Chan Kam Che. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-219). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstracts --- p.iii / 摘要 --- p.v / Contents --- p.vii / List of figures --- p.xiv / List of tables --- p.xix / Abbreviations --- p.xxii / Chapter Chapter I --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Persistent organic pollutants --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- DDT and DDE --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Background --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Health effects --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Environmental exposure of DDE --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Level of DDE in human --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Biodegradation of DDE --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3 --- Remediation methods --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Physical/ chemical treatment --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Bioremediation --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4 --- Fungal Bioremediation --- p.14 / Chapter 1.5 --- Ligninolytic enzymes --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Laccase --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Peroxidases --- p.20 / Chapter 1.5.2.1 --- Manganese Peroxidase (MnP) --- p.20 / Chapter 1.5.2.1 --- Lignin Peroxidase (LiP) --- p.24 / Chapter 1.6 --- Cultivation of Pleurotus pulmonarius --- p.27 / Chapter 1.7 --- Enzyme technology on environmental cleanup and its limitation --- p.28 / Chapter 1.8 --- Aims and objectives of this study --- p.29 / Chapter Chapter II --- Materials and Methods --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1 --- Organism and growth conditions --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2 --- Cultivation and the expression of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes during solid-state-fermentation of edible mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3 --- Treatment of DDE by living P. pulmonarius --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Optimization of DDE removal in broth system --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- Effects of initial DDE concentration on the removal of DDE --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- Effects of inoculum size on the removal of DDE --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.1.3 --- Effects of incubation time on the removal of DDE and transcriptional profiles of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Optimization of DDE removal in soil system --- p.34 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Effects of initial DDE concentration on the removal of DDE --- p.34 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Effects of inoculum size on the removal of DDE --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- Effects of incubation time on the removal of DDE --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3.2.4 --- Transcription of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes --- p.35 / Chapter 2.4 --- Treatment of DDE by 1st SMC of p. pulmonarius grown on straw-based compost --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Optimization of DDE removal in soil system --- p.36 / Chapter 2.5 --- Treatment of DDE by crude enzyme preparations of P. pulmonarius grown on straw-based compost --- p.36 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Optimization of DDE removal in broth system --- p.36 / Chapter 2.5.1.1 --- Effects of initial DDE concentration on the removal of DDE --- p.37 / Chapter 2.5.1.2 --- Effects of amounts of crude enzyme preparations on the removal of DDE --- p.37 / Chapter 2.5.1.3 --- Effects of incubation time on the removal of DDE --- p.37 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Optimization of DDE removal in soil system --- p.37 / Chapter 2.5.2.1 --- Effects of initial DDE concentration on the removal of DDE --- p.38 / Chapter 2.5.2.2 --- Effects of amount of crude enzyme preparations on the removal of DDE --- p.38 / Chapter 2.5.2.3 --- Effects of incubation time on the removal of DDE --- p.38 / Chapter 2.6 --- Soil characterization --- p.39 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Identification of organic contaminants in soil sample from Gene Garden using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) --- p.39 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Determination of soil texture --- p.42 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Fresh soil/air-dried sample moisture --- p.44 / Chapter 2.6.4 --- "Soil pH, electrical conductivity & salinity" --- p.44 / Chapter 2.6.5 --- Total organic carbon contents --- p.44 / Chapter 2.6.6 --- Total nitrogen and total phosphorus --- p.44 / Chapter 2.6.7 --- Available nitrogen --- p.45 / Chapter 2.6.8 --- Available phosphorus --- p.45 / Chapter 2.6.9 --- Potassium value --- p.46 / Chapter 2.7 --- Quantification of residual DDE level --- p.47 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Preparation of DDE stock solution --- p.47 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Extraction and quantification of DDE using Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detector (GC/μECD) --- p.47 / Chapter 2.7.3 --- Identification of DDE breakdown products by GC/MS --- p.50 / Chapter 2.8 --- Extraction of protein and ligninolytic enzymes --- p.53 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Protein assay --- p.53 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Laccase assay --- p.53 / Chapter 2.8.3 --- Manganese peroxidase assay --- p.54 / Chapter 2.8.4 --- Calculation of activity and specific activity of laccase and manganese peroxidase --- p.54 / Chapter 2.9 --- Estimation of fungal biomass --- p.55 / Chapter 2.9.1 --- Preparation of ergosterol standard solution --- p.56 / Chapter 2.9.2 --- Analysis of ergosterol content --- p.56 / Chapter 2.10 --- Expression of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes --- p.58 / Chapter 2.10.1 --- Preparation of ribonuclease free reagents and apparatus --- p.58 / Chapter 2.10.2 --- RNA isolation and purification --- p.58 / Chapter 2.10.3 --- cDNA synthesis --- p.59 / Chapter 2.10.4 --- Semi-quantification of ligninolytic enzyme-coding gene expression by RT-PCR --- p.59 / Chapter 2.11 --- Preparation of crude enzyme preparations from P. pulmonarius compost --- p.63 / Chapter 2.12 --- "Assessment criteria: removal efficiency, RE, and removal capacity, RC" --- p.63 / Chapter 2.13 --- Statistical analysis “ --- p.64 / Chapter Chapter III --- Results --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1 --- Soil characterization --- p.65 / Chapter 3.2 --- Cultivation and the expression of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes during solid-state-fermentation of edible mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Mushroom yield --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Protein content --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Specific ligninolytic enzymes activities --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Ergosterol