Natural bone is a composite of collagen based hydrogel and inorganic dahilite crystals. The unusual combination of a hard inorganic material and an underlying elastic hydrogel network endows native bone with unique mechanical properties, such as low stiffness, resistance to tensile and compressive forces and high fracture toughness. Throughout the cavities of the bone, there are bone cells and myriads of soluble and extracellular matrix components that are constantly involved in the bone formation and remodeling process. Among the extra cellular component the acidic matrix proteins that are attached to the collagen scaffold play important templating and inhibitory roles during the mineralization process. It would be interesting to generate such functional scaffolds that mimic a template driven mineralization and which can assist cell adhesion, proliferation, migration and differentiation. Towards this direction, we have chosen one synthetic (Nylon 66 membrane) and one natural (eggshell membrane) scaffold and carried out a template driven mineralization of CaCO₃ as model systems. The surface modifications were carried out by the pre-adsorption of acidic polymers before the deposition of the CaCO₃. The deposition of the crystalline calcium carbonate on these modified templates were archived from a supersaturated solution of Ca(HCO₃)₂. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

The main project Dry preservation of source-separated organic household wastes involves a new technique for treatment of biowaste through drying. Investigations are going on to determine how the dried biowaste best can be used to close the natural circular flow of nutrients. The objective of this degree project is to determine if the dried biowaste can be used as a soil conditioner. By restoring the nutrients in the material to the ground, the natural circular flow is closed. A declaration of contents, including the nutrient levels, C/N ratio, pH and the electrical conductivity of the dried biowaste, was constructed and a germination test was done to make sure that the material did not inhibit sprouting. Further on a method was developed to study the decomposition process, and in particular the nitrogen mineralization of the dried biowaste. This method was then used practically. The results of this degree project indicate that the decomposition capacity of the dried biowaste is very good. The germination test showed that the material in a diluted form (up to 50 % dried biowaste) did not inhibit sprouting. The examination of the nitrogen mineralization showed a fast liberalisation of nutrients available to plants, with only a shorter period of nitrogen immobilization. Together these results imply that the dried material could function well as a soil conditioner. / Projektet Torrkonservering av matavfall från hushåll innefattar en helt ny teknik för behandling av bioavfall genom torkning. Undersökningar pågår angående hur det torkade bioavfallet bäst kan användas för att sluta det naturliga kretsloppet. Examensarbetets huvudsyfte var, som ett led i dessa undersökningar, att utreda om det torkade bioavfallet kan användas som ett jordförbättringsmedel. Genom att tillföra bioavfallet till jord så återförs näringen i materialet till marken och kretsloppet sluts. En varudeklaration, med materialets näringshalter, C/N-kvot, pH och elektrisk konduktivitet, togs fram och ett groningstest utfördes för att kontrollera att bioavfallet inte var groningshämmande. Vidare utvecklades en metod för att studera det torkade bioavfallets nedbrytningsegenskaper i form av dess kvävemineralisering. Denna metod användes därefter praktiskt. Resultatet av detta examensarbete tyder på att torkat bioavfall har mycket goda nedbrytningsegenskaper. Groningsförsöket visade att materialet i utspädd form (upp till 50 % torkat bioavfall) inte är groningshämmande, och mineraliseringsförsöket visade på en snabb frigörelse av växttillgängligt kväve, och en immobiliseringsperiod på ett par veckor. Tillsammans indikerar dessa resultat att det torkade materialet kan fungera väl som ett jordförbättringsmedel.

This investigation tested simulated saline lake environments as mineralization sites for sequestering anthropogenic CO2. Four unique saline lakes were simulated in the laboratory. Two sets of experiments were conducted by diffusing CO2(g) through each simulated lake over 30 days. The first set tested the carbonate system response to elevated CO2(g). The second set of experiments replicated the same process but used ammonium hydroxide to elevate pH. Water samples were collected daily to test for cation loss via mineralization. Rapid mineralization occurred with the pH enhancer and cation activity was greatly reduced by as much as 38,000 mg/L Ca due to precipitation. This resulted in a mass of 100,000 mg/L of CO2 being sequestered via Ca and Mg-carbonate mineralization. With proper geochemical conditions, saline lake environments can therefore potentially serve a purpose in sequestering CO2(g).

