Chemistry Commons^™

Inhibition Of Chromium(Iii) Oxidation Through Manganese(Iv) Oxide Passivation And Iron(Ii) Abiotic Reduction, Miranda L. Aiken, Macon J. Abernathy, Michael V. Schaefer, Ilkeun Lee, Samantha C. Ying

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Manganese (Mn) oxides are strong oxidants that are ubiquitous in soils and can oxidize redox-active metals, including chromium (Cr). In soil environments, trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) is a benign, immobile micronutrient, whereas the hexavalent Cr(VI) form is present as a highly mobile, toxic chromate oxyanion. Although many studies have characterized the capacity of Mn(III/IV) oxides to oxidize Cr(III) to toxic Cr(VI), the oxidative capacity of Mn oxides in the presence of potentially passivating soil constituents, specifically reduced soluble iron (Fe(II)aq), remains unresolved. We hypothesized that chemical processes at redox interfaces, such as diffusion-limited environments within soil aggregates, can lead to decreased …

Electrochemical Degradation Of Methylene Blue With Seawater And Pb/Pbo2 Electrodes From Battery Waste, Gunawan Gunawan, N. B. Adiwibawa Prasetya, Didik Setiyo Widodo, Roni Adi Wijaya

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Electrochemical degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye with seawater electrolyte using lead and lead oxide (Pb/PbO2) electrodes from waste batteries has been successfully conducted. Characterization of battery waste, the effectiveness of dye degradation, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) concentration, dissolved oxygen (DO) level, reaction mechanism, the effect of time variation (15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes), and voltage variation (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 volts) were observed. Characterization showed results by the characteristics of Pb and PbO2 confirmed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) result-ing in 2θ peaks of Pb at 31.36, 36.38, 52.26, 62.36, 65.38º and 2θ (β-PbO2) at 25.4, 32.0, …

Volcanic Diffuse Volatile Emissions Tracked By Plant Responses Detectable From Space, Robert R. Bogue, Peter M. J. Douglas, Joshua B. Fisher, John Stix

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Volcanic volatile emissions provide information about volcanic unrest but are difficult to detect with satellites. Volcanic degassing affects plants by elevating local CO2 and H2O concentrations, which may increase photosynthesis. Satellites can detect plant health, or a reaction to photosynthesis, through a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). This can act as a potential proxy for detecting changes in volcanic volatile emissions from space. We tested this method by analyzing 185 Landsat 5 and 8 images of the Tern Lake thermal area (TLTA) in northeast Yellowstone caldera from 1984 to 2022. We compared the NDVI values of the thermal area with …

Corrosion Related To The Nuclear Waste Containers, Ali Ebrahimzadeh Pilehrood

Corrosion Research

The disposal of nuclear waste is a demanding topic, and the existing methods, whether it is temporary storage in spent fuel pools or storage in geological repositories, both face the risk of corrosion-related problems. Any failure in these storage methods can potentially lead to the release of radioactive materials into the environment. To avert such catastrophic scenarios, people in the nuclear industry consistently monitor and maintain these storage facilities endlessly and attempt to improve the plans designed to store nuclear waste. Here, I will examine the nuclear waste management organization (NWMO) plan in Canada. Choosing an appropriate location for the …

Approaches To Assessing Nutrient Coupling In Open Ocean Datasets, James M. Moore, Claire P. Till

IdeaFest: Interdisciplinary Journal of Creative Works and Research from Cal Poly Humboldt

Nutrient coupling describes a process where the biogeochemical cycles of two elements are linked by being incorporated similarly into biomass. This paper uses data from the GEOTRACES GP16 cruise (Eastern Pacific Zonal Transect) to investigate the relationship between certain macronutrients generally coupled to trace elements in terms of their oceanic distributions with the notable exception of in an oxygen minimum zone: cadmium-phosphate and zinc-silicate. There are many methods applied to oceanographic data to correlate analyte concentrations; while they are often presented independently in literature, here we attempt to use them in conjunction for a more thorough interpretation. By compiling 1) …

Speciation Of Elements Via A Sequential Extraction Procedure In Municipal Wastewater Biosolids From Three Rural Wwtp In East Texas (Usa), Kefa K. Onchoke

