Matching Items (10)
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- All Subjects: wastewater
- Creators: Halden, Rolf
- Creators: Alum, Absar
Description
Research in microbial biofuels has dramatically increased over the last decade. The bulk of this research has focused on increasing the production yields of cyanobacteria and algal cells and improving extraction processes. However, there has been little to no research on the potential impact of viruses on the yields of these phototrophic microbes for biofuel production. Viruses have the potential to significantly reduce microbial populations and limit their growth rates. It is therefore important to understand how viruses affect phototrophic microbes and the prevalence of these viruses in the environment. For this study, phototrophic microbes were grown in glass bioreactors, under continuous light and aeration. Detection and quantification of viruses of both environmental and laboratory microbial strains were measured through the use of a plaque assay. Plates were incubated at 25º C under continuous direct florescent light. Several environmental samples were taken from Tempe Town Lake (Tempe, AZ) and all the samples tested positive for viruses. Virus free phototrophic microbes were obtained from plaque assay plates by using a sterile loop to scoop up a virus free portion of the microbial lawn and transferred into a new bioreactor. Isolated cells were confirmed virus free through subsequent plaque assays. Viruses were detected from the bench scale bioreactors of Cyanobacteria Synechocystis PCC 6803 and the environmental samples. Viruses were consistently present through subsequent passage in fresh cultures; demonstrating viral contamination can be a chronic problem. In addition TEM was performed to examine presence or viral attachment to cyanobacterial cells and to characterize viral particles morphology. Electron micrographs obtained confirmed viral attachment and that the viruses detected were all of a similar size and shape. Particle sizes were measured to be approximately 50-60 nm. Cell reduction was observed as a decrease in optical density, with a transition from a dark green to a yellow green color for the cultures. Phototrophic microbial viruses were demonstrated to persist in the natural environment and to cause a reduction in algal populations in the bioreactors. Therefore it is likely that viruses could have a significant impact on microbial biofuel production by limiting the yields of production ponds.
ContributorsKraft, Kyle (Author) / Abbaszadegan, Morteza (Thesis advisor) / Alum, Absar (Committee member) / Fox, Peter (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2014
Description
This project aims to address the current protocol regarding the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in medical industries around the world. Although there are various methods used to qualitatively determine if TBI has occurred to a patient, this study attempts to aid in the creation of a system for quantitative measurement of TBI and its relative magnitude. Through a method of artificial evolution/selection called phage display, an antibody that binds highly specifically to a post-TBI upregulated brain chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan called neurocan has been identified. As TG1 Escheria Coli bacteria were infected with KM13 helper phage and M13 filamentous phage in conjunction, monovalent display of antibody fragments (ScFv) was performed. The ScFv bind directly to the neurocan and from screening, phage that produced ScFv's with higher affinity and specificity to neurocan were separated and purified. Future research aims to improve the ScFv characteristics through increased screening toward neurocan. The identification of a highly specific antibody could lead to improved targeting of neurocan post-TBI in-vivo, aiding researchers in quantitatively defining TBI by visualizing its magnitude.
ContributorsSeelig, Timothy Scott (Author) / Stabenfeldt, Sarah (Thesis director) / Ankeny, Casey (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Environmental releases of neonicotinoid and fipronil insecticides via U.S. wastewater infrastructure
Description
This dissertation is focused on environmental releases from U.S. wastewater infrastructure of recently introduced, mass-produced insecticides, namely neonicotinoids as well as fipronil and its major degradates (sulfone, sulfide, amide, and desulfinyl derivatives), jointly known as fiproles. Both groups of compounds recently have caught the attention of regulatory agencies worldwide due to their toxic effects on pollinators and on aquatic invertebrates at very low, part-per-trillion levels (Chapter 1). Mass balance studies conducted for 13 U.S. wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) showed ubiquitous occurrence (3-666 ng/L) and persistence of neonicotinoids (Chapter 2). For the years 2001 through 2016, a longitudinal nationwide study was conducted on the occurrence of fiproles, via analysis of sludge as well as raw and treated wastewater samples. Sludge analysis revealed ubiquitous fiprole occurrence since 2001 (0.2-385 µg/kg dry weight) and a significant increase (2.4±0.3-fold; p<0.005) to elevated levels found both in 2006/7 and 2015/6. This study established a marked persistence of fiproles during both wastewater and sludge treatment, while also identifying non-agricultural uses as a major source of fiprole loading to wastewater (Chapter 3). Eight WWTPs were monitored in Northern California to assess pesticide inputs into San Francisco Bay from wastewater discharge. Per-capita-contaminant-loading calculations identified flea and tick control agents for use on pets as a previously underappreciated source term dominating the mass loading of insecticides to WWTPs in sewage and to the Bay in treated wastewater (Chapter 4). A nationwide assessment of fipronil emissions revealed that pet products, while representing only 22±7% of total fipronil usage (2011-2015), accounted for 86±5% of the mass loading to U.S. surface waters (Chapter 5). In summary, the root cause for considerable annual discharges into U.S. surface waters of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid (3,700-5,500 kg/y) and of fipronil related compounds (1,600-2,400 kg/y) is domestic rather than agricultural insecticide use. Reclaimed effluent from U.S. WWTPs contained insecticide levels that exceed toxicity benchmarks for sensitive aquatic invertebrates in 83% of cases for imidacloprid and in 67% of cases for fipronil. Recommendations are provided on how to limit toxic inputs in the future.
