Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Cost Performance Index Stability: Insights From Environmental Remediation Projects, Denis S. Clayson, Edward D. White, Alfred E. Thal Jr.

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to investigate the stability of the cost performance index (CPI) for environmental remediation projects as the topic is not addressed in the literature. CPI is defined as the earned value of work performed divided by the actual cost of the work, and CPI stability represents the point in time in a project after which the CPI varies by less than 20 percent (measured in different ways).

A Surprising Symbiosis: Examining The Mutualism In Department Of Defense Conservation Partnerships, Andrew J. Lankow

Theses and Dissertations

Because of the DoD’s unique and significant role in the conservation of natural resources, military leaders and natural resource managers need a trail guide to frame interagency collaboration in a way that shapes productive partnerships. The purpose of this research was to examine successful DoD conservation partnerships in order to identify key success factors (KSFs) and the most prominent challenges faced, and how those characteristics enable the accomplishment of each partner’s objectives. The research questions were answered through a comprehensive literature review and the use of the multiple-case study method. 19 key informants from three installations participated in semi-structured interviews, …

Cost And Performance Difference Of High Performance Sustainable Buildings, Philip A. Ramsey

Theses and Dissertations

Varying legislation and executive orders coupled with needs for energy resiliency have led the United States Air Force to pursue sustainable construction. The limited understandings of initial costs to implement these changes have contributed to poor project cost estimating and changed implementation of legal requirements. A student t-test for populations with unequal variance was accomplished on the final normalized contract cost of 1628 Air Force Military Construction (MILCON) projects executed between 2002 and 2017. Future design considerations for net zero energy buildings were compiled from a net zero energy residential community in Fontana, California. There was no statistically significant difference …

The Effect Of Ms2 Bacteriophage On The Activity And Performance Of Activated Sludge, Sean M. Stuntz

Theses and Dissertations

As a medical waste product, the MS2 bacteriophage has been discharged into wastewater distribution and treatment networks. To categorize its impact to suspended growth treatment methods, this research investigated the effect of the MS2 bacteriophage on activated sludge through a series of respirometry tests. The effects of MS2 bacteriophage at a concentration of 3.2x10⁸ PFU/mL were assessed by determining peak O₂ consumption, cumulative O₂ consumption, molar CO₂/O₂ ratios, and shape factors. None of the MS2 samples caused statistically significant effects on the peak or cumulative O₂ consumption. The molar CO₂/O_{2 …}

Dynamics Of Chemical Degradation In Water Using Photocatalytic Reactions In An Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diode Reactor, John E. Stubbs

Theses and Dissertations

This work examined ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diodes (LED) and hydrogen peroxide in an advanced oxidation process in support of a USAF installation net zero water initiative. A UV LED reactor was used for degradation of soluble organic chemicals. There were linear relationships between input drive current, optical output power, and first order degradation rate constants. When drive current was varied, first order degradation rates depended on chemical identities and the drive current. When molar peroxide ratios were varied, kinetic profiles revealed peroxide-limited or radical-scavenged phenomena. Molar absorptivity helped explain the complexity of chemical removal profiles. Degradation kinetics were used …

Characterization Of Jet Fuel Combustion Emissions During A C-130 Aeromedical Evacuation Engines Running Onload, Michelle L. Page

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to characterize jet fuel combustion emissions (JFCE) in an occupational setting. Prior research demonstrated that aircraft emit hazardous species, especially at engine start-up and ground idle. Complaints of eye, nose, and throat irritation from occupational exposures near aircraft exist. In this study JFCE were tested during an aeromedical evacuation engines running patient onload (ERO) on a C-130 Hercules at the 179^th Airlift Wing, Mansfield-Lahm Air National Guard. Ultrafine particles, VOC, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfuric acid, and metals were sampled simultaneously in approximate crew and patient breathing zones. Testing methods were portable condensation …

Adsorption Of Perfluorinated Compounds From Post-Emergency Response Wastewater, Christopher T. Schmidt

