงกว่าถ่านกัมมันต์ชนิดผง (PAC) ส่วน ZIF-8(Zn) ไม่ปรากฎการดูดซับขึ้นเนื่องจากมีอนุภาคขนาดใหญ่และมีพื้นที่ผิวภายนอกน้อยทำให้โมเลกุลของสารตกค้างทางยาไม่สามารถเข้าถึงรูพรุนภายในได้ และเมื่อทำการขึ้นรูป MIL-53(Al) เป็นเม็ดด้วยอัลจิเนต (Alginate/MIL-53(Al): AM) พบว่าอัตราเร็วในการดูดซับลดลง โดยใช้ระยะเวลาเข้าสู่สภาวะสมดุลมากขึ้นจาก 90 นาที เป็น 180 นาที และสอดคล้องกับจลนพลศาสตร์การดูดซับลำดับที่ 2 เสมือน นอกจากนั้นยังทำให้ความจุการดูดซับ IBP KET และ NPX ลดลง โดยสัดส่วน MIL-53(Al) ที่ 25% (w/w) (AM25) มีความจุในการดูดซับสารตกค้างทางยาทั้ง 3 ตัวสูงกว่าอัตราส่วนอื่นๆ และไอโซเทอมการดูดซับดังกล่าวสอดคล้องกับแบบจำลองของซิปส์ และ เรดลิช-ปีเตอร์สัน ถึงแม้ว่า MIL-53(Al) จะมีประสิทธิภาพในการดูดซับ IBP KET และ NPX ลดลงเมื่อขึ้นรูปเป็นเม็ด แต่ยังมีอัตราเร็วและความจุในการดูดซับสารตกค้างทางยาดังกล่าวสูงกว่าถ่านกัมมันต์แบบเกร็ด ในขณะที่ MIL-53(Al) ที่ขึ้นรูปเป็นเม็ดด้วยโพลีไวนิลลิดีนฟลูออไรด์ (PVDF) ไม่ปรากฎการดูดซับขึ้นในทุกอัตราส่วน อาจเนื่องจาก PVDF มีความไม่ชอบน้ำสูงส่งผลให้สารตกค้างทางยาทั้ง 3 ตัวไม่สามารถเข้าถึงรูพรุนและเกิดการดูดซับได้ ส่วนการศึกษาการดูดซับในระบบคอลัมน์ พบว่าเมื่อเพิ่มความสูงของชั้นตัวกลางดูดซับ ส่งผลให้เวลาที่จุดเบรกทรู (Breakthrough time) และเวลาที่ชั้นตัวกลางดูดซับเข้าสู่สภาวะอิ่มตัว (Saturation time) เพิ่มมากขึ้น ในขณะที่อัตราการใช้ตัวกลางดูดซับ (Usage rate) ลดลงแสดงให้เห็นว่าเกิดการใช้ตัวกลางดูดซับได้อย่างคุ้มค่ามากที่สุด โดยกราฟเบรกทรูที่ได้จากการทดลองสอดคล้องกับทั้งแบบจำลองของโทมัสและแบบจำลองของยุน-เนวสัน

Optimal Sintering Temperature Of Ceria-Doped Scandia Stabilized Zirconia For Use In Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Amanda K. Assuncao

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Carbon emissions are known to cause decay of the Ozone layer in addition to creating pollutant, poisonous air. This has become a growing concern among scientists and engineers across the globe; if this issue is not addressed, it is likely that the Earth will suffer catastrophic consequences. One of the main culprits of these harmful carbon emissions is fuel combustion. Between vehicles, power plants, airplanes, and ships, the world consumes an extraordinary amount of oil and fuel which all contributes to the emissions problem. Therefore, it is crucial to develop alternative energy sources that minimize the impact on the environment. …

Assessing The Impact Of Radionuclides Released Into The Floridan Aquifer By A Massive Sinkhole On Local Municipal Water Supplies, Maria Arenas Daza