ContributorsSadaria, Akash Mahendra (Author) / Halden, Rolf (Thesis advisor) / Fraser, Matthew (Committee member) / Perreault, Francois (Committee member) / Mascaro, Giuseppe (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017
Description
Corrosion is known to have severe infrastructure integrity implications in a broad range of industries including water and wastewater treatment and reclamation. In the U.S. alone, the total losses due to corrosion in drinking water and wastewater systems can account for economic losses as high as $80 billion dollars a year. Microbially induced corrosion is a complex phenomenon which involve various phases; 1) formation of biofilms on submerged surfaces, 2) creation of micro-environmental niches associated with biofilm growth, 3) altered availability nutrients, 4) changes in the pH and oxygen concentrations. Biofilms can harbor opportunistic or pathogenic bacteria for a long time increasing the risk of pathogen exposure for the end users. The focus of this thesis research was to study the kinetics of microbially induced corrosion of various materials in water and reclaimed water systems. The specific objective was to assess the biofilms formation potential on stainless steel 304, stainless steel 316, galvanized steel, copper, cPVC, glass, carbon steel, and cast iron in water and reclaimed water systems. Experiments were conducted using bioreactor containers, each bioreactor housed four sampling boxes with eight partitions, dedicated to each material type coupon. One bioreactor was stationed at ASU, and one at Vistancia Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) well; while three bioreactors were stationed at Butler facility, at pre-disinfection, post-UV and post-chlorination. From each location, one submerged sampling box was retrieved after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Time series of biofilm samples recovered from various types of coupons from different locations were analyzed using physical and culture-based techniques for quantification of biofilms and detection of heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria, Legionella, Mycobacterium, and sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB).
After one-year, galvanized steel had the highest concentration of HPC at 4.27 logs while copper had the lowest concentration of 3.08 logs of HPC. Bacterial growth data collected from the SRB tests was compiled to develop a numerical matrix using growth potential, biofilm formation potential and metal reduction potential of SRB isolates. This risk assessment matrix can be a useful tool for the water industry to evaluate the potential risk of MIC in their systems.
ContributorsNeal, Amber (Author) / Abbaszadegan, Morteza (Thesis advisor) / Fox, Peter (Committee member) / Alum, Absar (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022
Description
Plastic pollution has become a global threat to ecosystems worldwide, with microplastics now representing contaminants reported to occur in ambient air, fresh water, seawater, soils, fauna and people. Over time, larger macro-plastics are subject to weathering and fragmentation, resulting in smaller particles, termed ‘microplastics’ (measuring < 5 mm in diameter), which have been found to pollute virtually every marine and terrestrial ecosystem on the planet. This thesis explored the transfer of plastic pollutants from consumer products into the built water environment and ultimately into global aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
A literature review demonstrated that municipal sewage sludge produced by wastewater treatment plants around the world contains detectable quantities of microplastics. Application of sewage sludge on land was shown to represent a mechanism for transfer of microplastics from wastewater into terrestrial environments, with some countries reporting as high as 113 ± 57 microplastic particles per gram of dry sludge.
To address the notable shortcoming of inconsistent reporting practices for microplastic pollution, this thesis introduced a novel, online calculator that converts the number of plastic particles into the unambiguous metric of mass, thereby making global studies on microplastic pollution directly comparable.
This thesis concludes with an investigation of a previously unexplored and more personal source of plastic pollution, namely the disposal of single-use contact lenses and an assessment of the magnitude of this emerging source of environmental pollution. Using an online survey aimed at quantifying trends with the disposal of lenses in the US, it was discovered that 20 ± 0.8% of contact lens wearers flushed their used lenses down the drain, amounting to 44,000 ± 1,700 kg y-1 of lens dry mass discharged into US wastewater.