Faculty Publications

In this data article, the bioavailability of elements in municipal wastewater sludge (also known as biosolids) in samples collected from three treatment plants in East Texas, USA was evaluated. Although detailed speciation of the metals were assessed by using inductively coupled plasma optical spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and were discussed in the research article titled “Evaluating bioavailability of elements in municipal wastewater sludge (Biosolids) from three rural wastewater treatment plants in East Texas (USA) by a sequential extraction procedure” [1], this report presents the absolute raw concentrations and fractionations of the 26 metals from the biosolids (Nacogdoches Wastewater Sludge, Lufkin Wastewater Sludge, …

Investigating The Impact On Private Water Supply Of Hydraulic Fracturing Communication With An Abandoned Conventional Gas Well In New Freeport, Pa, Kiley Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In June of 2022 a “frac out” occurred in New Freeport, PA when an unconventional gas well under development by hydraulic fracturing, communicated with an abandoned gas well to the surface. An initial “zone of impact” encompassed much of the town’s main thoroughfare. Water samples were obtained from 17 private water wells, 5 springs and 1 pond (31 total samples) and analyzed for cations, anions, and light hydrocarbons. Methane was found in 18 of the samples, both located within and outside of the “zone of impact”. Mass ratio analyses indicated contamination from both unconventional and conventional wells. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture …

Design Of Stormwater Bmps For Surface And Groundwater Protection Based On Site-Scale Soil Properties: Phase I, Kelly Kibler, Lisa Chambers, Melanie Beazley

Florida DOT

Much of Earth’s nutrient cycling takes place in soils. Characteristics of soils control physical, chemical, and biological processes that determine rates of nutrient fluxes, storage, or transformation. As remediation of excess nutrients in stormwater runoff is one function of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs), the soil profile constitutes one of the most important factors of BMP design. Variation observed in BMP effectiveness (e.g., why one BMP design works effectively in one place and not another) can often be explained by variations in the soil profile, either through direct means or by a soil’s influence on hydraulics of stormwater flow through …

Developing Strategies For The Integration Of Metal–Organic Frameworks (Mofs) Into E-Textiles For Chemical Sensing, Filtration, And Detoxification, Aileen Mary Eagleton

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline porous materials that offer modularity through diverse combinations of metal nodes and linkers, as well as tailorable surface chemistry and structure, along with tunable conductivity. The integration of these framework materials onto fibers can result in robust and flexible MOF-based textiles with enhanced functionality and applicability. This thesis illustrates the versatility of multifunctional MOF-integrated textile systems, showcasing their unique properties and the advantages of installing MOFs at the fiber level.

Phase Distribution Of Nickel, Chromium, And Cobalt In Seawater At Olivine-Enriched Beaches: Implications For Carbon Capture By Enhanced Silicate Weathering, Nathaniel J. Padrnos

Master's Theses

The application of olivine to coastal areas is a proposed method of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for climate change mitigation. Olivine is abundant and dissolves relatively fast, but it contains trace amounts of nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and cobalt (Co) which may be toxic to marine biota in cases of widespread coastal olivine spreading. Prior studies have suggested that Ni concentrations in marine sediments and/or the overlying water column due to olivine dissolution could be a limiting factor for its carbon capture potential. Therefore, it is critical to understand and model the processes affecting trace metal bioavailability after …

Integrating Sensor Development, Risk Assessment, And Community Engagement To Support Environmental Justice In The Rural Community Of El Tiple, Colombia, David Bahamon Pinzon

All Dissertations

In Colombia, ethnic communities have traditionally been responsible stewards of natural resources. They recognize the importance of these resources for their livelihood, as well as their ancestral and cultural heritage. El Tiple, a rural Afro-Colombian community, has been affected by the incursion of private corporations that promoted the expansion of sugarcane monocrops in their territory. Since the introduction of the monoculture industry, local freshwater sources have been depleted due to intensive water use for irrigation of the sugarcane crops. Additionally, the intensive usage of agrochemicals has been linked with loss of native flora, damages to family farms, and pollution of …

Aerosol Mutagenicity In San Bernardino, California Via Bacterial Fluctuation Tests, Sean Murphy

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

San Bernardino, California’s poor air quality is a health risk to its population with some of the highest concentrations of ozone and aerosol in the United States. Aerosols are solid or liquid particles suspended in the air. Smaller aerosol particles are the most harmful as they are more likely to penetrate further into the respiratory system. These aerosols can cause respiratory issues and contain toxic compounds. One measure of aerosol toxicity is to study the mutagenicity of the aerosol. To study the mutagenicity of aerosol samples collected in San Bernardino in 2022, fluctuation tests (based on the Ames test for …

