Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 1967, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects:

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1973, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: Education

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2002, Arts and Sciences : Biological Sciences

Atrazine is an herbicide applied to corn and a non-point source pollutant of agricultural watersheds. This study followed the fate of atrazine in the eutrophic Little Miami River watershed after runoff. Atrazine concentrations were followed in the mainstem of the Little Miami River (LMR) at 3 sites over a year sampling period, and for one sampling date at 11 tributary sites. Atrazine concentrations in the water ranged 0.29- 4.2 μg/l over the course of the study. In the mainstem of the LMR atrazine was taken up by the filamentous algae Cladophora glomerata. The bioconcentration factor of C. glomerata ranged from 29-5223 during a one-year sampling period (n=13 for each of 3 sites), and bioconcentration was found to be a function of maximum biomass increase (due to high nutrients) and a negative function of discharge. Uptake increased at low discharges as a result of increased contact time between cells and water. C. glomerata was able to bioconcentrate a yearly average of 54% of the available atrazine from the water, based on several assumptions. The study of 11 tributaries revealed the possible bioaccumulation effects in herbivores using the Cladophora grazer, Orconectes propinquus. This study showed that crayfish bioconcentration is directly correlated to Cladophora atrazine bioconcentration. The crayfish body burden of atrazine was directly related to the presence of Cladophora at the site where the crayfish were found. There was a significant difference between the atrazine body burden at sites where the crayfish could ingest Cladophora and those sites with no Cladophora where the mode of uptake was either through dermal or gill contact, or ingestion of another food source. Biomagnification was also observed as the crayfish ingested atrazine via Cladophora consumption (Bioconcentration Factor ranged 460-6600). These studies show the importance of Cladophora as a major sink for aqueous atrazine and the potential risk to the organisms that consume Cladophora, thus p (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Dr. Michael Miller (Advisor) Subjects:

Master of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Toledo, 2012, Civil Engineering

Eutrophication of natural waters has become a problem throughout the world and locally in Lake Erie. In order to stop eutrophication, nitrogen and phosphorus levels entering natural waters must be decreased. One manageable source of nitrogen and phosphorus to the environment is wastewater treatment. Batch experiments were carried out using the alga Cladophora glomerata to determine its growth rate in wastewater, nutrient removing potential in wastewater, and biofuel potential. Trials were conducted using an optimized medium, a synthetic wastewater medium, and an effluent wastewater sample. Specific growth rates were highest in the effluent wastewater sample, 0.115 grams algae growth per grams algae per day (day-1) and 0.159 day-1. Nutrient concentrations in wastewater grown Cladophora glomerata were determined to be approximately 0.0136g phosphorus per dry weight (DW) gram of algae and 0.0415 g nitrogen per DW gram of algae. Predicted methane yield from Cladophora glomerata was calculated at 0.289 – 0.578 L CH4/g DW algae. A proposed Cladophora glomerata wastewater nutrient removal system was designed based on these parameters and compared to a conventional nutrient removal system. It was concluded that the algal system could be potentially viable for wastewater treatment plants with flows up to 1.0 million gallons a day (MGD). For larger facilities, the estimated initial capital costs of the algal treatment system and associated land requirements were far too significant.

Committee: Cyndee Gruden PhD (Committee Chair) Subjects: Engineering

Master of Science, University of Toledo, 2011, Biology (Ecology)

Dreissena spp. (zebra and quagga mussels) have greatly altered aquatic ecosystems since their invasion of the Great Lakes. Dreissena increase light to the benthos, provide hard structure for algal attachment, and may contribute a limiting nutrient to benthic algae, thereby facilitating blooms. The benthic cyanobacterium Lyngbya wollei (Farlow ex Gomont) Speziale and Dyck has recently become abundant in western Lake Erie and reaches nuisance levels. Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kutz., a green alga, has also been resurging in the Great Lakes and studies link this increase to Dreissena. Manipulative experiments showed that L. wollei had a significantly higher concentration of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur in tanks with live Dreissena. C. glomerata had greater biomass in tanks with live Dreissena, but did not have significant increases in nutrient concentration as did L. wollei. Dreissena decreased calcium concentrations, a nutrient important for cell walls, in both algal species; although concentrations were still above the limiting level for growth. Neither algal species responded to structure as a resource for growth. These results suggest that Dreissena are giving several nutrients to benthic algae and these added resources can promote their growth and productivity, aiding in blooms.

Committee: Christine Mayer PhD (Advisor); Scott Heckathorn PhD (Committee Member); Thomas Bridgeman PhD (Committee Member); Rex Lowe PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Ecology; Freshwater Ecology

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, University of Toledo, 2010, Chemical Engineering

Currently, transportation fuels are produced from continuously depleting fossil fuel sources. This calls for additional renewable sources that could be used for the production of high quality transportation fuel. Bio-diesel is one such alternative. Soybean, a food crop, has been used in the past as a source of lipids for the production of bio-diesel. Algae are an alternative non-food source of lipids for bio-diesel and/or carbohydrates for bio-ethanol. We have surveyed algae and phytoplankton in the western Lake Erie basin to identify the predominant algae species. The lipid, carbohydrate and the protein content of lake species were determined. Sampling at selected lake sites was performed at regular intervals of time in an attempt to correlate lake conditions (i.e. temperature, phosphorus and nitrogen) with the selection and composition of species. Based on the results of these analyses, native species were identified as candidates for bio-diesel or bio-ethanol production.Few preliminary experiments were performed to process soybean oil using a batch reactor to convert the triacylglycerides to free fatty acids which would then be converted to fatty acid methyl esters (bio-diesel) through transesterification. The optimized processing conditions can then be utilized to process algae.

Committee: Dr. Constance A. Schall (Advisor); Dr. Sridhar Viamajala (Committee Member); Dr. Thomas Bridgeman (Committee Member) Subjects: Engineering