Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) and its degraded form tertiary-butyl alcohol (TBA) are both known carcinogens that have contaminated groundwater aquifers across the United States. MTBE is a synthesized compound, once widely used as an additive in gasoline to increase oxygenation. Because of its popularity, MTBE was released into the environment primarily through fuel combustion and leaking underground storage tanks. These two compounds are known to be recalcitrant to most conventional physico-chemical treatment methods. Previous studies have suggested that bioremediation is effective at degrading MTBE and TBA in contaminated groundwater. Bioremediation involves the injection of oxygen, nutrients, and pre-adapted bacterial cultures into contaminated groundwater to increase the rate of natural biodegradation. In this study, a historically documented spill in Cambria, CA was modeled employing the Groundwater Modeling System software (GMS) to compare the effectiveness of the baseline treatment approach to that of in-situ bioremediation. MODFLOW was used to simulate groundwater flow, while MT3DMS was used to simulate dispersal and biodegradation of MTBE. Well data from public records was used as comparative values for hydraulic head and MTBE concentrations. Additional information from cleanup reports provided data for the physical properties of the aquifer. This included bedrock elevation, soil types, and storativity. Conductance, recharge rate, and hydraulic conductivity were calibrated using Parameter Estimation Software (PEST). The constants applied in MT3DMS simulations, such as dispersivity values, molecular diffusion coefficients, and retardation factors, were calculated manually using available, semi-empirical approaches. The model was first run emulating bioremediation using a high first order biodegradation rate estimated to be 8.6 day-1. This was compared to an instance of natural attenuation, with a first order biodegradation rate of 0.0074 day-1. The case study investigated herein primarily implemented a pump and treat system relying on granular activated carbon and a series of trickling filters and clarifiers. Pump and treat operations began in 2000 and officially ended by the start of 2015. Even though treatment was terminated, the preliminary remedial goal for MTBE was not achieved. In the model created for this project, the bioremediation simulation predicted attainment of this treatment goal by 2010 after starting treatment in 2002. This increase in predicted removal rate over conventional approaches suggests bioremediation may be a viable and effective treatment technique when removing MTBE from groundwater. This predicted rate of removal suggests that bioremediation is more effective than the techniques used during the Cambria cleanup. It is important to note, there were many assumptions and simplifications made during the creation of the model. This includes the calibrated parameter values obtained from PEST iterations along with calculated parameter estimates regarding MTBE fate and transport. During set up, it was assumed that soil type consisted solely of silty clay and the bedrock layer was at a constant 45 ft below ground level. Additionally, the modeled in-situ bioremediation scenario assumes a best-case scenario, with the high first order biodegradation rate. For future modeling improvements, it is recommended to conduct onsite field testing to obtain degradation rates that more closely reflect rates found in the modeled region. A more complete mapping of the aquifer would also provide the model with increased reliability. Future models should also evaluate additional MTBE spill events and how differing terrains impact the effectiveness of in-situ bioremediation of MTBE.

Cotton absorbents because of their insolubility, create a problem in sewage disposal. As a solution to this problem, the partial oxidation of cotton with oxides of nitrogen to produce a textile which would disintegrate in sewage within a short time, has been investigated. Raw material for the investigation was spooled, size 30, white, cotton thread which had been dried over P₂O₅. Partial oxidation of the thread by WO₂ gas was carried out in a three-necked 500 ml. distillation flask, the thread being wound uniformly on a polystyrene plastic spool. In the experiments conducted, thread was oxidized for two hour periods at 19, 25, and 31°C; the ratios (by weight) of WO₂ gas to cotton were 0.75. 1.50, 3.00 and 4.50. Gas volume was 545 ml. From analysis using Ludtke’s calcium acetate method, the products were found to have carboxyl (-COOH) group contents of 2.30-7.21 percent. In the temperature range of 19-31°C the degree of oxidation of the cotton varied inversely with the temperature. This phenomenon may be explained by a possible equilibrium in the gaseous state of W₂O₄ and W₂O₃, through which atomic oxygen is made available. The products did not disintegrate or lose tensile strength as a result of exposure to raw sewage for one week. Only four of the products could be accurately tested for tensile strength. These showed a lose in strength of approximately 36-47 percent following oxidation. Products of oxidation having carboxyl (-COOH) group contents of 5.7 percent or greater were relatively stiff and hard as compared to those having lesser carboxyl group contents. When dyed with methylene blue, the inner sections of the thread products, which were not readily exposed to the oxides of nitrogen, showed a lesser affinity for the dye than the exposed, outer sections. As a measured with methylene blue dye, the oxidation reaction penetrated to the inner fibers of the thread products only to a limited extent. / M.S.