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the efficacy of granular activated carbon (GAC) as a method to treat water impacted with aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) after a firefighting response. Bench-top experiments were conducted and compared to field scale adsorber performance removing mg/L concentrations of PFAS in water contaminated with Military Specification AFFF. Batch tests compared four adsorbents, and determined Calgon F600 GAC and Rembind Plus mixed carbon media had the greatest perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) capacities. Additional batch isotherm experiments using AFFF and higher PFOS concentrations (mg/L) indicated larger amounts of GAC are required (>30mg/L) for effective removal. Full-scale testing simulated an …

Toxicological Differences Between Perfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) Isomers Using Developmental Biomarkers, Gabriel A. Cantu

Theses and Dissertations

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are metabolically stable synthetic chemicals that have been manufactured for commercial and industrial purposes since the 1950s. PFAS possess surfactant properties that make them ideal to fight hydrocarbon fires and are therefore present in aqueous film forming foams (AFFF). Furthermore, AFFF may contain blends of both linear and branched PFAS isomers. Research suggests that branched PFAS isomers have greater relative placental transfer efficiencies than their linear counterpart, but few studies have evaluated their toxicity. Therefore, the sustained use of AFFF in the U.S. Air Force presents a risk of branched PFAS exposures in pregnant females. This study …

Nitrogen Rate And Landscape Impacts On Life Cycle Energy Use And Emissions From Switchgrass-Derived Ethanol, Eric G. Mbonimpa, Sandeep Kumar, Vance N. Owens, Rajesh Chintala, Heidi L. Sieverding, James J. Stone

Faculty Publications

Switchgrass-derived ethanol has been proposed as an alternative to fossil fuels to improve sustainability of the US energy sector. In this study, life cycle analysis (LCA) was used to estimate the environmental benefits of this fuel. To better define the LCA environmental impacts associated with fertilization rates and farm-landscape topography, results from a controlled experiment were analyzed. Data from switchgrass plots planted in 2008, consistently managed with three nitrogen rates (0, 56, and 112 kg N ha−1), two landscape positions (shoulder and footslope), and harvested annually (starting in 2009, the year after planting) through 2014 were used as input into …

A Simulation-Based Analysis Of Chemical And Radiological Hazard Zones Adapted To Physical Boundaries, Mickie J. Sundheim

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, industrial and terrorist use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) materials pose a risk to public safety. During the initial phase of typical CBRN incidents, emergency responders establish hazard zones based on standard distances from published guidelines and recommendations. This research investigates how standard hazard zones change in a real world environment that accounts for physical boundaries. Using a python simulation in ArcGIS®, new hazard zones were created by expanding standard hazard zones to follow nearby roads, railroads, and rivers. The new and standard zones were compared by calculating the population and area affected by …

The Effect Of Ph And Pulsed Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diode Duty Cycles On The First Order Rate Constant And Byproduct Profile Of The Advanced Oxidation Of Tartrazine, Brandon M. Stewart

Theses and Dissertations

Water treatment capability is required for military operations, production of drinking water, and industrial wastewater treatment. The Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) is one of many viable steps for treating water; however, it is important to understand the byproducts of the treatment process to avoid creating other constituents more severe than the first. Tartrazine (TAR) was oxidized with pulsed Ultra- Violet (UV) Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in combination with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in an AOP at the laboratory scale. The relative concentration of TAR was reduced from 1 to between 1 – 0.75 over pH values between 6 and 9, and …

Removal Of Perfluorooctanoic Acid From Water Using Primitive, Conventional And Novel Carbonaceous Sorbent Materials, Christopher K. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), like perfluorooctanoic acid, have been used for the last 50 years in a wide variety of industrial processes and consumer-based products, including polymer additives, lubricants, fire retardants and suppressants, pesticides, and surfactants (Buck et al. 2015). The Department of Defense (DoD) has used PFAS-based Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) at fire training facilities and aircraft hangars. AFFF has contaminated approximately 600 sites classified as fire training facilities with PFAS (Huang, 2013).

