Abstract Watershed-scale fate/transport modeling of contaminants is a tool that scientists and land managers can use to assess pesticide contamination to stream systems. The Catchment Modeling Framework (CMF) is a catchment-scale fate/transport modeling tool. It was developed to help scientists and land managers assess the effects of possible land-use decisions...
Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC19718) participates in the biological removal of nitrogen from wastewater by oxidizing ammonia to nitrite, the first step in nitrification. This bacterium is sensitive to heavy metals (Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Hg²⁺) and cyanide, compounds commonly encountered in wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, we characterized physiological and transcriptional responses...
The gravel aquifer of the Oregon side of Walla Walla River Basin has a strong hydrologic connection to surface water through a series of springs, unlined irrigation canals, the Walla Walla River, numerous wells and, since 2004, artificial recharge to the shallow aquifer using infiltration basins. The finite element Integrated...
Many conditions affecting hydrogen (H₂) production by the cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, were optimized to yield maximum H₂ accumulation. Biological H₂ production from photosynthetic species is a promising form of renewable energy since an abundant supply of sunlight hits the Earth every day, and photosynthetic bacteria can harness this...
The vegetation in Yosemite National Park changed during the 20th century and may change in the 21st century in response to climate change. Vegetation surveys made during the 1930s and the 1990s provide benchmark records separated by 60 years. This study uses the MC1 dynamic global vegetation model to forecast...
Microbial electrolysis provides a new approach for hydrogen generation from renewable biomass. At current stage, the most likely limiting factors for successful scale up of this technology are the large internal resistance and high fabrication cost. This dissertation presents an attempt to overcome these limitations by investigating novel microbial electrolysis...
This thesis documents the work carried out investigating the downstream processing of algal biomass for biofuel production. A life cycle assessment was conducted on a hypothetical algal biodiesel process in which it was found drum drying and cell component separation were life cycle intensive processes. A
laboratory experiment was conducted...
The thermophilic cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus was examined for the ability to sequester CO₂ while producing hydrogen (H₂), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), lipids, and glycogen. H₂ was produced at a maximum rate of 188 nmol H₂ mg Chl a⁻¹ hr⁻¹. Hydrogen production occurred in the presence of methyl viologen but the cells were...
A major challenge in ethanol production using lignocellulosic feed stock is
inefficient utilization of hemicellulose, which accounts for 30-40% of lignocellulosic
biomass. Xylose, comprising >60% of recoverable sugars from hemicellulose is a
major product of the hemicellulose hydrolysis. Utilization of this carbon source would
significantly increase the ethanol yield from...
Cellulosic ethanol production for transportation fuel is one source to help satisfy the increasing worldwide demand for energy and depletion of the fossil fuel supply. Evaluating potential production from plants and waste in Oregon, Washington and Idaho is the purpose of this study. Reed Canary grass, Annual Ryegrass, wheat straw,...