Toxicology Commons^™

Thermal Decomposition Of Dichlorobenzene In An Atmosphere Of Hydrogen And Helium, Mingta Hung

Theses

Reactions of dilute mixtures of dichlorobenzene in hydrogen and in helium were studied in a tubular reactor at a pressure of 1 atm, residence times of 0.04 to 2.7 seconds, and temperature range of 825 to 1000° C. Product distributions at various reaction conditions are measured with a flame ionization detector gas chromatograph, and qualitative analysis of batch samples was also performed by GC/Mass Spectrometry. The major products were observed as the thermodynamically stable species, HC1, Cis), benzene and chlorobenzene. Thermal reaction in helium at 1 second residence time in 1.05 cm ID reactor yielded less benzene and chlorobenzene when …

Thermal Desorption Of Hazardous And Toxic Organic Compounds From Soil Matrices, Michael L. Hornsby

Theses

The purpose of this initial laboratory scale research project was to study and demonstrate the feasibility in removal of selected toxic organic compounds from soil by thermal desorption and gas purge. Applying heat and a flow of inert gas to the soil increases the volatilization and effects removal of organic compounds from soil. The work was done in two parts: First, organic solvents were injected into columns containing real and simulated soil matrices. The columns were heated to one of the four temperatures and purged with a flow of nitrogen carrier gas. The organic vapors were deposited as a plug …

The Sunlight Effect On Trace Pollutants In Wastewater, Alan R. Sheu

Theses

In order to study the sunlight effect on the degradation rate of trace pollutants, ortho-cresol was selected to serve as a model compound in our studies. Solution of ortho-cresol alone, methylene blue alone, and the mixture of ortho-cresol and methylene blue were exposed to sunlight for more than four hours and aliquots analyzed with a spectrophotometer in order to follow the changes in absorption. Rate data were obtained for these three cases as a function of pH.

The results indicate that methylene blue does catalyze the degradation of ortho-cresol in the presence of sunlight with lower pH's affording higher reaction …

Indicators Of Microbial Activity In Biological Treatment Of Hazardous Wastes, Alexander Mclean Sherrin

Theses

Three methods were used to measure the activity of mixed liquor from the Livingston, N.J. municipal wastewater treatment plant on exposure to phenol. The three methods were, substrate removal rate (SRR), dissolved oxygen uptake rate (DOUR), and the dye reduction rate (DRR). Parameters from each test were compared for reproducibility and ease of determination. The SRR test gave the most reproducible results, while the DOUR test was the least reproducible. Although the reproducibility of the DRR test was close to that of the SRR test, the DRR was more time consuming and required a greater degree of expertise and training. …

Groundwater Contamination Studies At A Sanitary Landfill In New Jersey, Yau-Chorng Chien

Theses

Edgeboro Landfill, a site used for the disposal of municipal and industrial refuse, is one of the largest landfills in New Jersey. The landfill has been in operation since 1954, serving the solid waste disposal needs of local townships and a major portion of Middlessex and the surrounding counties. The landfill was not equipped with a liner and a leachate collection system at the time of start up. The leachate collection line around the landfill, on-site leachate treatment by three stabilization ponds and subsurface cut-off wall were provided to minimize the discharge of leachate into adjacent waters in 1979. Groundwater …

Steady-State Operation Of Bench-Scale Activated Sludge Process Using Phenol And 2-Chlorophenol As Substrates, Jeffrey Richard Caputi

Theses

Experiments were conducted to determine whether a continuous process similar to the common activated sludge process could be operated at a relative steady state with phenol and 2-chlorophenol as the sole carbon sources. After a number of unsuccessful trials, process conditions were developed which allowed for operation at a relative steady state with respect to the concentration of microorganisms in the reactor and the concentration of phenol and 2-chlorophenol in the effluent.