This study focused on testing the most likely carbonaceous adsorbent compounds to remediate PFAS-contaminated sites on Air Force installations. Batch tests were performed to determine the …

Material And Design Considerations For A Portable Ultra-Violet (Uv) Light Emitting Diode (Led) Water Purification Device, Drew D. Gallucci

Theses and Dissertations

Department of Defense personnel often deploy to austere environments where clean water is not readily available. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation through the use of light emitting diodes (LEDs) in a portable device offers a potential method for expedient water treatment. This research studied the application of one diode, low power, UV LEDs and nine diode, high power, UV LEDs within a portable steel reactor and Teflon reactors of three different wall thicknesses. Reactor efficiency was determined through measuring and comparing the rate constants for Advanced Oxidation of hydrogen peroxide with yellow tartrazine as a witness dye. Experiments conducted with low power …

Characterizing Emissions From Open Burning Of Military Food Waste And Packaging From Forward Operating Bases, Thomas Dominguez

Theses and Dissertations

Emissions were characterized and compared from the open burning of four compositions of Meals, Ready-To-Eat (MRE) and four types of MRE fiberboard packaging in response to inhalation concerns at military forward operating bases. Measurements of particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) showed that MREs account for 70-90 percent of PM emissions when burned in unison with the current fiberboard container and liner and that PM2.5 constitutes a vast majority of the particulates emitted. Targeted replacement of MRE constituents may be more effective in reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions than the variation of fiberboard packaging designs, while …

Sediment Loss And Its Cause In Puerto Rico Watersheds, Y. Yuan, Y. Jiang, E. V. Taugas, Eric G. Mbonimpa

Faculty Publications

A major environmental concern in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is increased sediment load to water reservoirs, to estuaries, and finally to coral reef areas outside the estuaries. Sediment deposition has significantly reduced the storage capacity of reservoirs, and sediments, with their associated contaminants and nutrients that are adsorbed, can stress corals and negatively impact reef health. To prevent and manage sediment loss it is therefore important to understand local soil erosion and sediment transport processes. The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of landscape characteristics on sediment loss. We analyzed available precipitation and sediment data …

A System Dynamics Approach To The Efficacy Of Oxime Therapy In Sub Lethal Exposure To Sarin Gas, Daniel J. Droste

Theses and Dissertations

The 2010 National Security Strategy states, The effective dissemination of a lethal agent would endanger the lives of thousands of people and have unprecedented economic, societal, and political consequences. We must continue to work at home with first responders and health officials to reduce the risk associated with high-consequence threats . Nerve agents, such as Sarin gas, are considered high consequence threats. The threat of use of agents such as Sarin is as much a threat today as any other time in our history. However, the suggested treatment protocol is not as precise as it could be. Debate exists over …

Pulsed Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diodes For Advanced Oxidation Of Tartrazine, Patrick M. Mudimbi

Theses and Dissertations

A study was conducted to evaluate the advanced oxidation of organic contaminants using pulsed ultraviolet light emitted diode (UV LED). Tartrazine was used as a surrogate organic compound. Low pressure Mercury-based lamps currently used in the treatment of water pose potential health risks if broken and create final disposal issues at the end of their service life. UV LED offers an alternative solution due to its non-toxicity, flexible design, and longer operating life compared to the mercury-based lamps. The apparent first order reaction rate constant for tartrazine degradation increased linearly with increasing duty cycle. At a continuous 100% duty cycle, …

The Effect Of Malathion On The Activity And Performance Of Activated Sludge, Erik G. Rauglas

Theses and Dissertations

Decontamination activities following a chemical weapons incident may generate significant quantities of contaminated wash water that may enter the wastewater collection system either intentionally or accidentally. This raises concerns about the effect of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) on the operation of a biological wastewater treatment plant. The goal of the study was to evaluate the effect of malathion on the activity and performance of activated sludge. Malathion is an organophosphate (OP) and is considered an environmental surrogate for VX. This study employed respirometry, short term batch tests, and long term exposure experiments to investigate the effects of different concentrations of …

Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diode Use In Advanced Oxidation Processes, Kelsey L. Duckworth

