\u3cem\u3eEnterococci\u3c/em\u3e Lurking in Myrtle Beach

Salinity is the concentration of salt dissolved in a sample. Conductivity is the ability of an aqueous solution to carry an electrical current. Enterococcus is a group of bacteria that occurs in the intestine of warm-blooded animals. High levels of these parameters indicate fecal and other pollution which can be harmful to human health. The samples were taken between May 2008 - January 2021; 708, 1 and 1013 samples were gathered for salinity, conductivity and enterococcus at WAC-15, Singleton Swash. A Hach CDC401 Conductivity Probe was used to measure salinity and conductivity, an incubator at 35.0 ± 0.5°C, Fisher Isotemp 600 Series Standard Incubator was the tool used to take and store the enterococcus. Salinity was 33.6 psu which is within the parameters, Conductivity was 23,400 µS/cm which is well above the standards and Enterococcus was in the parameters with 20 MPN/100mL

Bonding and failures in soil-based materials

No Abstract

Attenuation of Heavy Metals from Waste Oil-Based Drilling Mud using Locally Produced Coconut Shell-Based Activated Carbon

Most toxic Heavy Metals (HM) persist in oil-based mud and ecosystem for many decades after the application of mud for drilling oil and gas wells. This study assessed the attenuation of such heavy metals from waste oil-based mud using activated carbon produced locally. The oil-based mud analysed presented variable levels of Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Potassium (K), Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn). Adsorption is a highly effective means of separation to remove a wide range of pollutants in waste streams. Coconut shell activated carbon (CS-AC) was locally produced to remove heavy metals from the waste oil-based mud to encourage value addition to waste. The adsorption data was fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model using linear regression analysis. The data was more fitted to the Langmuir isotherm as indicated by the high goodness of fit values (R2). To reduce the heavy metal concentrations below threshold levels optimum CS-AC dosage required for Fe, Cu, Ni, K, As, Cr, Mn and Zn is 5 g/l of CS-AC for a contact time of 30 minutes. The characterization of the produced carbons shows good results comparable to other commercial activated carbons. CS-AC is a viable and economical product for the removal of toxic heavy metals from waste oil-based mud before disposal