published_or_final_version / Geography and Geology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Of the organic matter in soils typically < 1% by weight is dissolved in the soil solution (dissolved organic matter; DOM). DOM is a continuum of molecules of various sizes and chemical structures which has largely been operationally defined as the fraction of total organic carbon in an aqueous solution that passes through a 0.45 µm filter. Although only representing a relatively small proportion, it represents the most mobile part of soil organic carbon and is probably enriched with highly labile compounds. DOM acts as a source of nutrients for both soil and aquatic micro-organisms, influences the fate and transport of organic and inorganic contaminants, presents a potential water treatment problem and may indicate the mobilisation rate of key terrestrial carbon stores. The objective of this research was to ascertain some of the biologically relevant characteristics of soil DOM and specifically to determine: (1) the influence of method and time of extraction of DOM from the soil on its biochemical composition and concentration; (2) the dynamics of DOM biodegradation; and, (3) the effects of repeated applications of trace amounts of DOM on the rate of soil carbon mineralization. To examine the influence of method and time of extraction on the composition and concentration of DOM, soil solution was collected from a raised peat bog in Central Scotland using water extraction, field suction lysimetry, and centrifugation techniques on a bimonthly basis over the period of a year (Aug 2003 – Jun 2004). Samples were analysed for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), protein, carbohydrate and amino acid content. For all of the sampled months except June the biochemical composition of DOC varied with extraction method, suggesting the biological, chemical and/or physical influences on DOC production and loss are different within the differently sized soil pores. Water-extractable DOC generally contained the greatest proportion of carbohydrate, protein and/or amino acid of the three extraction methods. Time of extraction had a significant effect on the composition of water- and suction-extracted DOC: the total % carbohydrate + protein + amino acid C was significantly higher in Oct than Dec, Feb and Jun for water-extracted DOC and significantly greater in Dec than Aug, Apr and Jun for suction-extracted DOC. There was no significant change in the total % carbohydrate + protein + amino acid C of centrifuge-extracted DOC during the sampled year. Time of extraction also had a significant effect on the % protein + amino acid N in water- and centrifuge-extracted DON: Oct levels were significantly higher than Feb for water-extracted DON and significantly higher in Aug and Apr for centrifuge-extracted DON. Concentrations of total DOC and total DON were also found to be dependent on time of extraction. DOC concentrations showed a similar pattern of variation over the year for all methods of extraction, with concentrations relatively constant for most of the year, rising in April to reach a peak in Jun. DON concentrations in water- and centrifuge-extracted DON peaked later, in Aug. There were no significant seasonal changes in the concentration of suction-extracted DON. A lack of correlation between DOC and DON concentrations suggested that DOC and DON production and/or loss are under different controls. Laboratory-based incubation experiments were carried out to examine the dynamics of DOC biodegradation. Over a 70 day incubation period at 20oC, the DOM from two types of peat (raised and blanket) and four samples of a mineral soil (calcaric gleysol), each previously exposed to a different management strategy, were found to be comprised of a rapidly degradable pools (half-life: 3 – 8 days) and a more stable pool (half-life: 0.4 to 6 years). For all soil types/treatments, excepting raised peat, the total net loss of DOC from the culture medium was greater than could be accounted for by the process of mineralization alone. A comparison between net loss of DOC and loss of DOC to CO2 and microbial biomass determined by direct microscopy suggested that at least some of the differences between DOC mineralised and net DOC loss were due to microbial assimilation and release. Changes in the microbial biomass during the decomposition process showed proliferation followed by decline over 15 days. The protein and carbohydrate fractions showed a complex pattern of both degradation and production throughout the incubation. The effects of repeated applications of trace amounts of litter-derived DOC on the rate of carbon mineralization over a 35 day period were investigated in a laboratory based incubation experiment. The addition of trace amounts of litter-derived