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In late August 2016, a sinkhole spanning 45 feet (13.7 meters) in diameter opened at a phosphate fertilizer facility (Mosaic Company) near Mulberry, Florida, leaking an estimated 215 million gallons (813,000 cubic meters) of radionuclide-contaminated water 300 feet into the Floridan aquifer. An investigation to determine possible impacts to the environment and local community drinking water supplies was implemented that focused on two 1.5 million gallon per day (MGD) Tampa Bay Water (TBW) production wells and two Polk County Utilities (PCU) water treatment facilities. Water samples collected between June 2017 and January 2018 at the TBW and PCU sites were …

Assessment Of Watershed Nutrient Loads And Effectiveness Of Best Management Practices, Saeid Nazari

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Several methods have been developed for use in estimating the water quality loads associated with urban and agricultural landuses and practices. These include the use of sophisticated computer models, typically based on using pollutant loading and runoff functions, regression equations, load export coefficients (LECs), and event mean concentrations (EMCs). This research has examined the feasibility of using a simple EMC approach with the Kentucky Nutrient Model (KYNM). The thesis includes an extensive literature review of EMCs and a synthesis of recommended values for a range of typical urban and agricultural landuses. The thesis also includes an extensive literature review of …

Preferential Pathways For Vapor Intrusion: Site Screening And Field Sampling Of Sewers To Assess Inhalation Exposure Risks, Evan James Willett

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Hazardous waste sites and aging wastewater infrastructure are common in the United States. There are hundreds of thousands of contaminated sites and more than a million miles of sewer pipes. Populations living close to hazardous waste sites often suffer from increased risk of adverse health effects due to exposure to contaminated environmental media. Vapor intrusion is one process by which nearby populations can be exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Aging wastewater infrastructure is important for vapor intrusion site assessments because sewer pipes can serve as preferential vapor transport pathways. Near contaminated sites, pipe deterioration allows migration of contaminants into …

Numerical Modeling And Isotope Tracers To Investigate Karst Biogeochemistry And Transport Processes, Admin Husic

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

This dissertation investigated the physical and biogeochemical processes affecting the source, fate, and transport of sediment, carbon, and nitrogen within a highly-coupled fluviokarst system. Elemental and isotopic datasets were collected at surface and subsurface locations for both dissolved and particulate contaminant phases, new methodology regarding data collection was presented to the karst research community, an in-cave sediment transport model coupling physical transport with elemental and isotopic mass balances of carbon and nitrogen was formulated, pathway and process control on nitrate leaching from agricultural karst watersheds was assessed, and nitrate mobilization and fractionation were modeled using high frequency storm sampling and …

Investigation Of The Effectiveness Of An Integrated Flooded-Bed Dust Scrubber On A Longwall Shearer Through Laboratory Testing And Cfd Simulation, Sampurna N. Arya

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Dust generation at an underground coal mine working face continues to be a health and safety issue. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of airborne respirable dust can cause a debilitating and often fatal respiratory disease called Black Lung. In addition, the deposition of float dust in mine return airways poses a serious safety hazard if not sufficiently diluted with inert rock dust. A localized methane explosion can transition into a self-propagating dust explosion. Since dust is a byproduct of various mining activities, such as cutting and loading, crushing, and transportation, the dust-related issues cannot be totally eliminated. However, the adverse …

Pressure-Driven Stabilization Of Capacitive Deionization, Landon S. Caudill

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The effects of system pressure on the performance stability of flow-through capacitive deionization (CDI) cells was investigated. Initial data showed that the highly porous carbon electrodes possessed air/oxygen in the micropores, and the increased system pressure boosts the gases solubility in saline solution and carries them out of the cell in the effluent. Upon applying a potential difference to the electrodes, capacitive-based ion adsorption occurs in competition with faradaic reactions that consume oxygen. Through the addition of backpressure, the rate of degradation decreases, allowing the cell to maintain its salt adsorption capacity (SAC) longer. The removal of oxygen from the …

Evaluating Hydrologic Fluxes Through Stormwater Treatment Systems: Implication To Freshwater Springs In A Karst Environment, Nyle Rice

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, concentrations of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus have increased in surface and groundwater resources, due in part to non-point source pollution associated with stormwater runoff. The elevated nutrient concentrations found in stormwater runoff have prompted the design of best management practices (BMP's) to mitigate the problem. The overall objective within this thesis is to analyze the performance of innovative surface BMPs and investigate connections between the BMPs and groundwater flows to freshwater springs within a karst environment. The performance of two stormwater BMPs, blanket filters and vertical reactors containing Bio-sorption Activated Media (BAM), are assessed in …