This thesis study is concerned with genetical investigation of Balikesir Balya Pb-Zn mineralization through the mineralogic-petrographic and geochemical examination of the core samples obtained from a total of 9 holes drilled by EczacibaSi ESAN Madencilik. The Pb-Zn mineralization in Balya is mainly of vein-type. Wall rocks hosting mineralizations are dacite, dacite porphyry and microdiorite. Major types of alteration are silicification, carbonatization and calc-silicate alteration, each of which is further subdivided into early and late stages and overprinted by argillic alteration of probable supergene origin. The ore minerals are mainly Zn- and Pb-sulphides and are hosted by the rocks with late calc-silicate alteration that underwent pervasive late silicification and late carbonatization. Sulfide mineralization is spatially and temporally associated with the late silicification and carbonatization stages. Lateral-vertical correlation of drill logs suggest that thickness of the ore zone tends to decrease towards north. The volcanic rocks hosting the mineralization have calc-alkaline nature. Major, trace and rare earth element (REE) geochemistry suggests either crustal contamination or subduction signature in the mantle source of the volcanics. Multi element patterns and discrimination diagrams collectively point to a post-collisional setting for their generation. Alteration geochemistry reveals that Fe2O3 and CaO are enriched during calc-silicate alteration in contrast to depletion of SiO2. Al2O3 and TiO2 are almost constant during late calc-silicate alteration. Enrichment of Fe2O3 and Na2O, and depletion of K2O characterize the silicified zones. Carbonatization is accompanied by strong enrichment of CaO and depletion of SiO2, Al2O3 and K2O.

Mineralization has the potential to capture CO₂. In nature, mineralization is the chemical weathering of alkaline-earth minerals in which stable carbonate minerals are formed, which leads to the removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere. The adsorptive carbonation reaction of olivine ((Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄)), consisting mainly of pure magnesium silicate (Mg₂SiO₄), a main constituent of the Earth’s crust, was carried out to estimate its potential application to the separation of CO₂ in the presence of water vapor in combustion plumes. Based on the thermodynamics for a basis of the reaction mechanism, the olivine carbonation reaction is thermodynamically favorable. Water vapor was found to play an important role in improving the carbonation rate, and experimental results revealed that carbon dioxide carbon dioxide can bind into olivine minerals to form highly stable surface carbonates. The reaction activity of olivine and pure Mg₂SiO₄ in the presence/absence of water vapor was carried out by varying the temperature, reactant concentrations, and space time. Based on changes in CO₂ concentration with time, the reaction kinetic model of pure Mg₂SiO₄carbonation was developed. The reaction order was found to be approximately 1 for CO₂. The activation energy derived for the Arrhenius equation of Mg₂SiO₄-based carbonation is 76.2 ± 4.8 kJ/mol based on the changes in the reaction rates with temperature in the range of 150-200°C. To investigate the molecular reaction mechanism of CO₂ adsorption on the metal oxide surface, forming carbonates, we performed the quantum mechanical calculation of CO₂ adsorption on a CaO (100) surface. It shows that CO₂ molecules strongly react with the CaO surface due to its high reactivity and high basicity. Consequently, this study will basically lay the groundwork for the chemical mechanism of mineral carbonation of olivine with carbon dioxide in the presence of water vapor and as provide relevant information for the practical application of CO₂ sequestration by stable adsorption on mineral silicates.

Nitroglycerin (NG) is a toxic explosive commonly found in soil and contaminated groundwater at old manufacturing plants and military ranges. When NG enters an aquifer, it behaves as a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL). Nitroglycerin is an impact sensitive explosive and therefore excavating the area to remove or treat the contaminant can be dangerous. In situ bioremediation and natural attenuation of NG have been proposed as remediation alternatives and it is therefore necessary to understand the degradation mechanisms of NG in contaminated soil and groundwater and investigate the potential for using bioremediation at contaminated sites. Many bacteria have been isolated for the ability to transform NG as a source of nitrogen, but no isolates have used NG as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. We isolated Arthrobacter JBH1 from NG contaminated soil by selective enrichment with NG as the sole growth substrate. The degradation pathway involves a sequential denitration to 1,2-dinitroglycerin (DNG) and 1-mononitroglycerin (MNG) with simultaneous release of nitrite. Flavoproteins of the Old Yellow Enzyme (OYE) family capable of removing the first and second nitro groups from NG have been studied in the past and we identified an OYE homolog in JBH1 capable of selectively producing the 1 MNG intermediate. To our knowledge, there is no previous report on enzymes capable transforming MNG. Here we show evidence that a glycerol kinase homolog in JBH1 is capable of transforming 1 MNG into 1-nitro-3-phosphoglycerol, which could be later introduced into a widespread pathway, where the last nitro group is removed. Overall, NG is converted to CO2 and biomass and some of the nitrite released during denitration is incorporated into biomass as well. As a result, NG can be now considered a growth substrate, which changes the potential to bioremediate NG contaminated sites. The magnitude of the effect of biodegradation processes in the fate of NG in porous systems was unknown, and we have been able to quantify these effects, determine degradation rates, and have evidence that bioaugmentation with Arthrobacter sp. strain JBH1 could result in complete mineralization in contaminated soil and sediments contaminated with NG, without the addition of other carbon sources. Site specific conditions have the potential to affect NG degradation rates in situ. Experiments were conducted to investigate NG degradation at various pH values and NG concentrations, and the effects of common co-contaminants on NG degradation rates. Arthrobacter JBH1 was capable of growing on NG at pH values as low as 5.1 and NG concentrations as high as 1.2 mM. The presence of explosive co-contaminants at the site such as trinitrotoluene and 2,4-dinitrotoluene lowered NG degradation rates, and could potentially result in NG recalcitrance. Collectively, these results provide the basis for NG bioremediation and natural attenuation at sites contaminated with NG without the addition of other sources of carbon. Nonetheless, careful attention should be paid to site-specific conditions that can affect degradation rates.