content --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Ligninolytic enzymes productivities --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Expression of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes during solid-state-fermentation --- p.72 / Chapter 3.3 --- Treatment of DDE by living P. pulmonaruis --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Optimization of DDE removal in broth system --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Effects of initial DDE concentration on the removal of DDE --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3.1.1.1 --- Effects of DDE on biomass development --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3.1.1.2 --- Protein content --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3.1.1.3 --- Specific ligninolytic enzyme activities --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3.1.1.4 --- Ligninolytic enzyme productivities --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.1.1.5 --- DDE removal and removal capacity --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Effects of inoculum sizes on the removal of DDE --- p.84 / Chapter 3.3.1.2.1 --- Effects of DDE on biomass development --- p.84 / Chapter 3.3.1.2.2 --- Protein content --- p.84 / Chapter 3.3.1.2.3 --- Specific ligninolytic enzyme activities --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.1.2.4 --- Ligninolytic enzyme productivities --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.1.2.5 --- DDE removal and removal capacity --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.1.3 --- Effects of incubation time on the removal of 4.0 mM DDE/g biomass --- p.89 / Chapter 3.3.1.3.1 --- Effects of DDE on biomass development --- p.89 / Chapter 3.3.1.3.2 --- Protein content --- p.89 / Chapter 3.3.1.3.3 --- Specific ligninolytic enzyme activities and ligninolytic enzyme productivities --- p.89 / Chapter 3.3.1.3.4 --- DDE removal and removal capacity --- p.90 / Chapter 3.3.1.3.5 --- Putative degradation derivatives --- p.90 / Chapter 3.3.1.3.6 --- Expression of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes during the removal of 4.0 mM DDE/g biomass --- p.94 / Chapter 3.3.1.4 --- Effects of incubation time on the removal of 10.0 mM DDE/g biomass --- p.100 / Chapter 3.3.1.4.1 --- Effects of DDE on biomass development --- p.100 / Chapter 3.3.1.4.2 --- Protein content --- p.100 / Chapter 3.3.1.4.3 --- Specific ligninolytic enzyme activities and ligninolytic enzyme productivities --- p.100 / Chapter 3.3.1.4.4 --- Expression of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes during the removal of 10.0 mM DDE/g biomass --- p.102 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Optimization of DDE removal in soil system --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Effects of initial DDE concentration on the removal of DDE --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.1 --- Ergosterol content --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.2 --- Protein content --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.3 --- Specific ligninolytic enzyme activities and ligninolytic enzyme productivities --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.4 --- DDE removal and removal capacity --- p.108 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Effects of inoculum sizes on the removal of DDE --- p.111 / Chapter 3.3.2.2.1 --- Ergosterol content --- p.111 / Chapter 3.3.2.2.2 --- Protein content --- p.111 / Chapter 3.3.2.2.3 --- Specific ligninolytic enzyme activities and ligninolytic enzyme productivities --- p.111 / Chapter 3.3.2.2.4 --- DDE removal and removal capacity --- p.112 / Chapter 3.3.2.3 --- Effects of incubation time on the removal of DDE --- p.115 / Chapter 3.3.2.3.1 --- Ergosterol content --- p.115 / Chapter 3.3.2.3.2 --- Protein content --- p.115 / Chapter 3.3.2.3.3 --- Specific ligninolytic enzyme activities and ligninolytic enzyme productivities --- p.115 / Chapter 3.3.2.3.4 --- DDE removal and removal capacity --- p.116 / Chapter 3.3.2.3.5 --- Putative degradation derivatives --- p.116 / Chapter 3.3.2.4 --- Transcription of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes --- p.121 / Chapter 3.4 --- Treatment of DDE by 1st SMC of p. pulmonarius grown on straw-based compost --- p.127 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Optimization of DDE removal in soil system --- p.127 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- Effects of initial DDE concentration on the removal of DDE --- p.127 / Chapter 3.4.1.1.1 --- Ergosterol content --- p.127 / Chapter 3.4.1.1.2 --- Protein content --- p.127 / Chapter 3.4.1.1.3 --- Specific ligninolytic enzyme activities and ligninolytic enzyme productivities --- p.127 / Chapter 3.4.1.1.4 --- DDE removal and removal capacity --- p.128 / Chapter 3.4.1.2 --- Effects of inoculum sizes on the removal of DDE --- p.132 / Chapter 3.4.1.2.1 --- Ergosterol content --- p.132 / Chapter 3.4.1.2.2 --- Protein content --- p.132 / Chapter 3.4.1.2.3 --- Specific ligninolytic enzyme activities and ligninolytic enzyme productivities --- p.132 / Chapter 3.4.1.2.4 --- DDE removal and removal capacity --- p.133 / Chapter 3.4.1.3 --- Effects of incubation time on the removal of DDE --- p.136 / Chapter 3.4.1.3.1 --- Ergosterol content --- p.136 / Chapter 3.4.1.3.2 --- Protein content --- p.136 / Chapter 3.4.1.3.3 --- Specific ligninolytic enzyme activities and ligninolytic enzyme productivities --- p.136 / Chapter 3.4.1.3.4 --- DDE removal and removal capacity --- p.137 / Chapter 3.4.1.3.5 --- Putative degradation derivatives --- p.137 / Chapter 3.5 --- Treatment of DDE by crude enzyme preparations of P. pulmonarius grown on straw-based compost --- p.142 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- The crude enzyme preparations of P. pulmonarius grown on straw-based compost --- p.142 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Optimization of DDE removal in broth system --- p.143 / Chapter 3.5.2.1 --- Effects of initial DDE concentration on the removal of DDE --- p.143 / Chapter 3.5.2.2 --- Effects of amounts of crude enzyme preparations on the removal of DDE --- p.145 / Chapter 3.5.2.3 --- Effects of incubation time on the removal of DDE --- p.147 / Chapter 3.5.2.4 --- Putative degradation derivatives --- p.147 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Optimization of DDE removal in soil system --- p.151 / Chapter 3.5.3.1 --- Effects of initial DDE concentration on the removal of DDE --- p.151 / Chapter 3.5.3.2 --- Effects of amounts of crude enzyme preparations on the removal of DDE --- p.151 / Chapter 3.5.3.3 --- Effects of incubation time on the removal of DDE --- p.154 / Chapter 3.5.3.4 --- Putative degradation derivatives --- p.154 / Chapter Chapter IV --- Discussions --- p.158 / Chapter 4.1 --- Quantification of the expression of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes --- p.158 / Chapter 4.2 --- Artificial cultivation and the expression of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes during solid-state-fermentation of edible mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius --- p.164 / Chapter 4.3 --- Treatment of DDE by living P. pulmonarius --- p.166 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Optimization of DDE removal in broth system --- p.166 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Optimization of DDE removal in soil system --- p.169 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Phylogeny of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes --- p.170 / Chapter 4.3.3.1 --- Laccase coding genes --- p.170 / Chapter 4.3.3.2 --- MnP coding genes --- p.175 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Transcription of the ligninolytic enzyme-coding genes --- p.178 / Chapter 4.4 --- Treatment of DDE by 1st SMC of P. pulmonarius grown on straw-based compost --- p.183 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Optimization of DDE removal in soil system --- p.183 / Chapter 4.5 --- Treatment of DDE by crude enzyme preparations of P. pulmonarius grown on straw-based compost --- p.184 / Chapter 4.6 --- Cost-effectiveness of the bioremediation method --- p.185 / Chapter 4.7 --- Further investigations --- p.194 / Chapter Chapter V --- Conclusions --- p.197 / References --- p.199

Tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) is used as a fuel oxygenate and is the main breakdown component of methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE). As such, TBA is found in water systems through storage leaks and spills, presence of MTBE in the water, and as an impure byproduct of MTBE-blended fuels. It presents several health hazards and is a suspected carcinogen. Studies involving aquatic life, mice and rats indicate that TBA is a concern at low concentrations. Wastewater removal of tert butyl alcohol (TBA) has been limited to methodology used by MTBE or by anaerobic or aerobic methods. Neither set of techniques is applicable to TBA due to its long biological degradation period, its very specific conditions for anerobic or aerobic treatment, and its low Henry's law constant, low transformation rate, and its high mobility. The main goal of this project was to determine the adsorption capabilities of different zeolites for TBA. A comparison to previous work done with powdered zeolites and MTBE is shown in the following Chapters. Batch systems of TBA and several different zeolites were examined to determine the best zeolites for TBA adsorption. As shown in Chapter 3, the best zeolites for TBA adsorption over an equilibrium time of 48 hours were silicalite and HiSiv 3000 pellets. Using the two chosen zeolites, silicalite and HiSiv 3000, adsorption isotherms were created and compared against MTBE data using the same data. The final portion of this project included a continuous system consisting of a zeolite column and a steady flow rate of TBA. The zeolite columns consisted of sole silicalite, sole HiSiv 3000, and different proportions of the two zeolites in the same column. All column experiments were run at similar conditions with variation in the adsorbent bed lengths for easy comparison between the resulting breakthrough curves. At the 3-cm bed length, the zeolite columns outperformed the activated carbon column; however, there was no distinct difference between the zeolite columns. In the 6-cm bed length experiments, there were apparent differences between the two zeolite breakthrough curves. The 9-cm column did not differentiate between the zeolites.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / In this thesis I investigate the reconstruction of the life history of Sandra Laing and the recreation of the apartheid context by analyzing two artefacts. These main artefact for investigation is the movie Skin, by Anthony Fabian which is based on the book "When She Was White: A Family Divided By Race" by Judith Stone, which is the second artefact for investigation. The latter artefact is based on the life of Sandra Laing. Sandra Laing was born to white parents in the apartheid era, but she did not ascribe to the physical description of a person who was classified 'white' in accordance with legal and social framing thereof in apartheid South Africa. This posed many legal, social and political difficulties for her family. I was particularly interested in the composition of information sources and how semiotic resources are re-enacted, reused and repurposed in the movie ‘Skin.’ The study is more theoretical than applied in that it seeks to answer the question posed by Prior and Grusin (2010: 1): "How do we understand semiotics/multimodality theoretically and investigate it methodologically?" In the study I develop Prior and Grusin’s (2010) thesis by working with notion of semiotic remediation as a focus on semioticity helps me to focus on the signs across modes, media, channels and genres. Therefore, the book on Sandra Laing and the movie are used as databases from which to extract semiotic resources in the exploration and extension of multimodality theory through multisemiotic analysis using semiotic remediation as 'repurposing' in particular. In the process, the notion of semiotic remediation becomes the tool for extending theory of multimodality, by demonstrating the repurposing of semiotic material from the book, such as apartheid artefacts, racialised discourses, dressing, racialised bodies and bible verses, for example, into the recreation of apartheid in the movie 'Skin.' I employed a multisemiotic discourse analysis to analyse the data, which is multimodal, and because I was interested in the complexity of the meaning making process involving multiple modes of representation. This framework was useful in analyzing the complex interaction between the various modes for meaning making. I used resemiotisation and remediation as conceptual tools to trace the translation of events across artefacts and how the material and generic traces are reframed and repurposed within its new contexts for new meanings in the movie 'Skin'. This study makes important contributions to research on the race debate in South Africa in particular. Although apartheid laws have been repealed and new democratic order is in place, the issue of race has flared in the media and South African society generally. The recurrent debates on lack of transformation in former whites only universities, the #FeeMustFall Movement and recent debates in parliament about revisiting the land redistribution issue all have racial undertones – the continued disempowerment of the non-white South Africans. The focus on the recapturing of the complexities surrounding the race debates and the implications of the racialised society, particularly how they are conceptualized and rematerialized within the semiotic limitations of book and a film contributes to a novel understanding of the making and lifestyles of inequality in apartheid South Africa. From a theoretical and analytical perspective, the study feeds on and extends the notion of multimodality to multisemioticity using the extension, semiotic remediation, not in the ordinary sense of mediating a new, but on the notion of the reframing and particularly repurposing of a particular social, political, cultural and historical semiotic material