Monitoring volatile organic compounds in groundwater: indicators of organic hazardous wastes pollution in Missouri

This research addresses the role of volatile organic compounds (VOC) as indicators of groundwater pollution by hazardous wastes. These compounds consist primarily of hydrocarbons, e.g., benzene, and chlorinated hydrocarbons, e.g., trichloroethylene, that are neutral, only sparingly soluble in water, and readily evaporated from water. Because of their lack of chemical reactivity under mild conditions and their ready volatilization, VOC are particularly difficult to determine in groundwater, and emphasis has been placed on that aspect of the research. Chromatography, in some cases combined with mass spectrometry, has been used as the analytical method of choice. Attention has been given to sample preservation and consideration to the possibility of on-site monitoring.Project # G-1027-03 Agreement # 14-08-0001-G-1027-0

Information dissemination in the water resources field

A study of mercury accumulation in trout taken from the trout parks and streams of southern Missouri is presented. Mercury in trout is determined by digestion in nitric acid, sulfurid acid, and potassium permanganate, followed by reduction and aeration for measurement by flameless atomic absorpotion. The mercury accumulation in trout collected and analyzed in this project ranged from 0.1 to 0.3 ppm mercury (ug mercury/g of tissue). The mercury levels were relatively constant and showed no variation or higher level accumulation with increased size. The results of the analysis on the liver and flesh of the same trout showed that the levels in the liver were slightly higher than the levels in the flesh. Previous analysis of trout collected in the mid to late 1950's from the Little Piney River indicated mercury accumulations of approximately 3 ppm. Over the past 25 years, there has been a substantial decrease in mercury found in trout of southern Missouri as a result of cleaner streams.Project # X-145-MO Agreement # 14-31-0001-426

Automated potentiometric techniques for the on-site monitoring of anion concentrations in water

Students supported: 2 Grad Students, 2 Undergraduate StudentsCharacteristics of several of the new non-glass ion-selective electrodes and of several reference electrodes were studied in detail. The most significant finding of the research was the development of a new high accuracy standard addition technique for the potentiometric determination of nitrate ion in a cell without liquid junction using the fluoride ion-selective electrode as a reference. This method eliminates the liquid junction and dilution and activity coefficient changes cancel. The standard addition technique with the fluoride electrode as a reference is applicable to all monovalent anions for which an electrode is available and enables the determination of anion concentrations to within 1 percent relative accuracy. Low temperature potentiometric titrations of perchlorate and tetrafluoroborate ions were investigated and found to give very high accuracy and reasonably good sensitivity for these ions. Tetraphenylarsonium chloride was used as a titrant for perchlorate and tetrafluoroborate. The application of the nitrate ion-selective electrode to following nitrate ion concentration in microbial cultures was investigated. It was found to be useful for following nitrate ion reduction in situ.Project # B-023-MO Agreement # 14-01-0001-191

Sorption incineration of chlorinated hydrocarbons, acid, heavy metals, and excess nutrients in water using cool-derived solids

Students supported: 1 Undergrad, 2 Masters, 2 Ph.D.The basic objective of the research was the development of systems for the sorption and incineration of water pollutants based upon solid phases derived from coal. The research was designed within the context of an overall system that should provide a net gain of energy and that should be cost-effective because of the sale of energy and byproducts. The byproducts are obtained from the pyrolysis or gasification of coal. Some of the major objectives of the research were the following: (1) Production of char from coal in a manner maximizing valuable byproduct recovery, (2) development of the most effective and energy-conserving modes of char activation, (3) evaluation of coal chars for the absorption of contaminants from water, (4) determination of the effectiveness of ash from char incineration as a water purification additive, (5) evaluation of the incineration of the spent char for energy production and destruction or immobilization of sorbed water contaminants.Project # B-150-M

Characterization, renovation, and utilization of water from slurry transport systems

The transportation of a number of commodities as water slurries in pipelines offers a number of advantages which will make this method of transport more popular in coming years. Among the formeost of these advantages are high reliability, low operating costs, minimum environmental disruption, and ability to operate with nonpetroleum energy resources. Although coal is the most frequently mentioned material that is a candidate for slurry transport, other commodities including minerals, wood chips, and even solid refuse may be moved in this manner. Water used as a slurry transport medium must be properly characterized, renovated, and used in order to make slurry transport environmentally and economically acceptable.Project # B-145-MO Agreement # 14-34-0001-121

