Traditional remediation techniques in removing toxic metal contaminants using physical and chemical methods are expensive and may cause other forms of damage to the environment, comparing with these techniques bioremediation can serve as an inexpensive, effective and environmental friendly remediation method. This thesis mainly discusses different bioremediation techniques and identifies possible areas in Hong Kong for bioremediation and suggests bioremediation methods for each potential area. Bioremediation of toxic metals is the use of microorganisms, plants, or even larger sized organisms to decontaminate sites with toxic metals. Bioremediation includes phytoremediation, microremediation and vermiremediation which use plants, microorganisms and earthworms to remediate contaminated environments respectively. The 4 most common mechanisms in phytoremediation of toxic metals are phytoextraction, phytofiltration, phytovolatilization and phytostabilization. Phytoremediation are used frequently for remediation around the world and its development includes using well-understood technology and genetic engineering to increase its effectiveness. Microremediation is another promising technology in bioremediation of toxic metals and consists of 6 major mechanisms which are biosorption, bioaccumulation, biotransformation, bioleaching, biomineralization and microbially-enhanced chemisorption of metals. Microremediation is mainly in research phase and its development includes identifying new species, combining with phytoremediation and genetic engineering. Vermiremediation is another rapidly developing technique in bioremediation of toxic metals, assisting other bioremediation by burrowing actions of earthworms and its excretion, and accumulating toxic metals inside their bodies. Vermiremediation is also in research phase but it is rapidly developing. Generally, bioremediation is around 60% cheaper than traditional remediation methods and no pollutants are emitted during the process. However the remediation process is slow and generally takes longer than a year. Sources of toxic metals in contaminated areas in Hong Kong are mainly due to historic industrial discharge although present activities also contribute. Potential areas include sites for electronic waste activities, sediments of Kwun Tong typhoon shelter and sediments of Tolo Harbour. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

This research project examines the application of mineral magnetic techniques to the characterisation of particulates and their sources in the urban highway environment and in stormwater runoff. A review of previous investigations into sources, levels and pathways of metals through the urban highway environment is presented. The principles upon which the mineral magnetic techniques are based and those parameters employed in this study are described. Previous environmental applications are reviewed. A representative sampling scheme was established in a small well-defined sub-catchment. Copper, Fe, Pb and Zn concentrations in highway associated sediments increased with proximity to the road centre and seasonal maxima occurred in summer. Heavy metal loadings were dominated by the sediment loadings. Strong linear relationships between the metals, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn, and magnetic mineral concentration related parameters, X and IRM3oomT, were observed. Mineral magnetic characterisation achieved complete discrimination between highway associated sediments and roof sediments allowing the derivation of equations defining the sediment groupings. Variations in metal-magnetic properties of sediments with particle size ,were investigated. Primary source materials and particulates were analysed. Metallic and magnetic mineral parameters indicated that atmospheric and vehicle derived· particulates were probably the dominant origins of source particulates. The variation of particulate associated heavy metals in stormwater runoff at the sub-catchment is discussed. Mineral magnetic parameters characterised the majority of stormwater particulates with the roof sediment grouping. The implications of these investigations is discussed. The study was expanded to encompass the parent c~tchment. The characterisation of source sediments from land use and road types other than that· represented by the sub-catchment was carried out. Stormwater particulates collected at the main catchment'· outfall were found to be generally characterised with soil and roof sediment groupings. The further application and use of mineral magnetic parameters in similar research is discussed.

No description available.