Use Of Accelerated Calcite Precipitation Method To Investigate Calcium Carbonate Precipitation From Recycled Concrete For Drainage System Applications, Toni Curate

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is a sustainable construction material that is a viable option for use in drainage systems by replacing virgin aggregate. Replacing virgin aggregate with RCA is beneficial from both economic and environmental perspectives. However, the use of RCA as pipe backfill materials may cause a long-term performance issue such as potential clogging due to fines accumulation and calcite precipitation on filter fabric. Previous studies investigated the long-term performance of RCA regarding flow rate. Therefore, this study investigated calcite precipitation potential of RCA. The Accelerated Calcite Precipitation (ACP) procedure was devised and used to estimate "life-time" calcite precipitation …

Predicting The Organic Compound Degradation In Aqueous-Phase Ultraviolet (Uv) And Uv-Based Advanced Oxidation Processes, Erica Coscarelli

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Clean safe drinking water is vital for society. With increasing water scarcity and the increased numbers of chemicals identified in waterways, it is important for us to fully understand how to destroy contaminants of concern and prevent potentially hazardous byproducts that may be produced from the degradation processes. Little is known about how nitrogen containing organics behave and degrade in current water treatment systems and therefore their role in water reuse. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), is carcinogenic and is being formed during conventional chlorination of drinking water. Ultraviolet (UV) photooxidation has been shown to degrade NDMA, but the degradation pathways and their …

Transient Simulations Of Freshwater Lens Depletion In Response To A Range Of Sea Level Rise Rates And Climate Gradients, Qiuyuan Nan

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The freshwater lens in the island can become the only freshwater resources in some regions. Numerical simulations are used to determine freshwater lens volume and average concentration is in response to the range of sea-level rise rates and climate gradients. The sea-level rise rates (0.56 mm/yr, 6.22 mm/yr, and 11.78 mm/yr) are selected for projected and the climate gradient is computed from the islands in the Bahamian archipelago (Inagua, San Salvador, and Grand Bahamas) in the north, central and south. Based on the simulation results, all cases presented the upward trend of the average salinity but have the oscillation in …

Optimizing Chlorine Disinfection By Chlorine Injection Location And Pipe Diameter Selection In A Water Distribution System, Margaret Neff

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Due to a variety of factors chlorination is common water disinfectant for community-scale distribution systems. The town of Suyo, Peru was already equipped with a gravity fed water system and drip chlorinator which achieved 4-log inactivation of viruses throughout the town, however, it was not providing 3-log inactivation of giardia cysts at all points of the system.

This project used an EPANET model to determine and compare the potential benefits of changes which could be made to the pre-existing water system in Suyo.

The model was used to compare current operating conditions of the Suyo system, 1.5 mg/L chlorine addition …

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Pcbs): A Legacy Of Contamination In Michigan's Rivers, Emily Shaw

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous contaminants worldwide and are the most frequent contaminant at US and bi-national Great Lakes areas of concern (AOCs). This study evaluated existing evidence to answer the questions: how does total PCB contamination compare between fish species, are there spatial patterns in PCB contamination in fish species, and have our remediation efforts been effective? Using multi-variate statistics (e.g. analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), and multiple linear regression (MLR)), this research evaluated Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) fish contaminant monitoring data to attempt to answer the questions above.

PCB concentrations between the species …

Value Added Products From Lignin And Biomass Derivatives, Chen Li

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Pyrolysis is one of the traditional lignin and biomass utilization methods. The liquid products bio-oil and solid products bio-char are the main value-added products from lignin pyrolysis. Due to the narrow application and low quality, using the pyrolysis method to produce bio-oil and bio-char cannot bring sufficient economic benefits. In this dissertation, two methods were investigated to improve the quality of lignin bio-products.

Instead of direct pyrolysis, chemical activation (pyrolysis) was introduced in this dissertation. Compared to bio-char, the lignin chemical activation product lignin-activated-carbon has better economic value. With the best activation conditions, the lignin-activated-carbon produced a surface area of …