DOC every 7 and 10.5 days appeared to ‘trigger’ microbial activity causing an increase in CO2 mineralisation such that extra C mineralised exceeded DOC additions by more than 2 fold. Acceleration in the rate of extra C mineralised 7 days after the second addition suggested that either the microbial production of enzymes responsible for biodegradation and/or an increase in microbial biomass, are only initiated once a critical concentration of a specific substrate or substrates has been achieved. The addition of ‘DOC + nutrients’ every 3.5 days had no effect on the total rate of mineralization. To date DOC has tended to be operationally defined according to its chemical and physical properties. An understanding of the composition, production and loss of DOC from a biological perspective is essential if we are to be able to predict the effects of environmental change on the rate of mineralization of soil organic matter. This research has shown that the pools of DOC extracted, using three different methods commonly used in current research, are biochemically distinct and respond differently to the seasons. This suggests some degree of compartmentalisation of biological processes within the soil matrix. The observed similarities between the characteristics of the decomposition dynamics of both peatland and agricultural DOC suggests that either there is little difference in substrate quality between the two systems or that the microbial community have adapted in each case to maximise their utilisation of the available substrate. The dependency of the concentration and biochemical composition of DOC on the seasons requires further work to ascertain which biotic and/or abiotic factors are exerting control. Published research has focussed on factors such as temperature, wet/dry cycles, and freeze/thawing. The effect of the frequency of doses of trace amounts of DOC on increasing the rate of soil organic C mineralization, evident from this research, suggests that the interval between periods of rainfall may be relevant. It also emphasises how it can be useful to use knowledge of a biological process as the starting point in determining which factors may be exerting control on DOC production and loss.

Past operational practices at chemical manufacturing facilities and widespread use of synthetic chemicals in agriculture, industry, and military operations have introduced many anthropogenic compounds to the biosphere. Some of them are readily biodegradable as a likely consequence of bacterial evolution of efficient degradation pathways, whereas others are partially degraded or persistent in the environment. Insight about biodegradation mechanisms and distribution of bacteria responsible provide the basis to predict the fate of synthetic chemicals in the environment and to enable bioremediation. The main focus of the research described here encompasses basic science to discover pathways and evolutionary implications of aerobic biodegradation of two specific synthetic chemicals, cis-dichloroethene (cDCE) and diphenylamine (DPA). cDCE is a suspected carcinogen that frequently accumulates due to transformation of perchloroethene and trichloroethene at many contaminated sites. Polaromonas sp. strain JS666 is the only isolate able to use cDCE as the growth substrate, but the degradation mechanism was unknown. In this study, the degradation pathway of cDCE by strain JS666 and the genes involved were determined by using heterologous gene expression, inhibition studies, enzyme assays, and analysis of intermediates. The requirement of oxygen for cDCE degradation and inhibition of cDCE degradation by cytochrome P450 specific inhibitors suggested that cytochrome P450 monooxygenase catalyzes the initial steps of cDCE degradation. The finding was supported by the observation that an E. coli recombinant expressing cytochrome P450 monooxygenase catalyzes the transformation of cDCE to dichloroacetaldehyde and small amounts of the epoxide. Both the transient accumulation of dichloroacetaldehyde in cDCE degrading cultures and dichloroacetaldehyde dehydrogenase activities in cell extracts of JS666 further support a pathway involving the degradation of cDCE through dichloroacetaldehyde. Molecular phylogeny of the cytochrome P450 gene and organization of neighboring genes suggest that the cDCE degradation pathway evolved in a progenitor capable of degrading dichloroacetaldehyde by the recruitment of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase gene from alkane assimilating bacteria. The discovery provides insight about the evolution of the aerobic cDCE biodegradation pathway and sets the stage for field applications. DPA has been widely used as a precursor of dyes, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and photographic chemicals and as a