Discharge of untreated industrial effluents containing heavy metals is hazardous to the environment as they are highly toxic, accumulates in the food chain and persistent in nature. Because of these adverse effects, their removal from wastewater is a substantial step in the protection of the environment and human health. Biosorption is found to be an eco-friendly, economical and lucrative separation technique in the removal of metal ions from effluent. This study explores the seperation potential of a new sorbent, fibroin (constituent of natural silk spun by Bombyx mori) for the removal of lead, chromium, copper and cobalt ions from effluent water. The biosorbent was prepared by the separation of cocoon into its constituents, fibroin and sericin. The removal of sericin from fibroin, called silk degumming, was carried out by water extraction method. Effect of temperature (55-95oC) on the kinetics and quantity of sericin removed was studied. The separation kinetics was approximated by the intraparticle diffusion model and the pseudo-second-order equation. Biosorption characteristics of fibroin for the removal of lead, chromium, copper, and cobalt ions from aqueous solution were investigated through a batch study. The effect of initial solution concentration, contact time and temperature on the sorption process was investigated. The adsorption equilibrium was described by the Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters, the change in enthalpy (∆H) and change in entropy (∆S), were calculated by using Van’t Hoff plot. An accurate mathematical expression was used to calculate Gibbs free energy (∆G), for the adsorption of all metals on fibroin. For the kinetic data analysis, pseudo-second-order equation was modified based on the fact that the term qe in the kinetic equation should be the equilibrium uptake corresponding to the instantaneous metal concentration in the solution. In order to evaluate the rate constant k2, sorption kinetic data was fitted to the modified pseudo-second-order equation. The calculated values of rate constant k2, for the adsorption of all metals on fibroin, were used to the modified pseudo-second-order model to predict the kinetic data. A good comparison was observed between the experimental data and model calculations. The kinetic data was also fitted to the intraparticle diffusion model which showed a multi linear trend. The metal ions were desorbed from fibroin up to ten cycles of adsorption and desorption by using 0.05M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The removal of metal ions from fibroin was found to be rapid since complete desorption occurred within 15min. The uptake capacity of fibroin and adsorption/desorption kinetics remained almost the same even after ten cycles. The rate constants for both adsorption and desorption were also calculated by fitting the kinetic data to the modified pseudo-second-order model. The dynamic adsorption was studied in a flow-through column packed with fibroin for the removal of all metals. Experiments were performed in order to study the effect of influent concentration (12-75ppm), influent flow rate (0.15-0.24ml/min) and regeneration of fibroin bed (upto 4 cycles). Whereas the bed height, column diameter and amount of adsorbent packed were kept constant during this study. Fibroin bed saturated with metal ions was regenerated effectively by using 0.5M EDTA solution. After four consecutive cycles of adsorption and desorption, no change in the uptake capacity was observed. The bed depth service time model, the Thomas model and the Yoon-Nelson model were used to analyze the breakthrough data. The calculated values of Yoon-Nelson constants were used to predict the breakthrough curves. A good comparison was observed between experimental data and the Yoon-Nelson model calculations. An investigation was conducted to check if the adsorption of metal ions was carried out either by the surface of the fibroin or they were adsorbed deep inside its polymer network, and bulk was used. For this study, silk fibroin was transformed into thin films of three different thicknesses having same surface area. Batch experiments were conducted to study the thickness effect of fibroin films for the adsorption of metal ions. A constant amount of metal uptake for all three fibroin films showed that the adsorption was not a surface phenomenon, but the bulk body of the fibroin was used for this separation. Kinetic data was fitted to the modified pseudo-second-order model. The kinetic rate constant k2 was not significantly affected by the film thickness which abrogated the possibility of simple diffusion mechanism for metal sorption into fibroin. Fibroin films loaded with metal ions were desorbed once dipped in deionized water. The desorption kinetics was again described by the modified pseudo-kinetic-model. The calculated values of desorption rate constant kd were used to predict the kinetics of film desorption. A good comparison was observed between the modified pseudo-second-order model calculations and experimental desorption data of fibroin films.

Porous carbonaceous adsorbent materials possessing weakly acidic surface functional groups have been evaluated for the selective removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Active carbons derived from both agricultural products (KAU carbons) and polymeric resin (CKC carbon) have been oxidised by hot air or nitric acid to produce samples with different degrees of surface oxidation. A novel phosphorus-containing carbonaceous sorbent (PGP-P) has been prepared by pyrolysis of phosphorylated phenol-formaldehyde resin. Surface modifications have been carried out to introduce various acidic functional groups capable of selective heavy metal binding. The properties of these sorbents have been compared to those of commercially available polymeric carboxylic resin C 104 (Purolite) and oxidised Filtrasorb 400 (Chemviron). Investigation into the physical structure of the adsorbents using microscopy and nitrogen sorption at liquid nitrogen temperatures showed that the porous structure is adversely affected by carbon oxidation. The surface area and pore volume decrease as the degree of surface oxidation increases. The low surface area and pore volume of PGP-P was attributed to the presence of phosphorus-containing functional groups which protect the surface from excessive burn-off. The surface functionality of the sorbcnts was determined by FT-IR, NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Relatively high concentrations of different weakly acidic functional groups were detected on the surface of the materials studied. The ion-exchange properties of the sorbents were assessed by acid-base titration techniques and electrophoretic mobility measurements. Oxidation of carbons with hot air resulted in a greater proportion of relatively weaker type surface functionality (i.e. phenolic) whereas nitric acid modification produced a higher concentration of relatively stronger carboxylic groups. Electrophoretic mobility measurements suggested that the carbon surface is negatively charged within the range of pH values studied. pH titration results demonstrated relatively greater surface acidity of active carbons compared to carboxylic resin. Active carbons were successfully applied for the selective removal of radionuclides. The materials showed excellent decontamination factors for a-, b- and y emitters. This was attributed to the presence of mineral admixtures and humic acids in carbons as well as the surface functional groups. Repeated cycles of lead sorption/elution indicated that the metal capacities of the carbon-packed mini-columns were reduced but reached a steady level after 3-4 cycles.

Thesis (Ph.D )--Tufts University, 2002. / Adviser: Samuel P. Kounaves. Submitted to the Dept. of Chemistry. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-111). Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

Thesis (M.S. - Soil, Water and Environmental Science)--University of Arizona. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-111).

Thesis (M. Env. St.)--University of Adelaide, Mawson Centre for Environmental Studies, 1993? / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-123).

Thesis (Ph.D.) - James Cook University, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2005. / Title from title screen (viewed 21 May 2008). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Centre for Heavy Metals Research, School of Chemistry, School of Chemistry. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.