Theses and Dissertations

Cleanup from a hazardous chemical release can result in large volumes of water containing hazardous materials, such as organophosphates. Unfortunately, this water cannot be treated in a municipal wastewater treatment plant without adversely affecting the performance of the plant. A known method for pretreating this water to prepare it for processing in a traditional treatment plant includes the addition of hydrogen peroxide, followed by ultraviolet (UV) light exposure to form reactive hydroxyl radicals which oxidize the chemical. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are explored as a UV source as they are durable; compact; can be powered by low voltage, direct current …

Design Considerations For A Water Treatment System Utilizing Ultra-Violet Light Emitting Diodes, Michael J. Spencer

Theses and Dissertations

UV LED technology is in its infancy and research as it applies to UV water treatment is required to advance knowledge for practical application. This thesis focused on two subjects. First, the design, fabrication, and operation of a water treatment reaction system utilizing Ultra-Violet (UV) Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Second, the measurement of UV LED output angle in water which is necessary to support future reactor designs. Several characteristics of the LED-water interface were revealed which impacted the effectiveness of the vessel including; UV dose requirements, LED wavelength, photon dispersion geometry, LED placement, optical efficiency, vessel material, and electronic control …

Development Of Peptide Nanotube-Modified Biosensors For Gas-Phase Organophosphate Detection, Peter A . Baker

Theses and Dissertations

Vapor-phase detection of the model organophosphate malathion was achieved using enzymes encapsulated in peptide nanotubes and attached to gold screen-printed electrodes. Malathion was chosen as the model for this experiment because its binding mechanism with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is identical to its more potent counterparts (such as sarin or VX), but it has an extremely low human toxicity, which makes it both practical and easy to use. The peptide nanotubes had horseradish peroxidase encapsulated inside and were coated with both acetylthiocholine (ASCh) and AChE on the outside. ASCh hydrolysis, which produces thiocholine, was catalyzed by the AChE. The thiocholine was then …

Influence Of Media Size And Flow Rate On The Transport Of Silver Nanoparticles In Saturated Porous Media: Laboratory Experiments And Modeling, Travis J. Meidinger

Theses and Dissertations

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely produced and used. Because of their potential toxicity and the possibility of their release into the environment, it is important to understand the factors involved in their transport; particularly how they may move in groundwater, which is a potential pathway to human and environmental receptors. By passing a solution of 15 mg/L AgNPs with an average size of 17 nm through sand-filled glass columns, this study looks at the physical effects of flow rate and media size on transport. Three different sand sizes ( 0.074, 0.21-0.297, and 0.4-2.0mm) were used, as well as two different …

Biodegradation Of An Organophosphate Chemical Warfare Agent Simulant By Activated Sludge With Varying Solid Retention Times, Allen K. Janeczko

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the fate of malathion, a surrogate compound for VX studies, in bench-scale sequencing batch bioreactors being operated under varied solid retention times (SRTs) to simulate the activated sludge process in wastewater treatment facilities. Results show that a constant influent of the malathion will largely be removed. However, the heterotrophic bacteria undergo a stress response which temporarily inhibits malathion removal, the extent of which increases with increasing SRTs. After this stress response takes place, the activated sludge is able to resume a high degree of malathion removal, even with increased influent concentration; however, this is done so at …

Fate Of Malathion In An Activated Sludge Municipal Wastewater Treatment System, Edward B. Walters

Theses and Dissertations

Organophosphate compounds are used as pesticides and in chemical warfare agents such as nerve agents. VX (O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate) is one of the most toxic and environmentally persistent of these nerve agents. This research examined the fate of malathion, a pesticide and surrogate of VX (O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate), in bench-scale activated sludge (AS) sequencing batch reactors. Sorption kinetics and sorption equilibrium isotherm experiments indicate that sorption to AS biomass was not a statistically important removal mechanism. However, approximately 90% of the initial 4.25 mg L-1 malathion concentration degraded primarily via heterotrophic activity.