From the results it is concluded that conventional and medical microplastics represent a significant global source of pollution and a long-term threat to ecosystems around the world. Recommendations are provided on how to limit the entry of medical microplastics into the built water environment to limit damage to ecosystems worldwide.
A literature review demonstrated that municipal sewage sludge produced by wastewater treatment plants around the world contains detectable quantities of microplastics. Application of sewage sludge on land was shown to represent a mechanism for transfer of microplastics from wastewater into terrestrial environments, with some countries reporting as high as 113 ± 57 microplastic particles per gram of dry sludge.
To address the notable shortcoming of inconsistent reporting practices for microplastic pollution, this thesis introduced a novel, online calculator that converts the number of plastic particles into the unambiguous metric of mass, thereby making global studies on microplastic pollution directly comparable.
This thesis concludes with an investigation of a previously unexplored and more personal source of plastic pollution, namely the disposal of single-use contact lenses and an assessment of the magnitude of this emerging source of environmental pollution. Using an online survey aimed at quantifying trends with the disposal of lenses in the US, it was discovered that 20 ± 0.8% of contact lens wearers flushed their used lenses down the drain, amounting to 44,000 ± 1,700 kg y-1 of lens dry mass discharged into US wastewater.
From the results it is concluded that conventional and medical microplastics represent a significant global source of pollution and a long-term threat to ecosystems around the world. Recommendations are provided on how to limit the entry of medical microplastics into the built water environment to limit damage to ecosystems worldwide.
ContributorsRolsky, Charles (Author) / Halden, Rolf (Thesis advisor) / Green, Matthew (Committee member) / Neuer, Susanne (Committee member) / Polidoro, Beth (Committee member) / Smith, Andrew (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2020
Description
Nitrogen removal and energy reduction in wastewater treatment are shared goals. Approaches to achieve those goals include the techniques of shortcut nitrogen removal utilizing nitrite shunt, biocatalyst, nitritation, deammonification, and simultaneous nitrification-denitrification. The practice of those techniques is newer in the industry of wastewater treatment but continues to develop, along with the understanding of the biological and chemical activities that drive those processes. The kinetics and stoichiometry of traditional and shortcut nitrogen removal reactions are generally well understood to date. However, the thermodynamics of those processes are complex and deserve additional research to better understand the dominant factors that drive cell synthesis. Additionally, the implementation of nitrogen shortcut techniques can reduce the footprint of wastewater treatment processes that implement nitrogen removal by approximately 5 percent and can reduce operating costs by between 12 and 26 percent annually. Combined, nitrogen shortcut techniques can contribute to significant reduction in the long-term cost to operate, due to lower energy and consumable requirements, fast reaction times resulting in shorter solids retention times, and improvement efficiency in nitrogen removal from wastewater. This dissertation explores and defines the dominant factors that contribute to the success of efficiencies in traditional and shortcut nitrogen removal techniques, focusing on the natural microbiological processes. The culmination of these efforts was used to develop decision matrices to promote consideration of nitrogen shortcut techniques by practitioners during conceptual planning and design of wastewater treatment facilities.
ContributorsTack, Frederick Henry (Author) / Fox, Peter (Thesis advisor) / Krajmalnik-Brown, Rosa (Committee member) / Abbaszadegan, Morteza (Committee member) / Alum, Absar (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021
Description
The combined use of methamphetamine and opioids has been reported to be on the rise throughout the United States (U.S.). However, our knowledge of this phenomenon is largely based upon reported overdoses and overdose-related deaths, law enforcement seizures, and drug treatment records; data that are often slow, restricted, and only track a portion of the population participating in drug consumption activities. As an alternative, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has the capability to track licit and illicit drug trends within an entire community, at a low cost and in near real-time, while providing anonymity to those contributing to the sewer shed. In this study, wastewater was collected from two Midwestern U.S. cities (2017-2019) and analyzed for the prevalence of methamphetamine and the opioids oxycodone, codeine, fentanyl, tramadol, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone. Monthly 24-hour time-weighted composite samples (n = 48) from each city were analyzed using isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results showed that methamphetamine and total opioid consumption (milligram morphine equivalents) in City 1 were strongly correlated only in 2017 (Spearman rank order correlation coefficient, ρ = 0.78), the relationship driven by fentanyl, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone. For City 2, methamphetamine and total opioid consumption were strongly positively correlated during the entire study (ρ = 0.54), with the correlations driven by hydrocodone and hydromorphone. In both cities, hydrocodone and hydromorphone mass loads were highly correlated, suggesting a parent and metabolite relationship. WBE provides important insights into licit and illicit drug consumption patterns in near real-time as they evolve; important information for community stakeholders in municipalities across the U.S.