Healthcare Built Environment And The Covid-19 Pandemic, A Mixed-Method Study, Mohammad Saleh Nikooopayan Tak

All Theses

The outbreak of COVID-19 presented an unparalleled risk to public health, leading to urgent scientific efforts in understanding transmission mechanisms and mitigating risks, especially in healthcare settings. This mixed-methods study examines knowledge advancement regarding indoor air quality in healthcare facilities during the pandemic. A systematic literature review of 163 post-COVID studies identifies key research thrusts and 31 recommendations related to building ventilation, air filtration, surface disinfection, and monitoring. Comparison with over 200 pre-pandemic publications reveals both reliance on established infection control principles and unique contributions, such as detecting viral RNA in air and surface samples indicating potential airborne and fomite …

Composite And Polymer Formulation Employing Sulfur And Bio-Olefin Feedstocks, Claudia V. Lopez

All Dissertations

Environmental sustainability represents a challenge for society since industrial growth has a direct impact on natural resources and waste production. New technologies that effectively incorporate waste into renewable resources are critical to the development of a sustainable and circular economy. The manufacturing of structural materials like Portland cement (OPC) is responsible for >8% of the global anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide, with ~ 1 kg of CO₂ released to the atmosphere for every kilogram of OPC produced. For instance, the development of sustainable structural materials is a key factor to reduce the greenhouse emissions and to attenuate the climate …

Cadmium And Salinity Stressor Antagonism On Vallisneria Neotropicalis, Christopher P. Mikolaitis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Submerged macrophytes form the foundation of freshwater ecosystems. These organisms are sessile and are very susceptible to shifts in their environment. Heavy metals are of particular concern as they can be sequestered indefinitely in sediments and are readily taken up by rooted vegetation. In the presence of saltwater intrusions, these metals can interact with salt ions potentially changing their availability to submerged vegetation. In this study a freshwater macrophyte, Vallisneria neotropicalis, was used as a test species for interactive effects between Cd, a non-essential heavy metal, and salt stress. The metrics used to establish the individual as well as …

Adsorption Performance Of Mg0.33ni0.33co0.33fe2o4 Nanoparticles Doped With Gadolinium And Lanthanum For Lead (Ii) Removal, Mariam Rabaa, Amani Aridi, Ghassan Younes, Ramadan Awad

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The issue of water pollution has become a major concern in recent times, and the need for effective strategies for treating contaminated water sources has become more urgent. One promising approach that has been gaining attention in the field of wastewater treatment is the use of nano-ferrites. In this regard, novel Mg_0.33Ni_0.33Co_0.33La_xFe_2-xO₄ and Mg_0.33Ni_0.33Co_0.33Gd_xFe_2-xO₄ nanoparticles (NPs), where x = 0.00, 0.01 and 0.08, were synthesized to test their adsorption performance for the removal of Pb (II). The structural …

Tio2 Crystallization At Room Temperature And Preparation Of Transparent Carbon Counter Electrode For Low-Cost Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Muhammad Iqbal Syauqi, Afiten Rahmin Sanjaya, Mohammad Jihad Madiabu, Munawar Khalil, Jarnuzi Gunlazuardi

Makara Journal of Science

We developed a low-cost dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using TiO₂ fabricated via rapid breakdown anodization (RBA) and ultrafast room-temperature crystallization (URTC). The prepared TiO₂ was deposited on a self-made fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive glass, and the FTO/TiO₂ system was sensitized using curcumin dye. The DSSC was constructed by sandwiching the FTO/TiO₂/curcumin electrode with an I⁻/I₂ electrolyte and a transparent carbon counter electrode prepared using a liquid–liquid interface system. The characterization results showed that the TiO₂ freshly prepared via URTC was transformed into an anatase crystalline phase, which exhibited a 3.10 …

Symbiotic Ucyn-A Strains Co-Occurred With El Niño, Relaxed Upwelling, And Varied Eukaryotes Over 10 Years Off Southern California, Colette Fletcher-Hoppe, Yi-Chun Yeh, Yubin Raut, J. L. Weissman, Jed A. Fuhrman

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Biological nitrogen fixation, the conversion of N₂ gas into a bioavailable form, is vital to sustaining marine primary production. Studies have shifted beyond traditionally studied tropical diazotrophs. Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa (or UCYN-A) has emerged as a focal point due to its streamlined metabolism, intimate partnership with a haptophyte host, and broad distribution. Here, we explore the environmental parameters that govern UCYN-A’s presence at the San Pedro Ocean Time-series (SPOT), its host specificity, and statistically significant interactions with non-host eukaryotes from 2008-2018. 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequences were amplified by “universal primers” from monthly samples and resolved into Amplicon …

