Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Characterization Of Activated Sludge Immobilized In Calcium Alginate Gel With Respect To Biodegradation Of 2-Chlorophenol And Benzene, Manjari Singh

Theses

Activated sludges acclimated with phenol and 2-chlorophenol in one case, and a mixture of benzene, toluene, and o, in and p-xylene in another case, were characterized for biodegradation of 2-chlorophenol and benzene, respectively. Activated sludge was obtained from the Parsippany-Troy Hills Water Pollution Control Plant (NJ).

For both cases colonies were isolated before acclimation, after acclimation, and at the end of biodegradation studies. Since the unacclimated group was the same in both cases, there were a total of five different groups for which characterization was carried out.

For all the five groups together, a total of 54 isolates were obtained …

Substituent Effects On Strained Rings. Part A ; The Kinetics Of Hydrolysis Of A Quinuclidone Using Ftir. Part B, Yeu-Yi Chiu

Theses

PART A: The energies of a series of monosubstitued propane, cyclopropane and cyclopropene compounds were calculated using ab initio molecular orbital calculations optimized at the 3-21G level using Gaussian 82 and Gaussian 86 programs. The effects of substituents on stabilization energies and geometries are rationalized with respect to the parent molecules. The result is presented which indicated that for substituted cyclopropyl and cyclopropenyl compounds, most of the substituents induce stabilization except the —NC substituent group is destabilizing in cyclopropyl and cyclopropenyl systems. Indications of relative electrostatic and resonance effects are also analyzed. A linear free energy relationship has been exam-ined …

Microbial Competition In The Biodegradation Of Phenol, Mary Ellen Frank

Theses

Three phenol degraders were isolated from the mixed liquor of the Livingston, NJ municipal treatment plant. Shaker flask experiments using one of the degraders (a Pseudomonas sp.) resulted in the determination of its kinetic rate constants. The second phenol degrader (a Xanthamonas) lost its phenol degrading ability while being stored, and its kinetic rate constants could not be determined. The third phenol degrader (a Pseudomonas cepacia) formed flocs which interfered with the spectrophotometric determination of biomass and therefore its kinetic rate constants also could not be determined.

Mixed culture experiments were carried out using a the Pseudomonas sp. and a …

Thermal Desorption Of Hazardous And Toxic Organic Compounds, Manuel S. Nolau

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to study the thermal desorption behavior of toxic organic compounds, specifically o-xylene, p-xylene, ethyl benzene, p-chlorotoluene, and anthracene, from soil with respect to temperature and time, and to develop a mathematical model that will describe this desorption behavior. The model will allow prediction of the concentration of an organic contaminant in commercial soil desorption system over time given a known set of parameters of the specific chemical as well as flow rate and temperature. For this purpose, two sets of experiments were done: These are identified as 1. Thermal desorption and 2. plug flow …

Study Of An Analytical Method For Benzo(A)Pyrene Metabolites In Human Urine, Zheng Ouyang

Theses

A method developed by Becher and Bjorseth for analysis of PAH metabolites in urine was employed to investigate human exposure to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) - an ubiquitous environmental carcinogen. Preliminary results are presented showing the relationship between exposure to BaP and urinary elimination. Although the correlation between the two variables is not statistically significant, there appears to be a positive association with selected exposure varibles such as smoking. The identification of an association may establish urinary BaP as a marker of exposure.

However, detailed study of the analytical procedure indicated that recoveries with this method were as low as 3-8% for …

Determination Of Benzo(A)Pyrene Metabolites In The Bile Of Winter Flounder From The New York Bight, Xingmin Liu

Theses

A method for detecting the concentration of BaP Metabolites in fish tissues has been developed. The analytical procedure includes extraction of PAH and BaP Metabolites from fish bile, liver extract and muscle extract; reduction of metabolites to BaP using hydriodic acid; and subsequent analysis of the BaP by thin layer chromatography with fluorescence detection. The method is applied to tissues from fish collected from polluted as well as clean reference waters and experimental tanks with dilutions of treated industrial wastewater. Experimental results on one kind of bottom-dwelling fish, winter flounder, which comes from the Hudson-Raritan Estuary, NY, where the water …

Synthesis Of Highly-Strained Gem-Difluoro Compounds By Reaction Of Difluoromethylene With Cycloalkenes, Deyi Yang