An analytical method for total heavy metal complexing agents in water and its application to water quality studies

The principle research accomplishment on this project was the development of several methods of analysis for low levels of complexing agents, particularly chelating agents. These species are very important in water quality. It is only very recently that their importance has become very apparent in areas such as heavy metal transport, algal growth, and toxicity of heavy metals. The first method developed, was an atomic absorption analysis of strong heavy metal chelating agents. This method is based upon the fact that when copper ion is added to a water sample and the pH adjusted to 10, the only copper that remains in solution is that which is in a complexed or chelated form. The precipitate which comes out of the solution at pH 10 contains the copper which is not complexed or chelated and is removed by filtration. The copper remaining in solution is measured by atomic absorption. This copper concentration is a measure of the amount of chelating agent in the water and is called the copper equivalent chelating capacity of the water. The method was used on a number of natural water samples. It was found, for example, that normal creek water contains about one milligram per liter copper equivalent chelating capacity. Water supporting algal growth typically contains about the same level. Raw sewage from a nonindustrial source typically contains around 3 milligrams per liter copper equivalent chelating capacity, whereas properly treated sewage effluent contains 1 milligram per liter or less. The method was extended to the analysis of cyanide ion, a water pollutant found in mining and metal processing effluents. It is applicable to cyanide and provides a simple and convenient method for the analysis of this pollutant. In the final few weeks of the project, a new method was developed in which the copper is solublized from a copper-containing chelating ion exchange resin. This method is much more rapid than the first method described, though somewhat more subject to interferences. It is applicable to automated procedures and as a detection system for chelating agents separated by liquid chromatography. It is extremely sensitive and can detect as little as 5x10^-7 millimoles of NTA. These applications of the method are being pursued under a USDI-OWRR matching grant starting on July 1, 1973.Project # A-056-MO Agreement # 14-31-0001-382

Analysis, characterization, and effects of heavy metal chealating agents in water

Students supported: 5 Student Assistants"The term 'chelating agents' refers to chemical ligands which bind to an element with more than one site. It is a ubiquitous term, since there are multitudes of compounds which fulfill the requirements for being called chelating agents. Their origin is both synthetic and natural, and the manner and fashion in which they bind is quite varied. Many of the vitamins and hormones essential to life are chelating agents. Chlorophyll, which is required for photosynthesis, consists of a porphyrin ring structure bound to magnesium. Hemoglobin binds iron in a similar pattern, and vitamin B-12 utilizes cobalt in the same fashion. In addition to these, there are quite a number of similar compounds in both plants and animals. Most metals transport and usage inside living things involve a chelation process. In natural water systems, the presence of chelating agents can have significant impact on the transport and toxicity of metals."--IntroductionProject # B-095-MO Agreement # 14-31-0001-409

Heavy metal ion interaction and transport with synthetic complexing agents and detergent phosphate substitutes in aquatic systems

Students supported: 1 Ph.D., 2 Master's, 1 UndergraduateThe chemical aspects of the copper micronutrient requirement for algae have been investigated. A reproducible copper requirement for Chlorella vulgaris and Oocystis marssonii was demonstrated. Optimal growth was observed above 40 micrograms/1 for Oocystis and 30/1 for Chlorella. A study of the effects of EDTA on the toxicity of copper to Chlorella showed that copper in chelated form was not toxic to these algae at concentrations up to 46 mg/1 copper. When only sufficient chelating agent was present to keep the iron (III) in solution however, the toxic effects of copper were evident at 7.00 mg/1 of copper. A second aspect of the project involved the development of a simple, direct multiple standard addition method for the potentiometric analysis of copper in water with a solid-state copper ion-selective electrode. The technique is more sensitive than conventional atomic absorption analysis, though not so rapid. Measurements are made in a complexing antioxidant buffer medium containing acetate (to complex copper), fluoride (to complex iron), and formaldehyde (to provide a reducing medium).Project # A-049-MO Agreement # 14-31-0001-191

Environmental chemistry

xvi, 898 p. ; 24 cm