ContributorsClick, Kathleen Grace (Author) / Halden, Rolf (Thesis director) / Gushgari, Adam (Committee member) / Driver, Erin (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution & Social Change (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Current methods measuring the consumption of prescription and illicit drugs are often hampered by innate limitations, the data is slow and often restricted, which can impact the relevance and robustness of the associated data. Here, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) was applied as an alternative metric to measure trends in the consumption of twelve narcotics within a collegiate setting from January 2018 to May 2018 at a Southwestern U.S. university. The present follow-up study was designed to identify potential changes in the consumption patterns of prescription and illicit drugs as the academic year progressed. Samples were collected from two sites that capture nearly 100% of campus-generated wastewater. Seven consecutive 24-hour composite raw wastewater samples were collected each month (n = 68) from both locations. The study identified the average consumption of select narcotics, in units of mg/day/1000 persons in the following order: cocaine (528 ± 266), heroin (404 ± 315), methylphenidate (343 ± 396), amphetamine (308 ±105), ecstasy (MDMA; 114 ± 198), oxycodone (57 ± 28), methadone (58 ± 73), and codeine (84 ± 40). The consumption of oxycodone, methadone, heroin, and cocaine were identified as statistically lower in the Spring 2018 semester compared to the Fall 2017. Universities may need to increase drug education for the fall semester to lower the consumption of drugs in that semester. Data from this research encompasses both human health and the built environment by evaluating public health through collection of municipal wastewater, allowing public health officials rapid and robust narcotic consumption data while maintaining the anonymity of the students, faculty, and staff.
ContributorsCarlson, Alyssa Rose (Author) / Halden, Rolf (Thesis director) / Gushgari, Adam (Committee member) / School of Human Evolution & Social Change (Contributor) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease resulting in loss of cognitive function and is not considered part of the typical aging process. Recently, research is being conducted to study environmental effects on AD because the exact molecular mechanisms behind AD are not known. The associations between various toxins and AD have been mixed and unclear. In order to better understand the role of the environment and toxic substances on AD, we conducted a literature review and geospatial analysis of environmental, specifically wastewater, contaminants that have biological plausibility for increasing risk of development or exacerbation of AD. This literature review assisted us in selecting 10 wastewater toxic substances that displayed a mixed or one-sided relationship with the symptoms or prevalence of Alzheimer’s for our data analysis. We utilized data of toxic substances in wastewater treatment plants and compared them to the crude rate of AD in the different Census regions of the United States to test for possible linear relationships. Using data from the Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey (TNSSS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we developed an application using R Shiny to allow users to interactively visualize both datasets as choropleths of the United States and understand the importance of this area of research. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated resulting in arsenic and cadmium displaying positive linear correlations with AD. Other analytes from this statistical analysis demonstrated mixed correlations with AD. This application and data analysis serve as a model in the methodology for further geospatial analysis on AD. Further data analysis and visualization at a lower level in terms of scope is necessary for more accurate and reliable evidence of a causal relationship between the wastewater substance analytes and AD.
GitHub Repository: https://github.com/komal-agrawal/AD_GIS.git
GitHub Repository: https://github.com/komal-agrawal/AD_GIS.git
ContributorsAgrawal, Komal (Author) / Scotch, Matthew (Thesis director) / Halden, Rolf (Committee member) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
The Future of Wastewater Sensing workshop is part of a collaboration between Arizona State University Center for Nanotechnology in Society in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, the Biodesign Institute’s Center for Environmental Security, LC Nano, and the Nano-enabled Water Treatment (NEWT) Systems NSF Engineering Research Center. The Future of Wastewater Sensing workshop explores how technologies for studying, monitoring, and mining wastewater and sewage sludge might develop in the future, and what consequences may ensue for public health, law enforcement, private industry, regulations and society at large. The workshop pays particular attention to how wastewater sensing (and accompanying research, technologies, and applications) can be innovated, regulated, and used to maximize societal benefit and minimize the risk of adverse outcomes, when addressing critical social and environmental challenges.
ContributorsWithycombe Keeler, Lauren (Researcher) / Halden, Rolf (Researcher) / Selin, Cynthia (Researcher) / Center for Nanotechnology in Society (Contributor)
Created2015-11-01