Possible Projects in Environmental Processes
- AguaClara: Design & Experimentation in Sustainable Water Supply & Treatment
- Optimization of Bioethanol Production from Lignocellulose: Of increasing interest are technologies for conversion of purpose-grown crops (such as switchgrass) to ethanol. Many conversion steps are required from crop-to-biofuel: milling, pretreatment for increasing availability of the carbohydrates; enzymatic hydrolysis to simple sugars (and other products); fermentation; and refinement of the resulting ethanol to fuel-grade. This project explores the trade-offs among the many options and variables in the process train, with the goal of optimizing the whole.
- Bioaugmentation in the Aerobic Remediation of a cDCE-Contaminated Groundwater: Research at Cornell has established the potential for deploying a novel, aerobic bacterium (Polaromonas strain JS666) in the aerobic bioremediation of sites contaminated with cis-dichloroethene (cDCE). cDCE is commonly encountered at sites originally contaminated with higher-chlorinated ethenes (perchloroethylene, PCE, and trichloroethene, TCE), when the parent compounds “stall” at cDCE in anaerobic reductive transformation upgradient of an aerobic zone. This project will explore preliminary design of a remediation scheme in which JS666 is added (and tracked thereafter) to effect cDCE degradation in situ.
- Design of a bioreactor treatment system in which formation of biogenic manganese oxides is utilized for removal of toxic metals: Oxidation of manganese [Mn(II)] by bacteria produces oxides [MnOx (III/IV)] that are strong adsorbents for toxic transition metals. The student(s) participating in this project will create a numerical model for alternative reactor systems in which bacteria that oxidize Mn(II) are utilized to create MnOx for purposes of treating waste streams containing dissolved metals Schemes for recovery of oxide-bound metals will be considered as will the sensitivity of alternative designs to kinetic constraints on bacterial growth, production of extracellular enzymes responsible for Mn(II) oxidation, and the rate of Mn(II) oxidation.
- Bioindicators of chloroethene bioremediation: TCE and PCE still contaminate hundreds to thousands of sites around the country. Bioremediation is gaining in its application to these sites. The Richardson lab has interest in monitoring of specific RNA, DNA and protein sequences that indicate the types of and rates of chloroethene bioremediation (hence the name “bioindicators”).
- Microalgae growth for biofuels and biochemicals: This project involves the design and operation of reactors for the growth of microalgal cultures for the downstream production of biofuels (particularly biodiesel). In addition to their value as a biofuel feedstock, algal strains can be generated that are capable of production of commodity
chemicals/enzymes. Such high value co-products will make the transition to sustainable biofuels more cost effective. - Renewable energy: bioelectricity from waste material: Microbial fuel cells (MFC) convert reduced organic compounds into CO2 and bioelectricity. Since waste streams (domestic and industrial wastewater, animal manures, food scraps) are very high in organics, they all provide a renewable and largely untapped source of such bioelectricity. This project focuses on design of MFC for waste streams.
- Microbial Source Tracking of coliforms in Cayuga Lake: This project has developed from involvement with the Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW). This project explores different methods for determining which “source” animals (humans, cows, geese, dogs, deer, etc.) are contributing to the coliforms in Cayuga Lake and its tributaries. Students working on such a project would interact with a local non-profit - the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network. Projects could be laboratory focused (DNA and antibiotics-based assays are both used) or could focus upon GIS-based analysis of different “source” populations in the watershed.
- Characterizing the removal efficiency of lead and arsenic in “Brita- type” filters: Household water filters of the Brita type are effective in removing Cl2, hardness, Fe and Mn but little is known about removal efficiency for Pb and As (and other toxic heavy metals). This project will investigate removal efficiency and capacity (run length) Pb and As for the purpose of recommending warnings or guidelines.