stabilizer for explosives, but little was known about the biodegradation of the compound. Therefore, bacteria able to use DPA as the growth substrate were isolated by selective enrichment from DPA-contaminated sediment and the degradation pathway and the genes that encode the enzymes were elucidated. Transposon mutagenesis, the sequence similarity of putative open reading frames to those of well characterized dioxygenases, and 18O2 experiments support the conclusion that the initial reaction in DPA degradation is catalyzed by a multi-component ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase. Aniline and catechol produced from the initial reaction of DPA degradation are then completely degraded via the common aniline degradation pathway. Molecular phylogeny and organization of the genes involved were investigated to provide insight about the evolution of DPA biodegradation. The fate and transport of toxic chemicals are of a great concern at several historically contaminated sites where anoxic contaminant plumes emerge into water bodies. The release of toxic chemicals to overlying water poses a potential source of environmental exposure. Bench scale studies were conducted to evaluate the impact of biodegradation on the transport of toxic chemicals across the sediment/water interface. These studies demonstrated that substantial populations of bacteria associated with organic detritus at the interface rapidly biodegrade toxic chemicals as they migrate from contaminated sediment to overlying water, suggesting that the natural attenuation processes serve as a remedial strategy for contaminated sediments and protect the overlying water.

Numerous organic reagents of diverse structural composition are employed in the froth flotation process for the beneficiation of non-metallic and sulphide ores. Alkyl xanthates are used as collectors for sulphide ores while amines and fatty acids are used for non-metallic ore beneficiation. Although these collector reagents react preferentially with the concerned minerals in the treated ore pulp, excess and unreacted concentration of these organic collectors end up in the mill process effluents. It has been known that even small concentrations of these organic reagents in water streams are toxic to water life, besides their deleterious influence on end stream processes during recycling. Bioremediation has long been recognised as an inexpensive, flexible and environmentally benign technique for waste water treatment. These organic flotation reagents are amenable to biological degradation. The major objective of this work is the degradation of solubilized collector reagents from aqueous solutions using a microbial technique. Bacillus polymyxa, a Gram-positive, neutrophilic, periflagellated heterotroph that occurs indigenously in soils and certain mineral deposits has been used in the bioremediation studies. Organic flotation reagents namely, dodecyl ammonium acetate (DAA), which is used as a collector for oxides and silicates, sodium isopropylxanthate which finds application in sulphide flotation and sodium oleate, mainly used for oxide and salt-type minerals, have been chosen for the degradation studies. Pure minerals of galena, pyrite, magnetite, quartz and calcite have been typically selected for these investigations. The growth of Bacillus polymyxa in the presence of these organic reagents at different concentrations has been assessed and the degradation of these reagents monitored. Attempts have been made to grow the bacterium in the presence of the organic reagents, both in the absence and presence of sucrose, by adaptation technique. Electrokinetic studies on the chosen minerals namely, galena, pyrite, quartz, calcite and magnetite have been carried out both in the presence of the organic reagents and Bacillus polymyxa cells or metabolite. Biological stripping of the adsorbed collector reagents from the mineral surfaces have been examined through FTIR spectroscopy. The progress of bioremoval of the organic reagents along with the generation of newer reaction products has also been monitored through uv-visible spectroscopic technique. The results of this study highlight that Bacillus polymyxa and its metabolic products bring about the degradation of the chosen organic flotation collectors. Further, the bacteria are able to utilise the collector reagents as carbon source for their growth, in the absence of added organic carbon (sucrose). Electrokinetic studies and examination by FTIR spectroscopy reveal that consequent to interaction with Bacillus polymyxa, significant surface modification on the mineral takes place. Probable mechanisms in the biodegradation processes are illustrated. Biological metabolic products responsible for bringing about the bio-deterioration have been analysed and characterised.

