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Assesment of Bioremediation Efficiency of Indigenous Bacteria and Plants at an Abandoned Acid Mine Drainage Site

Sivaram, Sushil
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1289882865

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Science, University of Akron, Civil Engineering.
Pollution caused by acid mine drainage is a widespread problem throughout the world. Biological means to remediate the damage caused by AMD is the most effective and economical treatment procedure. Due to the long treatment duration efforts to remediate lands using this technique has not been explored a lot. This research examines the various biological means to establish a treatment scheme for an acid mine affected area in Northeast Ohio. The various plausible schemes included phytoremediation using plants found onsite - Phragmites, Cattail, Goldenrod and Soybean and the possibility of microbial remediation. A site characterization was done which examined the microbial numbers across the transect and at various depth over three different seasons and a kinetic rate model was established to help predict the behavior of the microorganisms present in the soil at varying conditions. The number of iron oxidizers was found to be greater in areas with lesser toxic metals (average iron oxidizers at the three sites closest to the emergence point was 1.15E+05 CFU/g, corresponding average count for heterotrophic microorganisms was 8.16E+04 CFU/g. Heterotrophic microorganisms were found in greater numbers further away from the emergence point than iron oxidizers (average of the three points farthest from the emergence point over second and third sample 1.04E+06 CFU/g). Microbial numbers were correlated to iron oxidation rates. The rates were found to be higher at points with higher number of iron oxidizers. Seasonal variation in microbial numbers indicated an overall decrease in numbers during the winter (average iron oxidizers winter sample 2.93E+04 CFU/g, average iron oxidizers for summer sample 6.33E+05 CFU/g). Phragmites and Cattail were found to hyperaccumulate Al from the soil. Phragmites was also able to uptake substantial amounts of Fe (shoot concentration of 6.74 mg). The contributions made by the other species of plants to accumulate various metals were also notable. The higher biomass and overall capacity of Phragmites to uptake various metals make it an ideal choice if phytoremediation is employed on site. Microbial remediation was found to be currently occurring at a slow pace on the site. Even though the rate of remediation was found to be slow, the presence of remedial actions by the plants and microbes on site, without any intervention, shows that bioremediation potential of the site.
Teresa J. Cutright, Dr. (Advisor)
John M. Senko, Dr. (Committee Member)
William H. Schneider IV, Dr. (Committee Member)
137 p.
Civil Engineering; Environmental Engineering
Acid Mine Drainange; Bioremediation; Phragmites

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sivaram, S. (2010). Assesment of Bioremediation Efficiency of Indigenous Bacteria and Plants at an Abandoned Acid Mine Drainage Site [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1289882865

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sivaram, Sushil. Assesment of Bioremediation Efficiency of Indigenous Bacteria and Plants at an Abandoned Acid Mine Drainage Site. 2010. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1289882865.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sivaram, Sushil. "Assesment of Bioremediation Efficiency of Indigenous Bacteria and Plants at an Abandoned Acid Mine Drainage Site." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1289882865

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.