Jeffrey M. Morris

Enhanced biodegradation of hydrocarbon-contaminated sediments using microbial fuel cells

A sediment microbial fuel cell (MFC) was tested to determine if electron transfer from the anaerobic zone of contaminated sediments to the overlying aerobic water could facilitate an enhanced and aerobic equivalent degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). Results indicate that voltages as high as 190 mV (2162 mW/m(3)) were achieved in a sediment MFC with an anode buried in sediments containing TPH concentrations at approximately 16,000 mg kg(-1). Additionally, after approximately 66 days, the TPH degradation rates were 2% and 24% in the open-circuit control sediment MFC and active sediment MFC, respectively. Therefore, it appears that applying MFC technology to contaminated sediments enhances natural biodegradation by nearly 12 fold. Additionally, a novel sediment MFC was designed to provide a cost-effective method of passive oxidation or indirect aerobic degradation of contaminants in an otherwise anaerobic environment. In addition, the use of a wicking air cathode in this study maintained dissolved oxygen concentrations 1-2 mg l(-1) higher than submerged cathodes, demonstrating that this technology can be applied to environments with either aerobic or anaerobic overlying water and an anaerobic matrix, such as shallow lagoon, ponds, and marshes, and groundwater.

Recycling versus incineration: an energy conservation analysis

This paper shows that for 24 out of 25 solid waste materials, recycling saves more energy than is generated by incinerating mixed solid waste in an energy-from-waste facility. Recycling conserves energy that would otherwise be expended extracting virgin raw materials from the natural environment and transforming them to produce goods that can also be manufactured from recycled waste materials. Furthermore, energy conserved by recycling exceeds electricity generated by energy-from-waste incineration by much more than the additional energy necessary to collect recycled materials separetly from mixed solid waste, process recycled materials into manufacturing feedstocks, and ship them to manufacturers, some of whom are located thousands of miles away.

Removal of bacteria and viruses from waters using layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

Abstract We have identified synthetic layered double hydroxides (LDH) nanocomposites as an effective group of material for removing bacteria and viruses from water. In this study, LDH nanocomposites were synthesized and tested for removing biological contaminants. LDH was used to remove MS2 and øX174 (indicator viruses), and Escherichia coli (an indicator bacterium) from synthetic groundwater and to remove mixed communities of heterotrophic bacteria from raw river water. Our results indicate that LDH composed of magnesium–aluminium or zinc–aluminium has a viral and bacterial adsorption efficiency ≥99% at viral concentrations between 5.9 × 106 and 9.1 × 106 plaque forming units (pfu)/L and bacterial concentrations between 1.6 × 1010 and 2.6 × 1010 colony forming units (cfu)/L when exposed to LDH in a slurry suspension system. Adsorption densities of viruses and bacteria to LDH in suspension ranged from 1.4 1010 to 2.1 1010 pfu/kg LDH and 3.2 × 1013–5.2 × 1013 cfu/kg LDH, respectively. We also tested the efficiency of LDH in removing heterotrophic bacteria from raw river water. While removal efficiencies were still high (87–99%), the adsorption capacities of the two kinds of LDH were 4–5 orders of magnitude lower than when exposed to synthetic groundwater, depending on if the LDH was in suspension or a packed column, respectively.

Feasibility of using microbial fuel cell technology for bioremediation of hydrocarbons in groundwater.

A single-cell microbial fuel cell (MFC) design was used to study anaerobic microbes that utilize petroleum contaminants as a sole substrate to produce power during remediation. Additionally, we tested various proton bridge designs to physically separate the anode and cathode chambers of a two-cell MFC by ∼ 9 m (∼ 30 ft.). This separation enables the potential use of MFC technology for in situ bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in the groundwater, in which oxygen is usually depleted and oxygen availability only exists at or near the surface. Sustained power generation (as high as 120 mW/m2 cathode) was recorded for ∼ 6 d in a single-cell MFC utilizing a mixture of refinery waste (containing various concentrations of hydrocarbon contaminants) and cell growth media. MFC cell potential (1KΩ external resistance) decreased by ∼ 55% over the length of the 9 m proton bridge with a 6.9% decrease in potential per m of bridge. This preliminary data indicates that using MFC technology (with our modifications) may enhance bioremediation of petroleum contaminants in groundwater under anaerobic conditions. Because oxygen is eventually used as the terminal electron acceptor for anaerobic biodegradation inside an MFC, this technology may be a cost-effective innovation to enhanced biodegradation in groundwater, by substituting or eliminating conventional in situ aeration. To our knowledge, this is the first report on power generation from MFCs utilizing mixed hydrocarbon substrates. In addition, this study is the first to show the applicability of using extended proton bridges for the physical separation of anode and cathode chambers over extended distances that may be encountered in the field.