Uma Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto (ETE) é composta por equipamentos que são severamente afetados pelos fenômenos de corrosão e de degradação dos materiais. Isto se deve ao ambiente no qual estão inseridos, onde há vasta quantidade de contaminantes presentes nas águas residuárias. O entendimento destes processos de deterioração dos materiais, que compõem os equipamentos, e relacioná-los com águas residuárias representam um avanço tecnológico na área. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho buscou estudar os materiais empregados em um equipamento mecânico e utilizados nas ETEs, o distribuidor rotativo do Filtro Biológico Aeróbio Percolador (FBP). Os materiais que costumeiramente fazem parte do equipamento estudado para analisar a deterioração foram: aço carbono 1010, aço inox, aço galvanizado e Policloreto de Vinila Clorado (CPVC). Os corpos de prova (Cps) foram confeccionados e posteriormente instalados nas estações junto ao filtro biológico e em determinado período foram retirados e analisadas suas perdas de massa e consequente taxa de corrosão. Os Cps foram investigados em Microscópio Eletrônico de Varredura (MEV) e a sua composição por Espectroscopia de Energia Dispersiva (EDS). A crosta de lodo que se formou na superfície dos Cps foi avaliada pela técnica de Difração de Raio X (DRX) e Fluorescência de Raio X (FRX), visando identificar os principais agentes deteriorantes que atuam na corrosão do material. Para avaliar o polímero adotou-se a técnica de Espectroscopia de Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier (FTIR). A Microdureza Vickers (HV) foi utilizada para avaliar a resistência mecânica dos materiais metálicos na sua secção transversal. Os resultados mostraram que o aço galvanizado perdeu sua camada protetora, já o aço carbono 1010 teve como característica gerar muitas incrustações irregulares, o aço inox 304 apresentou pequena perda de massa inicial e se manteve estável quando comparado com os outros metais e o CPVC apresentou quebras em suas ligações devido à radiação UV. A opção sugerida seria combinar as propriedades mecânicas do aço inox 304 com a resistência à corrosão do CPVC. A combinação destes dois materiais na concepção de novos projetos teria o propósito de elevar a vida útil dos equipamentos utilizados em ETEs, propiciando inovação e evolução tecnológica necessárias neste setor. / A Sewer Treatment Station is a site severely affected by the phenomena of corrosion and degradation of the materials, due to the environment in which it is inserted and to the vast amount, of contaminants present in the wastewater. The understanding of these processes of deterioration of materials and relating them to wastewater represent a technological advance in the area. In this sense, the present work sought to study the materials used in a mechanical equipment used in Sewer Treatment Stations, the rotary distributor of the aerobic percolator biological filter. The materials studied to analyze the deterioration were: 1010 carbon steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel and CPVC. The samples were installed at the stations next to the biological filter and in a certain period of time they were removed and analyzed their mass losses with chemical cleaning. The surface layer was visualized by scanning electron microscope and its composition by X-ray spectroscopy by dispersion in energy. The sludge crust that formed on the surface of the samples was evaluated by the X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence technique, in order to identify the main deteriorating agents that act on the corrosion of the material. To evaluate the polymer the Fourier, transform infrared spectroscopy technique was adopted. The Vickers micro hardness was used to evaluate the mechanical resistivity of the metallic materials in their cross-section. The results showed that the galvanized steel loses its protective layer, the 1010 carbon steel has the characteristics of generating many irregular incrustations, the 304 stainless steel presented small loss of initial mass and remained stable compared to other metals and the CPVC presented breaks in its connections due UV radiation. The option would be to combine the mechanical properties of 304 stainless steel with the corrosion resistance of CPVC. The combination of these materials in the design of new projects has been the purpose of increasing the useful life of the equipment used in ETEs, providing the necessary technological innovation and evolution in this sector.

