Masters Theses

Sweta Ojha

Abstract

"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 mine-impacted water. At the end of every month, the amount of cellulose remaining in chip-bark samples were calculated using two different methods: NMR, and chemical extraction (acid-base-acid).

An objective of the experiment is analyzing the correlation between cellulose, and sulfate degradation rate. Separately, the ozonation method was evaluated as a potential surrogate for much slower biological degradation. It may be possible to predict the higher degradation rate of cellulose, and hence, degrade (or remove) the sulfate from mine-impacted water using the proposed biochemical process. The percentage of cellulose in fresh chip bark was 52%. There was degradation of 4.5 % cellulose in five months. First order kinetic equation was used to predict the time for exhaustion of cellulose. The time predicted by the designed model is 5 years to react with the maximum degradation (observed by ozone treatment) of chip bark"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Fitch, Mark W.

Committee Member(s)

Burken, Joel G. (Joel Gerard)
Forciniti, Daniel

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Environmental Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2018

Pagination

xii, 100 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 94-99).

Rights

© 2018 Sweta Ojha, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 11306

Electronic OCLC #

1041858392

Download

Share

 
COinS