The effects of weathering and chemical dispersion on Deepwater Horizon crude oil toxicity to mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) early life stages

To better understand the impact of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) incident on commercially and ecologically important pelagic fish species, a mahi-mahi spawning program was developed to assess the effect of embryonic exposure to DWH crude oil with particular emphasis on the effects of weathering and dispersant on the magnitude of toxicity. Acute lethality (96 h LC50) ranged from 45.8 (28.4-63.1) μg l(-1) ΣPAH for wellhead (source) oil to 8.8 (7.4-10.3) μg l(-1) ΣPAH for samples collected from the surface slick, reinforcing previous work that weathered oil is more toxic on a ΣPAH basis. Differences in toxicity appear related to the amount of dissolved 3 ringed PAHs. The dispersant Corexit 9500 did not influence acute lethality of oil preparations. Embryonic oil exposure resulted in cardiotoxicity after 48 h, as evident from pericardial edema and reduced atrial contractility. Whereas pericardial edema appeared to correlate well with acute lethality at 96 h, atrial contractility did not. However, sub-lethal cardiotoxicity may impact long-term performance and survival. Dispersant did not affect the occurrence of pericardial edema; however, there was an apparent reduction in atrial contractility at 48 h of exposure. Pericardial edema at 48 h and lethality at 96 h were equally sensitive endpoints in mahi-mahi.

A multiple endpoint analysis of the effects of chronic exposure to sediment contaminated with Deepwater Horizon oil on juvenile Southern flounder and their associated microbiomes.

Exposure to oiled sediments can negatively impact the health of fish species. Here, we examine the effects of chronic exposure of juvenile southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, to a sediment-oil mixture. Oil:sediment mixtures are persistent over time and can become bioavailable following sediment perturbation or resuspension. Juvenile flounder were exposed for 32 days under controlled laboratory conditions to five concentrations of naturally weathered Macondo MC252 oil mixed into uncontaminated, field-collected sediments. The percent composition of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of the weathered oil did not change after mixing with the sediment. Spiked exposure sediments contained 0.04-395mg/kg tPAH50 (sum of 50 individual PAH concentration measurements). Mortality increased with both exposure duration and concentration of sediment-associated PAHs, and flounder exposed to concentrations above 8mg/kg tPAH50 showed significantly reduced growth over the course of the experiment. Evident histopathologic changes were observed in liver and gill tissues of fish exposed to more than 8mg/kg tPAH50. All fish at these concentrations showed hepatic intravascular congestion, macrovesicular hepatic vacoulation, telangiectasia of secondary lamellae, and lamellar epithelial proliferation in gill tissues. Dose-dependent upregulation of Cyp1a expression in liver tissues was observed. Taxonomic analysis of gill and intestinal commensal bacterial assemblages showed that exposure to oiled sediments led to distinct shifts in commensal bacterial population structures. These data show that chronic exposure to environmentally-relevant concentrations of oiled sediments produces adverse effects in flounder at multiple biological levels.

Bioremediation of benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes in groundwater under iron-amended, sulfate-reducing conditions.