Phenol and 2-chlorophenol were removed at better than 99 percent efficiency on a continuous basis. The mixed liquor grown under the conditions of the experiment was highly filamentous …

Investigation Of Water-Binding Properties Of Industrial Sludges Using Thermal Analysis As A Monitoring Tool, Ron Josephson

Theses

As part of a program to develop new and more cost-effective dewatering approaches for industrial hazardous wastes, sludges and synthetic "model" materials were analyzed by thermal methods in an attempt to comprehend their water-binding qualities and differentiate free and bound water. These thermal methods included Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Industrial sludges and laboratory models were compared using both standard heating techniques and subambient cooling (to -60°C). This latter technique provides direct indication of the amount of free water. This information can be very useful in evaluating and improving dewatering techniques for industrial …

Characterization Of Microorganisims After Feeding With Phenolic Compounds : Comparing A Domestic Sludge To An Industrial Sludge, Dianne Adamowitz

Theses

This study examined the effects of phenolic compounds on the populations in mixed liquors obtained from two very different treatment plants: the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners plant in Newark, and the Livingston, NJ municipal treatment plant. The dominant organisms were identified initially and after ten days exposure to phenol (100 ppm), and either 2-chlorophenol (20 ppm) or 2,6-dichlorophenol (10 ppm) in aerated batch reactors.

Results confirmed the remarkable similarity between the two mixed liquor populations, in spite of the significant differences in the operation of the two treatment plants.

A Study Of Hazardous Wastes Generated In New Jersey With Regard To The Siting Of Waste Disposal Facilities In The State, Shreerang Narayan Dharasker

Theses

The effective treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes is one of the most urgent problems facing the State of New Jersey today. New Jersey is the most densely populated state and is a leader in industry. Nearly every major industry in the nation is represented by one or many production units all of which generate copious amounts of hazardous and toxic wastes each year. Although the state has the toughest rules and regulations on the management of hazardous waste, there are very few options exercised or facilities cited for the effective treatment and disposal of wastes within the state boundaries. …

Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Of Brunswick Soil With Aqueous Benzene Solution, Thomas R. Pisciotta

Theses

Tests measuring saturated hydraulic conductivity and dispersivity were conducted on Brunswick soil using an aqueous solution of benzene. The tests were performed using a flexible wall permeameter which was modified to allow extraction of effluent samples immediately upon exit of the test specimen. Influent and effluent samples were analyzed with a gas chromatograph in order to quantify dispersion and sorption in the specimen.

The test was performed using a confining pressure of 70 psi. and a hydraulic gradient of 100.3. Using a sample statically compacted to 99.2% of the Modified Proctor maximum density and tap water as a permeant, stable …

Microbial Characteristics Of An Industrial Mixed Liquor After Exposure To Phenolic Compounds, Patricia L. Boyle

Theses

The microbial characteristics of a mixed population from the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners (PVSC) Wastewater Treatment Plant in Newark were examined. This plant handles about 250 million gallons per day of mixed sewerage, with a large industrial component. The microbial species were characterized using standard plating techniques, morphology, microscopic observation, and biochemical tests. These characteristics were determined for the fresh liquor, and after successive batch exposure to phenol (100 ppm) and 2-chlorophenol (20 ppm). Predator/prey, gram positive to gram negative bacteria ratios, and the fungi and protozoan populations were also determined. These results were compared with those previously obtained using …

Scheduling Effects Of 5-(3,3-Dimethyl-1-Triazeno)Imidazole-4-Carboxamide (Dtic) And 1,3-Bis-Chloroethyl-1-Nitrosourea (Bcnu) On Mouse Melanoma Cells B16cl5, Gracie V. Coffey

Theses

DTIC and BCNU have been demonstrated to have enhanced chemotherapeutic effects in mice bearing Bl6 mouse melanoma cells. The order of administration seems to be important in maintaining optimum effects. This was shown is a study by Hill et al. (unpublished).

In the present study, mouse melanoma cells, Bl6CL4, were treated with either DTIC or BCNU. The drug was allowed to remain on the cells for 2, 3, or 4 days. The drug-containing media were then removed, the cells were washed and fresh medium was added. The cells were incubated in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 and 95% air at …

The Kinetics And Hepatotoxicity Of Benzyl Chloride Vapor In Rats, Hari V. Rao

Theses

Male Sprague Dawley rats (250g) were exposed to benzyl chloride vapor at a concentration of 220 ppm for 6 hours. During inhalation, the blood benzyl chloride concentration increased to reach a steady state level of 9-10 ug/ml between 4 and 6 hours of exposure. A small concentration of benzyl chloride (0.86 ug/ml) was present in the blood four hours after the termination of exposure. The absorption half life was 0.53 hours (0.39-0.81) and the elimination half life was l.12 hour (0.93-l.40).

The absorbed benzyl chloride was largely retained in the blood and some of it (0.22 ug/g) was sequestered into …

Protective Laboratory Measures For The Flexible Wall Permeameter And The Atterberg Limits Tests Using Hazardous And Toxic Chemicals, Robert A. Tetla

Theses

Safety procedures for performing geotechnical testing with hazardous and toxic materials, excluding radioactive wastes, are developed for the Flexible Wall Permeameter and the Atterberg Limits Tests. The tests were evaluated in detail to determine the critical points at which the technician would be exposed to the hazardous and/or toxic permeant. It was found that the following safety measures should always be taken; 1) the apparatus and all testing should be undertaken in a sliding sash hood using the proper face velocity, 2) air monitoring using a personal dosimeter and/or a detector tube is required to assure that the concentration of …

The Evaluation Of New Jersey's Remedial Response Program With Regard To The Use Of Risk Assessment In Determining Extent Of Cleanup, Susan Christine Gieser

Theses

In order to effectively manage the cleanup of hazardous waste sites the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection developed a comprehensive Master Plan. Under P. L. 1983, c. 222 (A-1255) the Hazardous Waste Advisory Council was charged with reviewing New Jersey's remedial action program. One issue identified by the Council for review was the use of risk assessment for determining extent of cleanup. The study was comprised of a literature search, review of legislation that impacts on this issue, interviews with DEP personnel, and consultation with others from academia and industry to recommend what is an acceptable risk and its …

Microbial Characteristics Of An Activated Sludge And Three Commercial Preparations After Exposure To Phenolics, Laurie Gneiding

Theses

The biological characteristics of four microbial mixtures were examined after successive exposure to phenol and 2-chlorophenol at room temperature. One of the microbial mixtures was an activated sludge from the Livingston, NJ municipal wastewater treatment plant. The other three mixtures were commercial preparations sold by Polybac Corp.(Hydrobac), Sybron Corp. (BI-CHEM DC 1006/1007), and General Environmental Sciences(LLMO).

The characteristics examined were relative counts and species of gram negative/gram positive bacteria, yeast and fungi, protozoa, and higher organisms. For the gram negative bacteria and yeasts, culturing techniques and diagnostic tubes were used to determine the predominant species. Biochemical tests were done on …

Analysis Of Selected Volatile Organic Substances Associated With Residential Kerosene Heater Use And The Health Implications, Catherine Coombs Bobenhausen

Theses

Volatile organic species (aliphatic hydrocarbons from hexane to dodecane, cyclohexane and aromatic species including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, m,p, and o—xylenes, nitrobenzene, styrene and naphthalene) associated with residential kerosene heater emissions were measured at two sites. One was a small room having a total volume of 23.66 cubic meters and an air change rate of 2.71 air changes per hour, and the other, a living/dining room area having a combined volume of 79.30 cubic meters and an estimated air change rate of .7 air changes per hour. The analytical procedure involved collection of a series of air samples in stainless …

Investigations Into Rates And Mechanisms Of Mercury Depuration In The Killifish, Fundulus Heteroclitus, Joanne A. Korpanty

Theses

Metallothionein (MT) and glutathione (GSH) have been shown in mammalian research to play a role in the sequestration and depuration of mercury. The sulfhydryl groups on both these peptides have a strong affinity for mercury, MT for Hg²⁺ and GSH for CH₃Hg⁺. In this study, killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) were force-fed one piece of squid laced with labelled mercuric nitrate to give a final food concentration of 20 ppm ²⁰³Hg²⁺ and 0.03 -0.05 µg g-1 Hg²⁺ total dose. Most of the mercury, 84.1 ± 12.1% (mean ± standard deviation), is depurated within the …

Acrylamide Effects On Nerve Terminal Enzymes, Christopher S. E. Marlowe

Theses

Acrylamide causes a peripehral neuropathy. The biochemical mechanism by which it does so is the subject of intense investigation. One of the principal hypotheses for this mechanism centers on acrylamide's ability to inhibit glycolysis. This study examines the effects of in vivo exposure to acrylamide on the enzymes of the nerve terminal particle, the synaptosome.

A method for measuring glycolytic enzyme inhibition in the synaptosome was developed. Acrylamide (500 mg/kg) was administered to rats intraperitoneally. Synaptosomes were prepared by the method of Dodd et al, and lysed by sonication. GAPDH activity and NSE concentration were measured. GAPDH inhibition measured in …