Reclamation success is highly dependent upon final soil quality of stockpiled soils, such as those found Cold Lake Oil Sands Region. Stockpiled soils, however, are generally poor in quality. Soils were amended with, biochar (BC), humalite (HU), a sub-bituminous coal; and peat (PT), as well as 50:50 blends of biochar:humalite (BCH) and biochar:peat (BCP). These amendments were applied at rates of 0, 6.55, 13.1 and 26.2 g C kg-1 each. Biochar, PT, and BCP applied at the rate of 26.2 g C kg-1 were found to reduce N2O emissions by 34, 54, and 70%, respectively, relative to the control. Within the bioassay, BC and PT amendment resulted in a 38 and 40% increase in dry matter yield (DMY) respectively. Finally, amendment typically resulted in significant net decreases in Olsen P values, while nitrate and ammonium concentrations were high in PT amended soils. In general, PT had the best overall performance. / October 2015

Increased adoption of compost bedded pack dairy barns (CBP), a relatively new housing and manure handling strategy, warrants study to facilitate proper use of CBP waste as a soil amendment. This study: 1) characterized in situ nutrient content and availability of CBP waste in terms of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P); 2) examined the decomposition of surface-applied CBP waste compared to an alternative processed solid waste amendment; 3) examined nutrient dynamics of incorporated CBP waste in high and low soil test phosphorus (STP) environments. Quick anaerobic mineralization assays revealed that bed management affects nutrient content and availability of CBP waste. A Fall surface-applied litter bag study showed that different particle sizes of CBP waste and a biosolid decomposed at similar rates. The biosolid had greater nutrient density and availability, but the decomposition was similar to CBP waste in terms of mineralization dynamics. Aerobic mineralization of CBP waste in high and low STP soils amended on a uniform P basis was compared with fresh manure. In general, CBP increased STP more and yielded more plant available P than fresh manure. These studies provide recommendations for CBP management and further study to ensure the proper land application of CBP waste.

Replacing a diseased disc with a tissue engineered disc has the potential to restore normal spinal biomechanics. However, recreating the interface between annulus fibrosus (AF) and vertebral bone (VB) will be necessary to facilitate proper function of the implant in vivo. This study characterizes the native bovine AF-VB interface and assesses adult human discs. The AF insertion site in humans and cows is uniquely differentiated from other soft tissue-bone interfaces, as AF collagen fibers anchor into the calcified region of vertebral endplate through a zone of hyaline cartilage and have a different organization in inner and outer AF. Mineralization-associated proteins are present in this region and the chondroid tissue undergoes calcification over time. Based on these observations an in vitro AF culture system was developed and demonstrated that AF cells can induce mineralization. Understanding mechanism(s) regulating AF mineralization will help develop conditions to ensure proper integration of bioengineered AF.

Replacing a diseased disc with a tissue engineered disc has the potential to restore normal spinal biomechanics. However, recreating the interface between annulus fibrosus (AF) and vertebral bone (VB) will be necessary to facilitate proper function of the implant in vivo. This study characterizes the native bovine AF-VB interface and assesses adult human discs. The AF insertion site in humans and cows is uniquely differentiated from other soft tissue-bone interfaces, as AF collagen fibers anchor into the calcified region of vertebral endplate through a zone of hyaline cartilage and have a different organization in inner and outer AF. Mineralization-associated proteins are present in this region and the chondroid tissue undergoes calcification over time. Based on these observations an in vitro AF culture system was developed and demonstrated that AF cells can induce mineralization. Understanding mechanism(s) regulating AF mineralization will help develop conditions to ensure proper integration of bioengineered AF.