Uma Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto (ETE) é composta por equipamentos que são severamente afetados pelos fenômenos de corrosão e de degradação dos materiais. Isto se deve ao ambiente no qual estão inseridos, onde há vasta quantidade de contaminantes presentes nas águas residuárias. O entendimento destes processos de deterioração dos materiais, que compõem os equipamentos, e relacioná-los com águas residuárias representam um avanço tecnológico na área. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho buscou estudar os materiais empregados em um equipamento mecânico e utilizados nas ETEs, o distribuidor rotativo do Filtro Biológico Aeróbio Percolador (FBP). Os materiais que costumeiramente fazem parte do equipamento estudado para analisar a deterioração foram: aço carbono 1010, aço inox, aço galvanizado e Policloreto de Vinila Clorado (CPVC). Os corpos de prova (Cps) foram confeccionados e posteriormente instalados nas estações junto ao filtro biológico e em determinado período foram retirados e analisadas suas perdas de massa e consequente taxa de corrosão. Os Cps foram investigados em Microscópio Eletrônico de Varredura (MEV) e a sua composição por Espectroscopia de Energia Dispersiva (EDS). A crosta de lodo que se formou na superfície dos Cps foi avaliada pela técnica de Difração de Raio X (DRX) e Fluorescência de Raio X (FRX), visando identificar os principais agentes deteriorantes que atuam na corrosão do material. Para avaliar o polímero adotou-se a técnica de Espectroscopia de Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier (FTIR). A Microdureza Vickers (HV) foi utilizada para avaliar a resistência mecânica dos materiais metálicos na sua secção transversal. Os resultados mostraram que o aço galvanizado perdeu sua camada protetora, já o aço carbono 1010 teve como característica gerar muitas incrustações irregulares, o aço inox 304 apresentou pequena perda de massa inicial e se manteve estável quando comparado com os outros metais e o CPVC apresentou quebras em suas ligações devido à radiação UV. A opção sugerida seria combinar as propriedades mecânicas do aço inox 304 com a resistência à corrosão do CPVC. A combinação destes dois materiais na concepção de novos projetos teria o propósito de elevar a vida útil dos equipamentos utilizados em ETEs, propiciando inovação e evolução tecnológica necessárias neste setor. / A Sewer Treatment Station is a site severely affected by the phenomena of corrosion and degradation of the materials, due to the environment in which it is inserted and to the vast amount, of contaminants present in the wastewater. The understanding of these processes of deterioration of materials and relating them to wastewater represent a technological advance in the area. In this sense, the present work sought to study the materials used in a mechanical equipment used in Sewer Treatment Stations, the rotary distributor of the aerobic percolator biological filter. The materials studied to analyze the deterioration were: 1010 carbon steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel and CPVC. The samples were installed at the stations next to the biological filter and in a certain period of time they were removed and analyzed their mass losses with chemical cleaning. The surface layer was visualized by scanning electron microscope and its composition by X-ray spectroscopy by dispersion in energy. The sludge crust that formed on the surface of the samples was evaluated by the X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence technique, in order to identify the main deteriorating agents that act on the corrosion of the material. To evaluate the polymer the Fourier, transform infrared spectroscopy technique was adopted. The Vickers micro hardness was used to evaluate the mechanical resistivity of the metallic materials in their cross-section. The results showed that the galvanized steel loses its protective layer, the 1010 carbon steel has the characteristics of generating many irregular incrustations, the 304 stainless steel presented small loss of initial mass and remained stable compared to other metals and the CPVC presented breaks in its connections due UV radiation. The option would be to combine the mechanical properties of 304 stainless steel with the corrosion resistance of CPVC. The combination of these materials in the design of new projects has been the purpose of increasing the useful life of the equipment used in ETEs, providing the necessary technological innovation and evolution in this sector.