Environmental Impact Assessment (Eia) Of As, Se, Sn, And Hg In Water And Sediments From The Egyptian Red Sea Ports, Lamiaa I. Mohamedein, Khalid M. El-Moselhy, Mohamed A. El-Sawy

Blue Economy

Background: Pollution monitoring is an important tool to protect the marine ecosystems where ports had been seen as a source of contamination affecting the public wellbeing. Methods: Therefore, in the present study, surface seawater and surficial sediment samples were collected from 19 stations covering six ports of the Egyptian Red Sea during summer 2017 and winter 2018. The concentrations of As, Se, Sn, and Hg were determined using the Hydride system MH10 coupled with atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: The obtained data revealed that mean values of AS, Se, Sn and Hg for water samples were ranged between …

Updating The Dual C And O Isotope—Gas-Exchange Model: A Concept To Understand Plant Responses To The Environment And Its Implications For Tree Rings, Rolf T. W. Siegwolf, Marco M. Lehmann, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Olga V. Churakova (Sidorova), Cathleen Mirande-Ney, Galina Timoveeva, Rosmarie B. Weigt, Matthias Saurer

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The combined study of carbon (C) and oxygen (O) isotopes in plant organic matter has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding plant functional responses to environmental change. The approach relies on established relationships between leaf gas exchange and isotopic fractionation to derive a series of model scenarios that can be used to infer changes in photosynthetic assimilation and stomatal conductance driven by changes in environmental parameters (CO₂, water availability, air humidity, temperature, nutrients). We review the mechanistic basis for a conceptual model, in light of recently published research, and discuss where isotopic observations do not match our …

Determination And Comparison Of Freely Dissolved Pahs Using Different Types Of Passive Samplers In Freshwater, Na Yeong Kim, Bommanna G. Loganathan, Gi Beum Kim

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are well-known for their recalcitrant properties and biotoxicity in organisms, leading to serious environmental and health problems. Despite various analytical methods available, accurate determination of the bioavailable fraction is warranted in order to evaluate the precise toxic potentials of these compounds. Currently, the passive sampler is used worldwide to measure the bioavailable PAHs in the environment using the equilibrium partitioning principle. In this study, we co-deployed different types of passive samplers, which are linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), to determine freely dissolved concentrations (Cfree) of PAHs using the performance reference compounds (PRCs) in …

The Effect Of The Carbon Nanotubes’ Surface Area On The Morphology And Performance Of Cellulose Acetate Nanocomposite Membranes In Nanofiltration Applications, Nouran Elbadawi

Theses and Dissertations

Population increase and climate change have significantly affected the availability of fresh water for consumption. Studies by UNESCO showed that more than 28% of the world population didn’t have access to clean safe drinking water in 2020. This situation is expected to get more serious over the coming 30 years with the limited availability of natural fresh water sources. The need to find solutions from alternative non-freshwater resources for drinking or irrigation is becoming a necessity. Within the context of desalination technologies, thousands of investigations are conducted to find the cheapest most efficient way of water treatment aiming at expanding …

Biopolymer-Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles For The Removal Of Emerging Contaminants From Aqueous Solutions, Hebatullah Farghal

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Biopolymers are gaining interest as promising materials for water purification due to their functionality, biodegradability, abundance, and safe use. In this work, three biopolymer-based systems were developed as adsorbents for removing emerging contaminants from water. The first system of biopolymeric nanocomposites was synthesized by coating chitosan/xylan biopolymeric nanocomposites on magnetite nanoparticles (CsXM) to facilitate their separation from water via a magnetic field. The prepared mesoporous CsXM nanocomposite was thermally stable and possessed a particle size of 11 nm and a neutral to slightly negative charge over the studied pH range of about 3 to 10. The nanocomposite efficiently removed …

Fate And Transport Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) At Aqueous Film Forming Foam (Afff) Discharge Sites: A Review, Jeffery T. Mcgarr, Eric G. Mbonimpa, Drew C. Mcavoy, Mohamad R. Soltanian

Faculty Publications

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are an environmentally persistent group of chemicals that can pose an imminent threat to human health through groundwater and surface water contamination. In this review, we evaluate the subsurface behavior of a variety of PFAS chemicals with a focus on aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) discharge sites. AFFF is the primary PFAS contamination risk at sites such as airports and military bases due to use as a fire extinguisher. Understanding the fate and transport of PFAS in the subsurface environment is a multifaceted issue. This review focuses on the role of adsorbent, adsorbate, and …

Tech Time

DePaul Magazine

DePaul is embracing tech more than ever, incorporating innovative devices and approaches into education in all corners of the university. Here are seven ways DePaul provides hands-on experiences with cutting-edge tools that position students and faculty in the forefront of their industries and disciplines.