in new contexts in the recreated new worlds in the film and book. In this regard, the study provides interesting insights into the remediated reconstructions of race and racial inequalities, and the remodeling of artefacts and semiosis that are used in this reformation of the apartheid material cultures and contexts. In analysing the remaking of the apartheid culture in the film and the book, I theorefore make a unique contribution in identifying the semiotic materials that are indicative of the flawed nature of biological arguments for racial classification and race-based social structuring. I discuss the implications of this by analysing the remediation of the body as a racial scape, and the apartheid material culture as providing the semiotic landscape on which meanings are produced and consumed. The study thus contributes to research on recent developments in multimodality through its extension of semiotic remediation, which is designed to uncover the intricate interaction between semiotic resources in various media as well as their translation and repurposing across artefacts. In this regard, the study adds to extending the theoretical framing of multimodality thus: resemiotization accounts for the circulations of texts from mode to mode or one context to another, while semiotic remediation accounts for the repurposing of semiotic resources for different purposes and for their multiple meaning potentials. / National Research Foundation

O objetivo principal desta pesquisa foi desenvolver um aparato e procedimento experimental para estudar a oxidação química de organoclorados por injeção de ozônio em escala de laboratório. A concepção do ensaio desenvolvido permite realizar ensaios de coluna em meio aquoso ou em meio poroso, saturado ou não saturado, com monitoramento da concentração e da pressão absoluta de ozônio na entrada e na saída da coluna, do pH, da temperatura do meio, da temperatura ambiente e controle da vazão. Nesta pesquisa foram realizados ensaios para verificar a degradação de PCE em fase dissolvida em concentração de saturação em diversos meios: água ultrapura, águas subterrâneas coletadas em um poço cacimba e em um poço tubular profundo, e soluções de bicarbonato de sódio. A investigação experimental compreendeu ensaios de saturação e decaimento de ozônio, ensaios batch e ensaios de coluna em meios com valores de pH variados. Os resultados indicaram que o ozônio em fase dissolvida atinge a saturação após aproximadamente 15 minutos de injeção, com concentrações saturadas variando entre 90 e 170 µmol/L, dependendo do meio aquoso de estudo. O decaimento biexponencial do ozônio dissolvido mostrou tempos de meia vida t1 e t2, que variaram conforme o meio de estudo, entre 4 e 26 minutos, e 14 e 193 minutos, respectivamente. O decaimento monoexponencial resultou em tempos de meia vida entre 12 e 76 minutos. Os ensaios batch em meio aquoso mostraram degradação significativa do PCE por ozônio dissolvido comparativamente à degradação em água ultrapura não ozonizada. A adição de bicarbonato de sódio diminuiu os tempos de meia vida do ozônio em água, mas não intensificou a degradação do PCE em sistema fechado (ensaios batch). Os ensaios de coluna em meio aquoso indicaram que a volatilização e o arraste são os principais mecanismos de remoção de PCE por injeção de ozônio. As concentrações de PCE em fase dissolvida observadas no início do ensaio de coluna foram quase completamente volatilizadas e recuperadas no trap, tanto nos ensaios com a injeção de oxigênio quanto nos ensaios com injeção de ozônio. As concentrações de PCE na coluna no final dos ensaios foram inferiores ou ligeiramente superiores ao valor de intervenção estabelecido pela CETESB em 2014. Os ensaios de coluna em meio sólido (microesferas de vidro e areia) indicaram que ocorre degradação do PCE, com remoção quase total na coluna, porém com menor recuperação no trap. Possivelmente, o maior tempo de residência na coluna favorece as reações do ozônio com o PCE. / The aim of this research was to develop experimental apparatus and procedure to investigate chemical oxidation of chlorinated organic compounds by ozone injection at laboratory scale, in aqueous media and in saturated or unsaturated porous media. The test allows control of ozone inlet and outlet pressures and concentrations, pH, room and column temperature, and ozone flow. In this research, tests were performed to investigate degradation of PCE dissolved at maximum solubility concentration in several media: ultrapure water, groundwater collected in a shallow well and in a deep well, and sodium bicarbonate solutions. The experimental investigation comprised ozone saturation and decay tests, batch tests, and column tests in aqueous media with several pH values. Results indicated that dissolved ozone reaches saturation after approximately 15 minutes of injection, at saturated concentrations between 90 and 170 µmol/L, depending on the aqueous medium. Second order ozone decay half lives t1 and t2 vary, respectively, between 4-26 minutes and 14-193 minutes depending on the aqueous medium. First order decay half lives varied between 12-76 minutes. Batch tests in aqueous media showed significant PCE degradation by dissolved ozone as compared to degradation in non ozonized ultrapure water. Addiction of sodium bicarbonate decreased ozone half-lives in water but did not intensify PCE degradation as observed in the results of batch tests. Column tests in aqueous media evinced that stripping and volatilization are the mains mechanisms of PCE removal by ozone injection. Initial concentrations of dissolved PCE in the column were almost completely volatilized and recovered in the trap, for ozone injection as well as for oxygen injection. Final concentrations of dissolved PCE in the column were in the order of ppb and very near the limit allowable value according to the environmental agency of the state of São Paulo. Column tests in solid media indicate that PCE degrades and is removed from the column, but not totally recovered in the trap; probably, the more extended residence time in the column enhances reactions of ozone and PCE

Yau Sze-nga. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-177). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgement --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / 摘要 --- p.v / Table of Contents --- p.vii / List of Figures --- p.xi / List of Tables --- p.xiv / Chapter 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Organopollutants and environment --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Pentachlorophenol --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Application of pentachlorophenol --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Characteristics of PCP --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Toxicity of PCP --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Environmental exposure of PCP --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3 --- Wastewater treatments of organopollutants --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Physical treatment --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Chemical treatment --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Bioremediation --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4 --- Biodegradation of PCP --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Biodegradation of PCP by bacteria --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Biodegradation of PCP by fungi --- p.14 / Chapter 1.5 --- Ligninolytic enzyme --- p.16 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Lignin peroxidase --- p.16 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Manganese peroxidase --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Laccase --- p.21 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Biodegradation of PCP and other organopollutants by ligninolytic enzymes --- p.25 / Chapter 1.6 --- Structure and gene regulation --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- MnP gene and structure --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.1.1 --- Structure of MnP --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.1.2 --- MnP gene regulation --- p.30 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Laccase gene and structure --- p.31 / Chapter 1.6.2.1 --- Structure of laccase --- p.31 / Chapter 1.6.2.2 --- Laccase gene regulation --- p.32 / Chapter 1.7 --- Pleurotus pulmonarius --- p.36 / Chapter 1.8 --- Aims of study --- p.37 / Chapter 2 --- MATERIALS & METHOD --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1 --- Optimization of PCP induction in broth system --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Specific enzyme assays --- p.41 / Chapter 2.1.1.1 --- Assay for laccase activity --- p.41 / Chapter 2.1.1.2 --- Assay for manganese peroxidase (MnP) activity --- p.41 / Chapter 2.1.1.3 --- Assay for protein assay --- p.41 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- PCP effect on biomass gain --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Extraction of PCP --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.3.1 --- Preparation of PCP stock solution --- p.43 / Chapter 2.1.3.2 --- Extraction efficiency of PCP --- p.43 / Chapter 2.1.3.3 --- Quantification of PCP by HPLC --- p.43 / Chapter 2.1.3.4 --- Study of PCP degradation pathway using GC-MS --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2 --- Isolation of laccase and manganese peroxidase coding genes --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Preparation of ribonuclease free reagents and apparatus --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Isolation of RNA --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Quantification of total RNA --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- First strand cDNA synthesis --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) --- p.48 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Gel electrophoresis --- p.50 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Purification of PCR products --- p.50 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Preparation of Escherichia coli competent cells --- p.51 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- Ligation and E. coli transformation --- p.51 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- PCR screening of E. coli transformation --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.11 --- Isolation of recombinant plasmid --- p.52 / Chapter 2.2.12 --- Sequence analysis --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.13 --- Construction of dendrogram for Pleurotus sp. laccase and manganese peroxidase dendrogram --- p.54 / Chapter 2.2.13.1 --- Dendrogram of laccase genes --- p.55 / Chapter 2.2.13.2 --- Dendrogram of manganese genes --- p.55 / Chapter 2.3 --- Differential regulation profiles of laccase and manganese peroxidase genes --- p.57 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Time course of the effects of PCP on levels of laccase and manganese peroxidase mRNAs --- p.57 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- Isolation of RNA --- p.57 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- RT-PCR --- p.57 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- The effect of different stresses --- p.65 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Pollutant removal analysis --- p.66 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Differential gene expression under different stresses --- p.69 / Chapter 2.4 --- Construction of full-length cDNA --- p.69 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Primer design --- p.69 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- First-strand cDNA synthesis --- p.71 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- RACE PCR reactions --- p.71 / Chapter 2.5 --- Statistical analysis --- p.73 / Chapter 3 --- RESULT --- p.74 / Chapter 3.1 --- Optimization of PCP induction in broth system --- p.74 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Enzyme Assay --- p.74 / Chapter 3.1.1.1 --- Protein content --- p.74 / Chapter 3.1.1.2 --- Specific laccase activity --- p.74 / Chapter 3.1.1.3 --- Specific MnP activity --- p.76 / Chapter 3.1.1.4 --- Laccase productivity --- p.78 / Chapter 3.1.1.5 --- MnP productivity --- p.78 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- PCP effect on biomass development --- p.80 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- PCP removal --- p.80 / Chapter 3.2 --- isolation of laccase and manganese peroxidase coding genes --- p.83 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Dendrogram construction for heterologous MnP and laccase coding genes --- p.83 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Phylogeny of ligninolytic enzyme coding genes of P. pulmonarius --- p.85 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Phylogeny of MnP coding genes --- p.88 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Phylogeny of laccase coding genes --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3 --- differential regulation profiles of laccase and MnP genes --- p.91 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Time course of the effects of PCP on levels of MnP and laccase mRNAs --- p.91 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Time course of the effects of PCP on levels of MnP mRNAs --- p.91 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Time course of the effects of PCP on levels of laccase mRNAs --- p.97 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- The effects of different stresses and two lignocellulosic substrates --- p.99 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- The effect on laccase and MnP enzyme activities --- p.99 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.1 --- Protein content --- p.99 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.2 --- Specific laccase activity --- p.100 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.3 --- Specific MnP activity --- p.102 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.4 --- Dry weight of P. pulmonarius --- p.102 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.5 --- Laccase productivity --- p.105 / Chapter 3.3.2.1.6 --- MnP productivity --- p.105 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Organopollutant removal --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.2.3 --- Differential gene expression under different stresses --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.2.3.1 --- The effect on MnP mRNAs --- p.107 / Chapter 3.3.2.3.2 --- The effect on laccase mRNAs --- p.115 / Chapter 3.4 --- Construction of full-length cDNA --- p.116 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- PPMnP5 --- p.117 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- PPlac2 --- p.120 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- PPlac6 --- p.120 / Chapter 4 --- DISCUSSION --- p.123 / Chapter 4.1 --- Optimization of PCP induction in broth system --- p.123 / Chapter 4.2 --- Isolation of MnP and laccase coding genes --- p.126 / Chapter 4.3 --- Differential regulation profiles of MnP and laccase genes --- p.128 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- The effects incubation time and PCP on levels of MnP and laccase mRNAs --- p.128 / Chapter 4.3.1.1 --- MnP --- p.129 / Chapter 4.3.1.2 --- Laccase --- p.129 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Regulation of MnP and laccase by different substrates --- p.130 / Chapter 4.3.2.1 --- Regulation of MnP and laccase activities --- p.131 / Chapter 4.3.2.2 --- Organopollutant removal --- p.132 / Chapter 4.3.2.3 --- Regulation of MnP coding genes --- p.136 / Chapter 4.3.2.4 --- Regulation of laccase coding genes --- p.137 / Chapter 4.4 --- "Characterization of full length cDNAs of PPMnP5, PPlac2 and PPLAC6" --- p.140 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- PPMnP5 --- p.140 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- PPlac2 and PPlac6 --- p.144 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Real-time PCR --- p.146 / Chapter 4.4.3.1 --- Methodology for SYBR-Green real-time PCR --- p.146 / Chapter 4.4.3.2 --- Comparison of conventional PCR and real-time PCR --- p.148 / Chapter 4.5 --- APPLICATION AND FURTHER INVESTIGATION --- p.150 / Chapter 5 --- CONCLUSION --- p.152 / Chapter 6 --- REFERENCES --- p.155

by Wai Lok Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-155). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstracts --- p.ii / Contents --- p.vii / List of figures --- p.xiii / List of tables --- p.xvi / Abbreviations --- p.xviii / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Pentachlorophenol / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Applications of pentachlorophenol --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Characteristics --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Pentachlorophenol in the environment --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Toxicity of Pentachlorophenol --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2 --- Treatments of Pentachlorophenol --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Physical treatment --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Chemical treatment --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Biological treatment --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3 --- Biodegradation --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Biodegradation of PCP by bacteria --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Biodegradation of PCP by white-rot fungi --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4 --- Biosorption --- p.24 / Chapter 1.5 --- Proposed Strategy --- p.28 / Chapter 1.6 --- Spent Mushroom Compost / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Background --- p.28 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Physico-chemical properties of SMC --- p.29 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- As a biosorbent --- p.29 / Chapter 1.6.3.1 --- Factors affecting biosorption --- p.31 / Chapter 1.6.3.2 --- Contact time --- p.31 / Chapter 1.6.3.3 --- Initial pH --- p.32 / Chapter 1.6.3.4 --- Concentration of biosorbent --- p.33 / Chapter 1.6.3.5 --- Initial PCP concentration --- p.34 / Chapter 1.6.3.6 --- Incubation temperature --- p.34 / Chapter 1.6.3.7 --- Agitation speed --- p.35 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- Modeling of adsorption --- p.36 / Chapter 1.6.4.1 --- Langmuir isotherm --- p.36 / Chapter 1.6.4.2 --- Freundlich isotherm --- p.36 / Chapter 1.6.5 --- As a source of PCP-degrading bacteria --- p.38 / Chapter 1.6.5.1 --- Identification of PCP-degrading bacterium --- p.40 / Chapter 1.6.6 --- As a source of fungus --- p.42 / Chapter 1.7 --- Objectives of this Study --- p.43 / Chapter 2. --- Materials and Methods --- p.44 / Chapter 2.1 --- Spent Mushroom compost (SMC) Production --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2 --- Characterization of SMC --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- pH --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Electrical conductivity --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- "Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur contents" --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Infrared spectroscopic study --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Metal analysis --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Anion content --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.7. --- Chitin assay --- p.48 / Chapter 2.3 --- Extraction of PCP --- p.49 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Selection of extraction solvent --- p.49 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Selection of desorbing agent --- p.49 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Extraction efficiency --- p.50 / Chapter 2.4 --- Adsorption of Pentachlorophenol on SMC --- p.50 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Preparation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) stock solution --- p.50 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Batch adsorption experiment --- p.51 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Quantification of PCP by HPLC --- p.51 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Data analysis for biosorption --- p.51 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Optimization of PCP adsorption --- p.52 / Chapter 2.4.5.1 --- Effect of contact time --- p.52 / Chapter 2.4.5.2 --- Effect of initial pH --- p.52 / Chapter 2.4.5.3 --- Effect of incubation temperature --- p.53 / Chapter 2.4.5.4 --- Effect of shaking speed --- p.53 / Chapter 2.4.5.5 --- Effect of initial PCP concentration and amount of biosorbent --- p.53 / Chapter 2.4.6 --- Adsorption isotherm --- p.53 / Chapter 2.4.7 --- Effect of removal efficiency on reuse of biosorbent --- p.54 / Chapter 2.5 --- Biodegradation by Isolated Bacterium --- p.54 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Isolation of PCP-tolerant bacteria from mushroom compost --- p.54 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Screening for the best PCP-tolerant bacterium --- p.54 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Identification of the isolated bacterium --- p.55 / Chapter 2.5.3.1 --- 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing --- p.55 / Chapter 2.5.3.1.1 --- Extraction of DNA --- p.55 / Chapter 2.5.3.1.2 --- Specific PCR for 16S rDNA --- p.56 / Chapter 2.5.3.1.3 --- Gel electrophoresis --- p.57 / Chapter 2.5.3.1.4 --- Purification of PCR products --- p.57 / Chapter 2.5.3.1.5 --- Sequencing of 16S rDNA --- p.58 / Chapter 2.5.3.2 --- Gram staining --- p.60 / Chapter 2.5.3.3 --- Biolog Microstation System --- p.60 / Chapter 2.5.3.4 --- MIDI Sherlock Microbial Identification System --- p.61 / Chapter 2.5.4 --- Optimization of PCP degradation by PCP-degrading bacterium --- p.62 / Chapter 2.5.4.1 --- Effect of incubation time --- p.63 / Chapter 2.5.4.2 --- Effect of shaking speed --- p.63 / Chapter 2.5.4.3 --- Effect of initial PCP concentration and inoculum size --- p.63 / Chapter 2.5.4.4 --- Study of PCP degradation pathway by isolated bacterium using GC-MS --- p.64 / Chapter 2.6 --- Biodegradation by Fungus Pleurotus pulmonarius --- p.64 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Optimization of PCP degradation by P. pulmonarius --- p.65 / Chapter 2.6.1.1 --- Effect of incubation time --- p.65 / Chapter 2.6.1.2 --- Effect of shaking speed --- p.65 / Chapter 2.6.1.3 --- Effect of initial PCP concentration and inoculum size --- p.65 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Study of PCP degradation pathway by fungus using GC-MS --- p.65 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Specific enzyme assays --- p.66 / Chapter 2.6.3.1 --- Extraction of protein and enzymes --- p.66 / Chapter 2.6.3.2 --- Protein --- p.66 / Chapter 2.6.3.3 --- Laccase --- p.67 / Chapter 2.6.3.4 --- Manganese peroxidase (MnP) --- p.67 / Chapter 2.6.4 --- Microtox® assay --- p.67 / Chapter 2.7 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.68 / Chapter 3. --- Results --- p.69 / Chapter 3.1 --- Physico-chemical Properties of SMC --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2 --- Extraction Efficiency and Desorption Efficiency of PCP --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3 --- Batch Adsorption Experiments --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Optimization of adsorption conditions --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Effect of contact time --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Effect of initial pH --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.1.3 --- Effect of shaking speed --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.1.4 --- Effect of incubation temperature --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.1.5 --- Effect of initial PCP concentration and amount of biosorbent --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Reuse of SMC --- p.83 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Isotherm plot --- p.83 / Chapter 3.4 --- Biodegradation by PCP-degrading Bacterium --- p.86 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Isolation and purification of PCP-tolerant bacteria --- p.86 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Identification of the isolated bacterium --- p.90 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- 16S rDNA sequencing --- p.90 / Chapter 3.4.2.2 --- Gram staining --- p.90 / Chapter 3.4.2.3 --- Biolog MicroPlates Identification System --- p.90 / Chapter 3.4.2.4 --- MIDI Sherlock Microbial Identification System --- p.90 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Growth curve of PCP-degrading bacterium --- p.90 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Optimization of PCP degradation by PCP-degrading bacterium --- p.97 / Chapter 3.4.4.1 --- Effect of incubation time --- p.97 / Chapter 3.4.4.2 --- Effect of shaking speed --- p.97 / Chapter 3.4.4.3 --- Effect of initial PCP concentration and inoculum size of bacterium --- p.101 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Determination of breakdown products of PCP by PCP-degrading bacterium --- p.101 / Chapter 3.5 --- Biodegradation by Fungus Pleurotus pulmonarius --- p.103 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Growth curve of P. pulmonarius --- p.103 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Optimization of PCP degradation by P. pulmonarius --- p.103 / Chapter 3.5.2.1 --- Effect of incubation time --- p.103 / Chapter 3.5.2.2 --- Effect of shaking speed --- p.103 / Chapter 3.5.2.3 --- Effect of initial PCP concentration and inoculum size of fungus --- p.108 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Determination of breakdown products of PCP by P. pulmonarius --- p.108 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Enzyme assays --- p.108 / Chapter 3.6 --- Integration of Biosorption by SMC and Biodegradation by P. pulmonarius --- p.112 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Evaluation of PCP removal by an integration system --- p.112 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Evaluation of toxicity by Micortox® assays --- p.112 / Chapter 4. --- Discussion --- p.115 / Chapter 4.1 --- Physico-chemical Properties of SMC --- p.115 / Chapter 4.2 --- Extraction Efficiency and Desorption Efficiency of PCP --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3 --- Batch Biosorption Experiment --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Effect of contact time --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Effect of initial pH --- p.118 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Effect of shaking speed --- p.120 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Effect of incubation temperature --- p.120 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Effect of initial PCP concentration and amount of biosorbent --- p.121 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Reuse of SMC --- p.122 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Modeling of biosorption --- p.122 / Chapter 4.4 --- Biodegradation of PCP by PCP-degrading Bacterium --- p.124 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Isolation and purification of PCP-tolerant bacterium --- p.124 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Identification of the isolated bacterium --- p.125 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Optimization of PCP degradation by PCP-degrading bacterium --- p.126 / Chapter 4.4.3.1 --- Effect of incubation time --- p.126 / Chapter 4.4.3.2 --- Effect of shaking speed --- p.128 / Chapter 4.4.3.3 --- Effect of initial PCP concentration and inoculum size of bacterium --- p.128 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- PCP degradation pathway by S. marcescens --- p.129 / Chapter 4.5 --- Biodegradation of PCP by Pleurotus pulmonarius --- p.130 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Optimization of PCP degradation by P. pulmonarius --- p.130 / Chapter 4.5.1.1 --- Effect of incubation time --- p.131 / Chapter 4.5.1.2 --- Effect of shaking speed --- p.131 / Chapter 4.5.1.3 --- Effect of initial PCP concentration and inoculum size of fungus --- p.131 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Enzyme activities --- p.132 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- PCP degradation pathway by P. pulmonarius --- p.133 / Chapter 4.6 --- Comparison of PCP Degradation between S.marcescens and P. pulmonarius --- p.133 / Chapter 4.7 --- Integration of Biosorption by SMC and Biodegradation by P. pulmonarius --- p.135 / Chapter 4.8 --- Evaluation of toxicity by Microtox® assay --- p.135 / Chapter 4.9 --- Comparison of PCP Removal by Integration System of Sorption and Fungal Biodegradation and Conventional Treatments --- p.136 / Chapter 4.10 --- Further Investigations --- p.137 / Chapter 5. --- Conclusion --- p.139 / Chapter 6. --- References --- p.142