Evaluation Of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Activated Sludge For Biodegradation Of Propylene Glycol As An Aircraft Deicer, Justin D. Delorit

Theses and Dissertations

Aircraft deicing fluid used at airport facilities is often collected for treatment or disposal in order to prevent serious ecological threats to nearby surface waters. This study investigated lab scale degradation of propylene glycol (PG), the active ingredient in a common aircraft deicing fluid, by way of a laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor containing municipal waste water treatment facility activated sludge (AS) performing simultaneous organic carbon oxidation and nitrification. The ability of AS to remove PG was evaluated by studying the biodegradation and sorption characteristics of PG in an AS medium. The results indicate sorption may play a role in the …

Optimization Of Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron For The Remediation Of Groundwater Contaminants, Andrew W. E. Mcpherson

Theses and Dissertations

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) is an emerging tool for the remediation of groundwater contaminants. The nanoparticles are capable of reductively destroying or immobilizing a wide range of contaminants. Their small size results in a high surface area to mass ratio, making them much more reactive compared to their more-coarse predecessors. Small particle size also allows nZVI particles to be injected directly into contaminated areas via a well, limiting the above-ground footprint and allowing access to contaminated areas that are beyond the reach of some conventional methods. nZVI technology has the potential to facilitate remediation in difficult situations, improve remediation outcomes, …

Biodegradation Of Organophosphate Chemical Warfare Agents By Activated Sludge, Steven J. Schuldt

Theses and Dissertations

Organophosphates (OPs) have been widely used as Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs) as well as pesticides since World War II and still remain a threat to national security. While efforts have been taken at military installations and civilian communities to secure these chemicals and prevent their misuse, a determined adversary could still obtain and deploy them to injure, kill, or instill terror. The lethal properties of this group of compounds are primarily owed to their irreversible inhibition of the enzyme acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) and thus may alter the human nervous system or affect the hormonal balance of children in particular. In …

Unintended Consequences: Potential Downsides Of The Air Force's Conversion To Biofuels, Mark N. Goltz, Charles A. Bleckmann, Charles M. Mackay, Khai Vuong, Jerrod P. Mccomb

Faculty Publications

The desire to reduce US dependence on foreign energy, ongoing environmental concerns, and the rising cost of petroleum have sparked significant development of greener alternative and renewable energy sources such as alcohol-based biofuels. To address these issues, the Department of Defense DOD has moved to diminish its reliance on petroleum for fueling aircraft and ground equipment. The US Air Force, in alignment with DOD objectives, has initiated several goals for reducing its use of energy: (1) decrease the use of petroleum-based fuel by 2 percent annually for the vehicle fleet, (2) increase the use of alternative fuel in motor vehicles …

Characterization And In Vitro Toxicity Of Copper Nanoparticles (Cu-Nps) In Murine Neuroblastoma (N2a) Cells, Sitao Veronica Brownheim

Theses and Dissertations

Nanomaterials, classified as materials within the 1 - 100 nanometer range, have seemingly endless applications. It is very important to the Air Force to increase the understanding of Cu-NPs and the possible health impacts from nanomaterial exposure prior to wide-spread industry and military use. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to thoroughly characterize the properties of three different copper samples upon suspension into aqueous solutions over time: Cu-NPs (Cu 25 nm), CuO-NPs (CuO 40 nm), and Cu-MSP (Cu 500nm). Additionally, this research seeks to observe in vitro effects upon murine neuroblastoma cells (N2A) by these three types of particles …

Retrospective Geospatial Modeling Of Pm10 Exposures From Open Burning At Joint Base Balad, Iraq, John P. Rinker

Theses and Dissertations

Predicting, determining, and linking theater-related source-specific exposures to health effects has proven difficult. The purpose of this research is to delineate retrospective exposure zones using spatially interpolated particulate air sampling point data from Joint Base Balad, create burn pit exposure isopleths from dispersion model outputs, and merge into a combined exposure model in GIS. Interpolated monitoring results and dispersion modeled results were combined to compare modeled exposures across base. Burn pit contribution to total PM10 was also modeled. The combined dispersion and interpolation map showed elevated concentrations within a 1 kilometer buffer of the burn pit. Buildings within this area …