Elevated concentrations of sulfide in groundwater (approximately 63 mg S(2-)/L in water and 500 mg dissolved H2S/L dissipating from the wellhead) at a field site near South Lovedale (OK, USA) were inhibiting the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) that are known to degrade contaminants, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. Elevated concentrations of these contaminants, except for toluene, also were present in this groundwater. Microcosms were established in the laboratory using groundwater and sediment collected from the field site and amended with various nutrient, substrate, and inhibitor treatments. All microcosms initially were amended with FeCl2 to induce FeS precipitation and, thereby, to reduce aqueous sulfide concentrations. Complete removal of benzene, ethylbenzene, and m+p-xylenes (BEX; o-xylene not detected) was observed within 39 d in treatments with various combinations of nutrient and substrate amendments, including treatments with no amendments (other than FeCl2). This indicates that the elevated concentration of sulfide is the only limiting factor to BEX biodegradation at this site under anaerobic conditions and that treating the groundwater with FeCl2 may be a simple remedy to both facilitate and enhance BEX degradation by the indigenous SRB population.

Co-exposure to sunlight enhances the toxicity of naturally weathered Deepwater Horizon oil to early lifestage red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and speckled seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus)

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in the accidental release of millions of barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Photo-induced toxicity following co-exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is 1 mechanism by which polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from oil spills may exert toxicity. Red drum and speckled seatrout are both important fishery resources in the Gulf of Mexico. They spawn near-shore and produce positively buoyant embryos that hatch into larvae in approximately 24 h. The goal of the present study was to determine whether exposure to UV as natural sunlight enhances the toxicity of crude oil to early lifestage red drum and speckled seatrout. Larval fish were exposed to several dilutions of high-energy water-accommodated fractions (HEWAFs) from 2 different oils collected in the field under chain of custody during the 2010 spill and 3 gradations of natural sunlight in a factorial design. Co-exposure to natural sunlight and oil significantly reduced larval survival compared with exposure to oil alone. Although both species were sensitive at PAH concentrations reported during the Deepwater Horizon spill, speckled seatrout demonstrated a greater sensitivity to photo-induced toxicity than red drum. These data demonstrate that even advanced weathering of slicks does not ameliorate the potential for photo-induced toxicity of oil to these species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:780-785.

Responses of juvenile southern flounder exposed to Deepwater Horizon oil‐contaminated sediments

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill released millions of barrels of crude oil into the northern Gulf of Mexico, much of which remains associated with sediments and can have continuing impacts on biota. Juvenile southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) were exposed for 28 d in the laboratory under controlled conditions to reference and Deepwater Horizon oil-contaminated sediments collected from coastal Louisiana to assess the impacts on an ecologically and commercially important benthic fish. The measured polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in the sediments ranged from 0.25 mg/kg to 3940 mg/kg suite of 50 PAH analytes (tPAH50). Mortality increased with both concentration and duration of exposure. Exposed flounder length and weight was lower compared to controls after 28 d of exposure to the sediments with the highest PAH concentration, but condition factor was significantly higher in these fish compared with all other treatments. Histopathological analyses showed increased occurrence of gill abnormalities, including telangiectasis, epithelial proliferation, and fused lamellae in flounder exposed to sediments with the highest tPAH50 concentrations. In addition, hepatic vascular congestion and macrovesicular vacuolation were observed in flounder exposed to the more contaminated sediments. These data suggest that chronic exposure to field collected oil-contaminated sediments results in a variety of sublethal impacts to a benthic fish, with implications for long-term recovery from oil spills. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1067-1076.

Effects of sediment amended with Deepwater Horizon incident slick oil on the infaunal amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus

Crude oil released from the Deepwater Horizon disaster into the Gulf of Mexico posed potential impacts to infaunal invertebrates inhabiting near shore habitats. The effects of sediment-associated weathered slick oil on the amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus was assessed using 28-d exposures to total PAH sediment concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 24mg/kg (sum of 50 PAHs or tPAH50). Survival and growth rate were significantly decreased in the 2.6, 11.4 and 24.2mg/kg treatments, but only growth in 5.5mg/kg. Offspring production was dramatically decreased but was variable and significantly different only for 24.2mg/kg. The concentrations associated with 20% decreases relative to reference were 1.05 (95% CI=0-2.89) mg/kg tPAH50 for growth rate and 0.632 (95% CI=0.11-2.15) mg/kg tPAH50 for offspring production. The concentrations of PAHs affecting amphipods are within the range of concentrations measured in marsh areas reportedly impacted by DWH oil after its release.