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As atividades industriais e de mineração, juntamente com o uso inadequado de fertilizantes e pesticidas, tem contribuído para o aumento da contaminação do solo, cursos d\'água e lençol freático por elementos tóxicos. A procura pelo desenvolvimento de soluções tecnológicas tem aumentado para atender à legislação ambiental. Segundo a ABETRE, no Brasil, apenas 22% dos 2,9 milhões de toneladas de resíduos industriais perigosos produzidos nas últimas décadas recebem tratamento adequado, sendo os 78% restantes colocados indevidamente em lixões sem tratamento prévio. Vários métodos de remediação de solos contaminados são conhecidos, entre eles estão o isolamento, imobilização, redução da toxicidade, separação física e extração. Neste contexto, destaca-se a vermicompostagem que utiliza as minhocas para degradar a matéria orgânica recente, tonando-a um material quimicamente mais estabilizado, além de remover os elementos tóxicos do solo acumulando-os em seu organismo. Dentre outros benefícios dessa técnica, destacam-se a manutenção da fertilidade do solo e a grande aceitação pública por ser uma tecnologia verde. Este trabalho tem como objetivo determinar a relação entre as concentrações de elementos tóxicos (Cr, Cu e Pb) com o vermicomposto. É avaliada a adição do material adsorvente aos solos com o intuito de conhecer a capacidade de retenção deste material para posterior descontaminação de solos contaminados. Propriedades químicas, como: pH, teor de matéria orgânica, capacidade de troca catiônica, carbono orgânico total, e físicas: umidade e granulometria são estudadas. Conclui-se com este trabalho que o vermicomposto mostrou-se um excelente material adsorvente para as espécies metálicas estudadas, sendo a ordem de adsorção Pb2+ < Cu2+ < Cr3+. / Industrial and mining activities, as well as the inappropriate use of fertilizers and pesticides, have been contributing to the increase of the contamination of soils, watercourses and water tables by toxic elements. The search for the development of technological solutions has grown to comply with the environment legislation. According to ABETRE, only 22% of 2.9 million of tones of dangerous industrial residues, produced in Brazil, received an appropriate treatment in recent decades. The remaining 78% are thrown in dumps without previous treatment. Many methods of contaminated soil remediation are known, among them isolation, immobilization, toxicity reduction, physical separation and extraction. In this context, it stands out vermicomposting that uses worms to degrade the recent organic matter, which becomes a more chemically stabilized material, and this practice also removes accumulated toxic elements from soil. Among others benefits of this practice there are soil fertility maintenance and the acceptance of people as it is a green technology. This work aims at determining the relation between the concentration of toxic elements (Cr, Cu e Pb) and the vermicompost. The addition of the adsorptive material to soil is assessed by determining the retention capacity of this material for a later decontamination of soils. Both chemical (pH, organic matter content, cationic change capacity and total organic carbon) and physical properties (humidity and granulometry) have been studied. In this study, it was concluded that vermicompost proved to be an excellent adsorbent material to the studied metallic species, and the adsorption order was Pb2+ < Cu2+ < Cr3+.

In 2007, the Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support (SAILS) program was implemented on a small scale at both Chattanooga State Community College (ChSCC) and Cleveland State Community College (CSCC) with the primary focus of implementing college remediation methods with area high school students during their senior year (ChSCC, n.d.). In cooperation with Governor Bill Haslam’s “Drive to 55” initiative within the State of Tennessee, the SAILS program expanded in 2013 to include 13 community colleges across Tennessee and has been touted as a possible solution to reducing the number of incoming college freshman who are required to participate in college remediation (Drive to 55 Alliance, 2016). The purpose of this study was to examine the student enrollments, withdrawals, final grades, and course completions as well as the gender and ethnicity of the SAILS versus Non-SAILS students who enrolled in the Math 1530, Probability and Statistics, course at one of six rural or urban community college campus locations at one community college in East Tennessee. The intent of the study was to provide additional insight regarding whether the SAILS program produces comparable student outcomes when compared to the Non-SAILS program students and whether the SAILS program adequately prepares the high student academically for a college level math course. This study included 833 students (349 SAILS and 484 Non-SAILS) at both rural and urban campus locations enrolled in Math 1530, Probability and Statistics. In general, the SAILS students performed comparably to the Non-SAILS students academically, although the proportion of Non-SAILS students overall tended to be higher in most comparisons. Gender was found not to vary significantly within the SAILS and Non-SAILS students, however race and ethnicity was highly skewed with 95% of students being White-Non-Hispanic. This study provides information regarding the effectiveness of the SAILS program and offers insight into how high school students may perform in a college-level math course upon completion of the SAILS program.

Low-head dams are capable of creating dangerous counter-currents just downstream from the structure. These dangerous counter-currents are known as submerged hydraulic jumps and are responsible for hundreds of fatalities at numerous low-head dams across the United States. The counter-current creates high upstream-directed surface velocities across the width of the channel, making it nearly impossible for an individual to escape. This submerged jump can occur during a range of upstream and downstream conditions. Effective, safe and low-cost remediation options must be explored in order to prevent further fatalities at these structures. This document explores such a remediation option: the Multiple Staggered Deflector Design. This remediation option will disrupt uniform upstream-directed surface velocities across the channel within a submerged jump for nearly all downstream conditions that create a submerged jump for a range of upstream conditions. The dam modification is designed such that an individual will escape the submerged jump without severe injury or harm, while being relatively inexpensive and simple to install.