Theses

Trans-Cyclooctene is thought to be more reactive than cis-cyclooctene due to its trans-structure. When cis or trans-clooctene reacts with difluormethylene (:CF₂), trans-9,9-difluorobicyclo[ 6,1,0] nonane was generated in much higher yield than cis-9,9-difluorobicyclo[6,1,0]nonane. [PhCF₃P⁺CF₂Br]Br^- was chosen to be the difluoromethylene precursor in this study. The reason was that the reaction condition for trans-cyclooctene and :CF₂ should be at low temperature. Only [PhCF₃P⁺CF₂Br]Br^- could generate CF₂ at lower temperature (e.g. room temperature). We succeeded in the synthesis of trans-9,9-difluorobicyclo[6,1,0]nonane and its cis isomer and …

Environmental Assessment In Bioethanol Technology Using Immobilized Yeast Cells, Minoo Kandy Zarnegar

Theses

This study is undertaken from the standpoint of water pollution evaluation in bioethanol technology, using immobilized yeast cells. Evaluation of water pollution caused by immobilized yeast fermentation is the main objective of this research.

The pollution in water remaining at the end of ethanol production, which is normally discharged in the wastewater stream, has been analyzed by the measurement of biological oxygen demand (BOD), since BOD measurement is one of the widely used parameters for water pollution evaluation. BOD obtained from produced water (stillage) was between the range of 115- 360 mg/l. The variation in BOD depended upon the removal …

Analysis Of C2 And C3 Hydrocarbons In Ambient Air. Section I ; Identification And Quantification Of Volatile Organics Emitted From A Landfill. Section Ii, Tsong-Sheng Chang

Theses

SECTION I

A method was developed to analyze Acetylene, Ethylene, Ethane, Propylene and Propane levels in the ambient air. Chlorinated compounds within the operation retention time, Methyl chloride, Methylene chloride and Vinyl chloride, were monitored also.

Four sampling sites are located at Carteret, Elizabeth, Newark and Montville in New Jersey. Samples were taken during the summer of 1988. Two sample duration periods utilizing 12 and 6 liter stainless steel canisters were set up to take 24 hour air samples and instantaneous air samples (5 minutes collection period).

The average levels of Acetylene, Ethylene, Ethane, Propylene and Propane at the four …

Thermal Decomposition Of Dichloromethane/1,1,1-Trichloroethane Mixture In An Atmosphere Of Hydrogen, Yang Soo Won

Theses

The thermal decomposition of a dichloromethane/1 , 1 , 1-trichloroethane mixture diluted in hydrogen was conducted in tubular flow reactors at 1 atmosphere total pressure. The thermal degradation of each species was analyzed systematically over temperature ranges from 475 - 810 °C, residence times of 0.05 - 2.0 seconds and three different surface to volume ratio flow reactors.

It was found that the conversions of each species in the mixture were a function of both temperature and residence time. Complete decay occurs at about 810 °C for dichloromethane and around 570 °C for 1,1,1-trichloroethane at 1 second residence time. The …

A Study Of Human Exposure To Benzo(A)Pyrene (Bap) Through Different Pathways. Part A ; Assessment Of Benzo(A)Pyrene (Bap) Exposure Through Urine Analysis With The Hydriodic Acid Reduction Reaction. Part B, Shao-Keng Liang

Theses

PART A: An investigation of total human exposure to an environmental pollutant is described. The study is being conducted in a community impacted by a foundry suspected to be a dominant local source of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). The research aims to assess the relative contributions of indoor and outdoor sources and to measure BaP in media including indoor air, outdoor air, food and water.

PART B: A method for biological monitoring of exposure to benzo(a)pyrene, a representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), has been developed. The analytical procedure includes extraction of PAH and PAH metabolites from urine using commercial cartridges containing c …

A New Hazardous Waste Treatment Technology Utilizing Low Power Density Microwave Energy, Gabriele Else Windgasse

Theses

Two major applications of a new hazardous waste treatment technology using low power density microwave energy have been characterized: 1) Desorption of organic materials such as: trichloro-ethylene, para-xylene, naphthalene and gasoline hydrocarbons from substrates such as: sand and granulated activated carbon was achieved by microwave induced steam distillation and the application of a new phenomenon: arcing between GAC particles when they are exposed to microwave radiation. All contaminants could be removed to 100% (non-detectable with GC and GC-MS). 2) Decomposition of organic contaminants such as: trichloro-ethylene and trichloro-ethane in arcing/heating GAC beds. A new fluidized bed reactor ("RDW-reactor", after Ray, …

Pentachlorophenol And Oxygen Consumption Of Immobilized Mixed Bacterial Culture, Tesfamariam Stephanos Tsadwa

Theses

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Pentachlorophenol (PCP) concentration on oxygen consumption of immobilized microbial cells. The microbial population, from a municipal wastewater treatment plant, was immobilized in calcium alginate gel. The following studies have also been conducted in this project:

1. Comparison of the effect of PCP concentration on oxygen uptake between immobilized and free cells.
2. Comparison of the effects of PCP concentration on oxygen uptake between acclimated and an unacclimated bacterial beads.