The cellulosome is a multimeric enzyme complex that has the ability to metabolise a wide variety of carbonaceous compounds. Cellulosomal composition may vary according to the microbe’s nutritional requirement and allows for the anaerobic degradation of complex substrates. The complex substrates of interest in this research study were sugarcane bagasse and pineapple fibre waste, as they represent two important lignocellulosic, South African agricultural crops. The effective degradation of complex plant biomass wastes may present a valuable source of renewable compounds for the production of a variety of biofuels, for example bioethanol, and a variety of biocomposites of industrial importance. The identification of renewable energy sources for the production of biofuels is becoming increasingly important, as a result of the rapid depletion of the fossil fuels that are traditionally used as energy sources. An effective means of completely degrading lignocellulose biomass still remains elusive due to the complex heterogeneity of the substrate structure, and the fact that the effective degradation of the substrate requires a consortium of enzymes. The cellulosome not only provides a variety of enzymes with varying specificities, but also promote a close proximity between the catalytic components (enzymes). The close proximity between the enzymes promotes the synergistic degradation of complex plant biomass for the production of valuable energy products. Previous synergy studies have focused predominantly on the synergistic associations between cellulases; however, the synergy between hemicellulases has occasionally been documented. This research project established the synergistic associations between two Clostridium cellulovorans hemicellulases that may be incorporated into the cellulosome and a cellulosomal endoglucanase that is conserved in all cellulosomes. This research study indicated that there was indeed a synergistic degradation of the complex plant biomass (sugarcane bagasse and pineapple fibre). The degrees of synergy and the ratio of the enzymes varied between the two complex substrates. The initial degradation of the bagasse required the presence of all the enzymes and proceeded at an enhanced rate under sulphidogenic conditions; however, there was a low production of fermentable sugars. The low quantity of fermentable sugars produced by the degradation of the bagasse may be related to the chemical composition of the substrate. The sugarcane contains a high percentage of lignin forming a protective layer around the holocellulose, thus the glycosidic bonds are shielded extensively from enzymatic attack. In comparison, the initial degradation of the pineapple fibre required the action of hemicellulases, and proceeded at an enhanced rate under sulphidogenic conditions. The initial degradation of the pineapple fibre produced a substantially larger quantity of fermentable sugars in comparison to the bagasse. The higher production of fermentable sugars from the degradation of the pineapple fibre may be explained by the fact that this substrate may have a lower percentage of lignin than the bagasse, thus allowing a larger percentage of the glycosidic bonds to be exposed to enzymatic attack. The data obtained also indicated that the glycosidic bonds from the hemicellulosic components of the pineapple fibre shielded the glycosidic bonds of the cellulose component. The identification of the chemical components of the different substrates may allow for the initial development of an ideal enzyme complex (designer cellulosome) with enzymes in an ideal ratio with optimal synergy that will effectively degrade the complex plant biomass substrate.

This thesis covers the design of an automated multiunit composting system (AMUCS) that was constructed to meet the experimental apparatus requirements of the ASTM D5338 standard. The design of the AMUCS is discussed in full detail and validated with two experiments. The first experiment was used to validate the operation of the AMUCS with a 15 day experiment. During this experiment visual observations were made to visually observe degradation. Thermal properties and stability tests were performed to quantify the effects of degradation on the polymer samples, and the carbon metabolized from the degradation of samples was measured. The second experiment used the AMUCS to determine the effect of synthetic clay nanofiller on the aerobic biodegradability behavior of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate).