Proceedings of the 2007 National Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (eBook)

Godfrey A. Uzochukwu teaches interdisciplinary courses in environmental sciences.  Research areas include:  soil and mineral properties for better land use, uses of natural resources data, assessment and evaluation of environmental technologies, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary environmental processes and ecology. Keith Schimmel's research interests include bioremediation, membrane separations and membrane reactors, nondispersive extraction, bioseparations, engineering education, and multimedia courseware development. Shoou-Yuh Chang teaches graduate courses and conducts research in environmental engineering (solid waste management), including fate and transport of contaminants. Vinayak Kabadi conducts research on simulation studies and pollution particle dynamics. Stephanie Luster-Teasley's work includes water and wastewater treatment, physical and chemical remediation of soil and groundwater, and air pollution.  Her research specialty is remediation of water/wastewater and soil through advanced oxidation processes using ozone, UV/H2O and Fenton's Reagent.  Her research typically focuses on treatment processes, reaction kinetics, byproduct formation, and toxicology. Gudigopuram Reddy's research interests include bioremediation and pollution prevention. Emmanuel Nzewi's research areas are water resources systems analysis; urban hydraulics; hydrology and expert systems, particularly hydropower production and real-time reservoir operations optimization; gravity sewer network analysis and design; hydrological analysis of urban watersheds; remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) for urban systems and natural resources systems modeling; puckering of ringed molecules and probabilistic optimization; and analysis of pipe breakage in water distribution systems. 

Preface 5
Contents 7
Contributors 12
Part I Bioprocessing 18
Synthesis of Poly(L(+) Lactic Acid) by Polycondensation Methodin Solution 19
Introduction 19
Experimental Section 20
Results and Discussion 21
Conclusion 24
References 24
The Feasibility of Using Cattails from Constructed Wetlandsto Produce Bioethanol 25
Introduction 25
Methods 26
Results and Discussion 27
Environmental Analysis 29
Economic Analysis 29
Conclusion 30
References 30
Significance of Bile Salt Tolerant Lactobacillus reuteri 32
Introduction 32
Materials and Methods 33
Bacterial Strains 34
Growth in Bile Salt 34
ß-galactosidase Study 34
Enhancement of Bile Tolerance in L. reuteri by Tween 80 35
Statistical Analysis 35
Results and Discussion 35
Conclusions 36
References 37
The Effect of Insulin from Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) Extract on Growth and Viability of Lactobacillus salivariusin Fermented Milk 39
Introduction 39
Materials and Methods 40
Results and Discussion 40
Conclusions 42
References 42
Lactic Acid Production from Apple Skin Waste by Immobilized Cellsof Lactobacillus reuteri 44
Introduction 44
Materials and Methods 45
Growth Medium Preparation 45
LAB Microorganisms Used 45
Microorganism Immobilization 46
LA Fermentation by Immobilized L. reuteri 46
Data Analysis 46
Results and Discussion 46
LA Production 46
Glucose Availability 48
Immobilized vs. Free Cell Cultures 48
Conclusions 49
References 50
Part II Bioremediation 51
Cu and Zn Uptake Inhibition by PAHs as Primary Toxicity in Plants 52
Introduction 52
Materials and Methods 53
Acute Toxicity Test 53
Effects of PAHs on the Plant Uptake of Zn and Cu 54
Effects of PAHs Combined with Zn and Cu on Alfalfa Seedling 54
Metal Analysis 55
Results and Discussion 55
Acute Toxicity Test 55
Effects of PAHs on the Plant Uptake of Zn and Cu 55
Effects of PAHs Combined with Zn and Cu on Alfalfa Seedling 56
References 57
Metagenomic Environmental Assessment of Aquatic Ecosystems 58
Introduction 58
Materials and Methods 59
Results and Discussion 60
References 62
Part III Environmental Justice and Ethics 63
Water Quality in an Environmental Justice Communityin Durham, NC 64
Introduction 64
Materials and Methods 65
Results and Discussion 67
References 68
The Impact of Social Capital on Environmental Risk Reductionin Moncure 70
Introduction 70
Materials and Methods 71
Results and Discussion 72
Conclusions 74
References 75
Air Quality Issues for an Aging Population 76
Introduction 76
The Effects of Air Pollution Exposure 78
Climate Change and Excess Heat Events 80
Indoor Exposure 81
Discussion 81
Recommendations 83
References 84
Environmental Pollution, Race and Place: Research and Policy Implications 86
Introduction: Race and Place 86
Environmental Pollution: Findings from Case Studies 87
Unfair Burden 89
Implications for Research 90
Conclusion and Policy Implications 91
References 92
Financial Reporting of Environmental Risks and Liabilities 94
The Relevancy of Financial Reporting of Environmental Risks and Liabilities 94
Evolution of Financial Reporting Guidelines 95
Internal Control Weaknesses 97
Conclusion 97
Appendix 98
References 98
Oak Biodiesel: State Building and Fire Codes Affecting Biodiesel Manufacturing 100
Introduction 100
Discussion 103
Conclusion 104
References 104
The Ecological Effects of Salt Water Intrusion on the Agriculture Industry After Hurricane Katrina 106
Introduction 106
A Review of Salt Water Intrusion 107
Hurricane Katrinas Impact on the Ecology 107
Katrinas Ecological Impact on the Agriculture Industry 109
Summary 110
References 111
Municipal Wastewater Concentrations of Pharmaceuticaland Xeno-Estrogens: Wildlife and Human Health Implications 112
Introduction 113
The Problem 114
Impact on the Population 115
Source of the Problem 116
Concentrations in the Environment 117
Conclusion 118
References 119
Challenges in the Devolution of Environmental Health Service Delivery in South Africa 123
Introduction 123
Results and Discussion 125
Development Sector Lessons -- A Learning Approach 126
Conclusion 127
References 128
A Review of Health and Hygiene Promotion as Part of Sanitation Delivery Programmes to Informal Settlements in the Cityof Cape Town (South Africa) 129
Introduction 129
Results and Discussion 131
Conclusion 133
References 134
Pollution, Environmental Justice, and the North CarolinaPork Industry 135
Introduction 135
Data and Methods 137
Results and Discussions 140
Conclusion 143
References 144
Reducing Community Exposure to Toxics: A Critical Componentin Building Healthy and Sustainable Communities 146
Building Sustainable Communities 146
Social Factors, Disproportionate Exposures and Disproportionate Health Outcomes 147
Exposures to Toxic Substances (TRI) 148
Persistant Bioacculumative and Toxic Chemicals Exposure 149
Emerging PBTs of Concern 150
Evidence for Human Exposure to Toxic Substances 151
The Path Forward 152
Conclusion 152
References 153
Environmental Ethics of Health Mission To Enugu Nigeria 155
Introduction 155
Goals of the Health Mission 155
Health Mission Activities and Tasks 156
Towns Visited 156
Environmental Pollution and Impacts on Human Health 156
Environmental Ethics 159
Conclusion 159
References 159
Part IV Fate and Transport of Contaminants 160
Use of Kalman Filter and Particle Filter in a One DimensionalLeachate Transport Model 161
Introduction 161
Methodology 162
Results and Discussion 165
Conclusion 166
References 167
Organic Pollutant Transport in Groundwater Using Particle Filter 168
Introduction 168
Methodology 169
Results and Discussion 171
Conclusion 172
References 174
Modeling the Sorption Behavior of Aromatic Amine Onto Sediment Under Acidic Conditions 175
Introduction 175
Materials and Methods 176
Results and Discussion 177
Conclusions 180
References 180
Radioactive Contaminanant Transport in Subsurface PorousEnvironment 182
Introduction 182
Approach 183
Radioactive Contaminant Plume in Porous Subsurface Environment 183
Stochastic Markov Chain 183
Optimal Estimation and Data Assimilation with KF 184
Regional Noise Field Simulation 185
Experiments 185
Results 186
Prediction with Half-life 216 Day and Inaccurate Hydrologic Parameters 186
Conclusions 189
References 189
Transport and Degradation of a Trichloroethylene Plume Withina Stream Hyporheic Zone 190
Introduction 190
Materials and Methods 191
Results and Discussion 192
Conclusions 194
References 195
Part V Global Climate Change 196
Using a Spoken Diary and Heart Rate Monitor in Modeling Human Exposure to Airborne Pollutants for EPAS Consolidated Human Activity Database 197
Introduction 197
Background and Previous Research 198
Experimental Platform 198
Experimental Results 199
Natural Language Processing Methodology 200
Discussion and Future Work 201
References 203
Proposal for Focus Shift in Addressing Climate Changeand Environmental Assesment 204
Introduction: Establish Need for a Universally Acceptable Quantifiable Constant for Measuring Environmental Quality Objectively 204
Establish DNA as Qualifier of Life 205
DNA as a Universal Indicator 4 Functions and 3 Resources 207
Application of Environmental Quantification 208
References 208
Sensor Webs in Digital Earth: Monitoring Climate Change Impacts 210
Introduction 210
Motivation 211
Seamonster Study Sites 212
Digital Earth and Sensor Webs 213
Conclusions 215
References 216
Thermal Characterization of Biodegradable Poly (Lactic Acid)/Clay Nanocomposites 217
Introduction 217
Characterization 218
Conclusion 222
References 223
Tools for Carbon Management: Potential Carbon Footprint ReductionThrough Fuel Switching 224
Introduction 224
Methods 225
Results and Discussion 227
Conclusions 228
References 228
Coral Disease and Global Climate Change 229
Introduction 229
Materials and Methods 230
Results and Discussion 231
Conclusions 232
References 233
Climate Change, Drought, and Wetland Vegetation 234
Introduction 235
Materials and Methods 236
Results and Discussion 237
References 239
Dynamics of Soil Organic Nitrogen and its Functions in Soil Carbon Stabilization Processes 240
Introduction 240
Material and Method 241
Results and Discussion 241
References 244
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Potential of Corn Ethanol: Accountingfor Corn Acreage Expansion 246
Introduction 246
Methods 247
Results and Discussion 250
Conclusions 250
References 251
Comparative Effects of Sea Level Rise Versus Hurricane Eventon Coastal Erosion 253
Introduction 253
Materials and Methods 254
Results and Discussion 254
Conclusions 256
References 257
Global Warming in Asheville, North Carolina 258
Introduction 253
Methodology 254
Results 254
Discussion 256
Conclusions 261
References 257
Part VI Innovative Environmental Technology and Sensors 262
Tuckaseegee Watershed Observatory: A Collaborative Environmental Research Tool 263
Introduction 253
General Observatory Design Evolution 254
Initial Deployment Issues 254
Future Plans 256
Summary 261
References 257
Encapsulation of Potassium Permanganate Oxidant in Polymers 270
Background 253
Experimental Materials and Methods 254
Results and Discussion 254
Encapsulant Selection 272
Stability of KMnO 4 272
Release of KMnO 4 273
Conclusions 273
References 257
C. Elegans Chemotaxis and Reproduction Following Environmental Exposure 276
Introduction 253
Materials and Methods 254
Results and Discussion 254
References 257
Storing Weather Data and Dissemination Via the Web 283
Introduction 253
Materials and Methods 254
Results and Discussion 254
Conclusions 256
References 257
Rapid and Simple Method for the Encapsulation of Lactobacillus reuteri in the Production of Lactic Acid 290
Introduction 290
Materials and Methods 291
Bacterial Strains and Their Preparation 292
Media 292
Immobilization Procedure 292
Bead Uniformity 292
Comparison of Batch Free and Immobilized Cell Fermentation Systems 293
Statistical Analysis 294
Results and Discussion 294
Conclusion 295
References 296
Part VII Pollution Prevention/Solvents and Processes 297
Analysis of Partition Coefficients and Ternary Liquid-Liquid Equilibrium Data for Highly Non-Ideal Systems 298
Literature Studies 298
Results and Discussion 301
Conclusion 302
References 303
Application of Chitosan in Remediation of Dyes 305
Introduction 305
Materials and Methods 307
Results and Discusion 307
Conclusion 310
References 310
An Apparatus for Density and VLE Measurements for Gas-Liquid Systems 311
Introduction 305
Objectives 307
Procedure 307
Density 313
Vapor Liquid Equilibrium 313
Schematic 313
Results 314
Conclusion 314
References 310
MSE Walls in Solid Waste Applications 317
Introduction to MSE Walls 305
Example Solid Waste Application 307
MSE Wall Design 307
Design Examples 310
Conclusion 313
References 310
Study of the Molecular Weight Dependence of Glass Transition Temperature for Amorphous Poly(L-Lactide) by Molecular Dynamics Simulation 324
Introduction 305
Simulation Details 307
Results and Discussion 307
Conclusion 310
References 310
Channel Catfish Estrogenicity and Sewer Overflows Implicationsfor Xenoestrogen Exposure
Background 305
Objectives 307
Materials and Methods 307
Results and Discussion 310
Conclusions 313
References 310
Sorption and Desorption of Nitrogen and Phosphorus by Zeoliteand Shale 338
Introduction 339
Objectives 339
Materials and Methods 339
Materials 339
Batch Experiments on Sorption of Nutrients 340
Desorption of N and P - Feasibility Studies on Slow Nutrient Release 341
Results and Discussion 342
Sorption of Phosphorus 342
Sorption of Ammonia -- N 342
Desorption of N and P 347
Conclusion 347
References 348
Index 350