Dissolved oxygen concentration was monitored using a flow Clark-type oxygen probe, in a micro-assay bioreactor. It was found that PCP concentrations higher than 2000ppm …

Adsorption And Kinetics Of Adsorption By Flyash In Solution, Murthy K. Jogimahanti

Theses

The phenomena of adsorption is extremely important in water/wastewater treatment process. A process which uses flyash as the sorbent for removing organic compounds from aqueous solutions has been investigated. Also, the rate at which this process occurs, i.e., the kinetics of adsorption, has been studied. Single solute systems were examined and the samples were analyzed using a Flame Ionization Detector Gas Chromatograph. The potentialities of adsorption on flyash as a method of renovation of water have not been realized fully, because little knowledge is available regarding the effective application of the method for this purpose.

Flyash has been known to …

Use Of Recirculation Reactor To Study Biodegradation Of Aroclor 1242, A Polychlorinated Biphenyl, Babu S. Sanji

Theses

The performance of immobilized microorganisms in the detoxification of hazardous waste was investigated using a recirculation flow reactor, run in a batch mode. A mixed microbial population from a wastewater treatment plant was immobilized in calcium alginate gel. The bio-oxidation ability of these microbes towards a model toxin Aroclor 1242 (R) (PCB 1242) was studied.

A non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-405 (R)) was used as a medium in the enhancement of the solubility of Aroclor 1242 in aqueous phase.

Dissolved oxygen concentration was monitored using a flow Clark-type dissolved oxygen probe. Oxygen consumption was compared to the biodegradation of Aroclor 1242. …

Preconcentration And Direct Flame Ionization Method For Measurement Of Non-Methane Organic Compounds In Ambient Air And Statistical Analysis Of Experimental Data, Lianyi Zuo

Theses

A fast and reliable method for the determination of non-methane organic compounds (NMOC) in ambient air has been developed. Samples are collected in SUMMA polished stainless steel canisters using a sampling system with a critical orifice as flowrate controller. Analysis of NMOC in the atmosphere via a canister is carried out by cryogenic preconcentration and a direct flame ionization detection method (PDFID). This system is sensitive and provides accurate measurement of ambient NMOC concentration even if the concentration is as low as 0.1 ppm carbon. The performance of the method was characterized using 19 pairs of canister samples and tested …

Synthesis Of Strained Bridgehead Lactams, Quansing Tu

Theses

While 1-Azabicyclo(3,3,1)nonan-2-one was originally thought to be difficult to synthesize, two different methods (DCC and di-n-butyltin oxide) will produce it with high yield. DCC is a strong reagent for absorbing water; the di-n-butyltin oxide method uses a Dean-Stark to remove water and is very useful. Bredt's rule influences the synthesis and stability of the N-bridgehead bicyclic lactams, this is apparent in the lactam series in the behavior of the (2,2,2) compounds and the (3,2,1) compound which we tried unsuccessfully to synthesize.

Detection And Determination Of N-Nitrosohexamethyleneimine In Benzenesulfonamide, N-[[(Hexahydro-1-H Azepin-1-Yl)Amino]-Carbonyl]-4 Methyl By Hptlc, Anulfo A. Valdez

Theses

A simple method, by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography HPTLC), was developed for rapid determination of N-Nitrosohexamethyleneimine in Benzenesulfonamide, N-[((hexahydro-1 H Azepin-1-yl)amino]-Carbonyl]-4 methyl, (Tolazamide). Separation of N-Nitrosohe-xamethyleneimine from a Tolazamide solution in chloroform was obtained by precipitation of Tolazamide with n-heptane and by passing the resulting clear solution through a small silica column which was eluted with methanol.

Determination of the N-nitroso compound was achieved by ultraviolet irradiation of it on activated High Performance Silica Gel Plates. Detection was performed by spraying the plates with triethylamine and fluorescamine reagent giving a fluorescent product. Visual detection limits of 25 ppb were …

Microbial Phenol Degradation Utilizing A Complete-Mix Biological Reactor : The Effects Of Dissolved Oxygen Content, Keith Kollar

Theses

Experiments were conducted using phenol as a sole carbon source in a series of completely mixed biological reactors with solids recycle (CMBR). The reactor working volume was 4 liters, and solids were recycled from 3 liter clarifiers. Dissolved oxygen concentration (DO) was varied in order to determine the impact of this important variable on system operability.

Phenol was removed at better than 99 percent efficiency during most of the runs. Filamentous growth was not observed during any run. However, bulking did occur at higher DO levels, which was the result of microbial slime production.

Comparative Adsorption Studies On Clay Soils, Prasanna R. Mysore

Theses

An investigation has been made to study clay as sorbent in the treatment of the hazardous contaminants of potential sludge leachate emanating from industrial landfills.

Experimentally was studied six highly toxic and hazardous chemicals, which include: phenol, aniline, cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, cresol and monochlorophenol. Vermiculate, Kaolinite, Attacote and Hectorite clays were studied as the sorbent material. Removal of organic pollutants were measured using a total organic carbon analyzer (TOC).

Results indicate that these clays can be used for some treatment of the above mentioned organic compounds. The study shows that removal of organic pollutants by clay depends on several factors, such …

Oxidation Of N,N-Dimethylformamide And N,N-Dimethylacetamide In A Photoreactor, Su-Jen Syu

Theses

Oxidation of N,N-dimethylformamide(DMF) and N,N-dimethylacetamide(DMA) was investigated in a 30 liter semi-batch reactor. Five reaction processes were studied by using UV alone, O₃ alone, O₂/UV, O₂/O₃/UV and H2 O₂/UV respectively. Mathematical models have been developed to interpret the reaction kinetics. Reaction rate constants and mass transfer coefficients were determined by using Rosenbrock Hillclimb optimization algorithm. The experimental data and the predicted results from the models were compared. The kinetic parameters obtained from the previous semi-batch modes were applied to the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) system. Results of this work show …

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. …

Deconvolution Techniques With Applications In Cardiovascular Systems Analysis, Lakshminarayan Rajaram

Theses

System characterization by means of Impulse and Frequency Response Functions are well known in classical linear systems analysis. Impulse Response Function is a time domain description of a linear system where as the Frequency Response Function represents the frequency domain counterpart. Linear systems are often characterized in frequency domain. In many biological research applications, it becomes necessary to examine the impulse response function in order to understand the behavior of the system under investigation. One such application is the arterial system in cardiovascular dynamics. It has been shown that although both representations are identical, some aspects of the arterial system …

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.

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 …

Reaction Of Atomic Hydrogen With Chloroform In A Discharge Flow Reactor, Wan-Kuen Jo

Theses

The reactions of atomic hydrogen with chloroform were studied in a tubular flow reactor both in a 4 cm i.d. and 2.6 i.d. discharge flow reactor at pressure of 2.22 to 2.82 mmHg and room temperature using GC and GC/MS for analysis of the reaction. The hydrogen atom concentration at the reaction flame was measured by Chemiluminescence titration with nitrogen dioxide. The hydrogen concentrations are in the 2.48 x 10⁺¹⁴ to 4.83 x 10⁺¹⁴ atoms/cc range at six different hydrogen flow rates. Evidence was found for the formation of atomic carbon intermediate in the reaction, but methane was …

Random Genetic Drift Diffusion Model And Deterministic And Stochastic Models Of Epidemics, Norman W. Loney

Theses

In the Random Genetic Drift Diffusion model two approaches are taken. First we examined a discrete model that represent a relatively idealised version of the phenomena. Hefurther make the assumption that the Population reproduces itself and then dies, thus maintaining a finite population size at all times. If at a given locus there are two possible allels A and B and if X(t) is the number of A type in the genetic pool of size 2N, then 2N-X(t) is the number of B type. We then proceed to obtain a probability density function of X( t) by an Exact method …

Quantitative Evaluation Of Substituent Effects On Stabilization Energies Of Strained And Unsaturated Molecules, Tyler Arthur Stevenson

Theses

Thermodynamic stabilization energies are presented for a series of monosubstituted vinyl, cyclopropyl, ethynyl, and phenyl compounds. The energies are calculated using ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the 4-31G level, and also with published experimental heat of formation data. Correlation analyses are then attempted with the dual substituent parameter approach with the stabilization energies. The analyses are also attempted with a triple-parameter approach using Topsom's theoretically calculated X, F, and Ro constants. Among the findings are the facts that π-donating substituents correlate well, while π-accepting substituents do not. Indications of the relative sensitivities of hydrocarbon frameworks to substituent electrostatic and …

Synthesis Of Cyclobutenyl Ketals, Atef Z. Boulos

Theses

A series of dialkoxy derivatives of N,N'-di-tert-butyl-2-butylamino-3,3-dichloro-4-dichloromethylene cyclobutenyl carboxamidinum chloride, were prepared by dissolving either Na+ or K+ alkoxide in the appropriate alcohol, or by treatment with potassium hydroxide in the appropriate alcohols. Thus, the dimethoxy, diethoxy, di-isopropoxy, di-n-butoxy, di-tertbutoxy derivatives were obtained.