Ramie (Boehmeria Nivea): An Underutilized Plant For A Multipurpose Industrial Application; A Perennial Plant With Protein Identification Using Maldi-Ms, A Biosorbent For Hg (Ii) Removal From Water And As A Bast Fiber Production Via Enzymatic Degumming, Abdul Rashid Issifu

Master's Theses

Identifying plant species that can offer life support to humans and animals without damaging the environment is quite challenging. Ramie, one of the oldest fiber crops was studied due to its nutritional value as fodder and other multipurpose applications in, e.g., medicinal, environmental, and textile industrial fields.

With a brief discussion of background in Chapter I, Chapter II focused on using a proteomic method to investigate unknown proteins in the leaves of ramie and to study their benefits to the biological system. PPiase and RuBisCO with molecular weight 15 and 52 KDa were identified as the proteins after peptide mass …

Small Community Water Systems Have The Highest Prevalence Of Mn In Drinking Water In California, Usa, Miranda Aiken, Samantha C. Ying

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Manganese (Mn) is currently regulated as a secondary contaminant in California, USA; however, recent revisions of the World Health Organization drinking water guidelines have increased regulatory attention of Mn in drinking water due to increasing reports of neurotoxic effects in infants and children. In this study, Mn concentrations reported to California’s Safe Drinking Water Information System were used to estimate the potentially exposed population within California based on system size. We estimate that between 2011 and 2021, over 525,000 users in areas with reported Mn data are potentially exposed to Mn concentrations exceeding the WHO health-based guideline (80 μg L …

Biosynthesis Of Copper Nanoparticles Using Hylocereus Costaricensis Peel Extract And Their Photocatalytic Properties, Suriati Eka Putri, Netti Herawati, Ahmad Fudhail, Diana Eka Pratiwi, Sumiati Side, Abd Rahman, Susilo Sudarman Desa, Nur Ahmad, Subaer Junaedi, A. Surleva

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

A green chemistry method was used for the first time to synthesize copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) using CuSO4 as a precursor and red dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis) peel wasted extract as a bio-reductor. Cu-NPs produced were then used as a photocatalysts for acid orange 7 (AO7) dyes degradation. The results showed that the smallest average crystallite size of the products ranged from 8.84 - 8.86 nm, and the FCC crystal structure had a surface area of 244.38-278.85 m2g-1. Furthermore, the optimum degradation of AO7 dye occurred at a ratio of 1:3 with a percentage of 81.07% for four cycles. These findings …

Utilization Of Cellulose Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria And Yeast (Scoby) With Sweet Tea Media As Methylene Blue And Brilliant Green Biosorbent Material, Leonard Mateus Sigiro, Ahmad Maksum, Donanta Dhaneswara

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

The cellulose from Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY) can be used as a biosorbent for dye adsorption, such as Methylene Blue and Brilliant Green. This study used sweet tea with a 6% of sugar concentration and 14 days of fermentation time to synthesize biosorbent material from SCOBY. The results from this synthesis are then characterized using FTIR, SEM, and BET. From the result of characterization, it was found that SCOBY has pores formed from cellulose. The results of the average pore size are 1.5976nm with a pore volume of 0.229cc/g, while the specific surface area is 143.244m2/g. The …

Synthesis Of A Phenyl Substituted Zinc Dipyrrin Complex For The Purpose Of Analyzing Aromatic Substitutions On The Characteristics Of Compounds Of This Class, Kole Owen

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The field of photochemistry is as innovative in development as it is broad in application. However, utilization of energy from the sun’s electromagnetic radiation remains secondary to the combustion of fossil fuels for the global energy consumption. This is neither a sustainable nor renewable system, and it has contributed to a major decline in the health of our global environment as the greenhouse gases emission has led to an incline in global temperatures and ocean acidity. To develop effective ways to utilize solar energy, experimental effort is being directed towards the understanding of photosensitizers, molecules which absorb solar radiation and …