Effect of Fly Ash on Growth of Mustard and Corn
Department
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Major
Environmental Engineering
Research Advisor
Burken, Joel G. (Joel Gerard)
Westenberg, David J.
Advisor's Department
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Second Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
Missouri S&T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program; EPA GRO Fellowship; Fullbright-Nehru Research Fellowship (Dr. Snehalata Nadiger)
Abstract
Fly ash is generated as a by-product of coal combustion and contains nutrients, such as Ca, K, Na, and Mg, as well as toxic metals such as As, B, Cr, Hg, and Pb. The goal of this research is to optimize a phytoremediation technique to stabilize the toxic metals and produce biomass which could have benefit for example as biofuel. Flyash was combined with leaf mulch, wood mulch, and soil in varying concentrations and distributed into “cone-tainers.” Water holding capacity was determined, and leachates from the cone-tainers were analyzed to determine pH, EC, and TDS. Zea mays, Brassica juncea, and poplar were planted and germination times were recorded. Plants were harvested at 7 weeks for Brassica and 8 weeks for Zea mays, and biomass and height were recorded. For Brassica juncea and Zea mays, plants grew best in soil amendments. Analysis of plants for metal content using ICP-MS is planned.
Biography
Cailie is a senior in Environmental Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She is a member of Chi Epsilon, Tau Beta Pi, Kappa Mu Epsilon, and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies as well as the United States Parachute Association. Her current research in phytoremediation is being done under Dr. Joel Burken. Cailie is the recipient of an EPA GRO Fellowship and will be working with the EPA this summer.
Research Category
Engineering
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Engineering poster session, Second place
Location
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
06 Apr 2011, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Effect of Fly Ash on Growth of Mustard and Corn
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Fly ash is generated as a by-product of coal combustion and contains nutrients, such as Ca, K, Na, and Mg, as well as toxic metals such as As, B, Cr, Hg, and Pb. The goal of this research is to optimize a phytoremediation technique to stabilize the toxic metals and produce biomass which could have benefit for example as biofuel. Flyash was combined with leaf mulch, wood mulch, and soil in varying concentrations and distributed into “cone-tainers.” Water holding capacity was determined, and leachates from the cone-tainers were analyzed to determine pH, EC, and TDS. Zea mays, Brassica juncea, and poplar were planted and germination times were recorded. Plants were harvested at 7 weeks for Brassica and 8 weeks for Zea mays, and biomass and height were recorded. For Brassica juncea and Zea mays, plants grew best in soil amendments. Analysis of plants for metal content using ICP-MS is planned.
Comments
Third advisor: Dr. Snehalata Nadiger