Kuldip Kumar - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Kuldip Kumar
Frontiers in Microbiology, Jul 17, 2023
Excess phosphorus (P) in wastewater effluent poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and can... more Excess phosphorus (P) in wastewater effluent poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and can spur harmful algal blooms. Revolving algal biofilm (RAB) systems are an emerging technology to recover P from wastewater before discharge into aquatic ecosystems. In RAB systems, a community of microalgae take up and store wastewater P as polyphosphate as they grow in a partially submerged revolving biofilm, which may then be harvested and dried for use as fertilizer in lieu of mined phosphate rock. In this work, we isolated and characterized a total of 101 microalgae strains from active RAB systems across the US Midwest, including 82 green algae, 9 diatoms, and 10 cyanobacteria. Strains were identified by microscopy and 16S/18S ribosomal DNA sequencing, cryopreserved, and screened for elevated P content (as polyphosphate). Seven isolated strains possessed at least 50% more polyphosphate by cell dry weight than a microalgae consortium from a RAB system, with the top strain accumulating nearly threefold more polyphosphate. These top P-hyperaccumulating strains include the green alga Chlamydomonas pulvinata TCF-48 g and the diatoms Eolimna minima TCF-3d and Craticula molestiformis TCF-8d, possessing 11.4, 12.7, and 14.0% polyphosphate by cell dry weight, respectively. As a preliminary test of strain application for recovering P, Chlamydomonas pulvinata TCF-48 g was reinoculated into a bench-scale RAB system containing Bold basal medium. The strain successfully recolonized the system and recovered twofold more P from the medium than a microalgae consortium from a RAB system treating municipal wastewater. These isolated P-hyperaccumulating microalgae may have broad applications in resource recovery from various waste streams, including improving P removal from wastewater.
Elsevier eBooks, 1999
This review reveals that crop residues of common cultivated crops are an important resource not o... more This review reveals that crop residues of common cultivated crops are an important resource not only as a source of significant quantities of nutrients for crop production but also affecting soil physical, chemical, and biological functions and properties and water and soil quality. ...
Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, 2016
An innovative algal biofilm technology is being pilot tested for potential application as a susta... more An innovative algal biofilm technology is being pilot tested for potential application as a sustainable means for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) recovery at Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs). The technology uses revolving belts that extend vertically up from the wastewater to provide sunlight for microalgae growth. This Revolving Algae Biofilm (RAB) reactor has demonstrated the ability to recover nutrients in a smaller footprint than traditional raceway ponds. The resultant biomass is easily harvested from the biofilm with a scraping mechanism, providing an algae product that is ready to be processed for use as a biomass feedstock for bioplastics, fertilizers, biofuels, aquaculture feed, and other sustainable products. A pilot plant is in place at a major WRRF to test the performance of the RAB on a variety of wastewater streams. The results of a half year operation plus operating experiences are presented.
Advances in Agronomy, 1999
This review reveals that crop residues of common cultivated crops are an important resource not o... more This review reveals that crop residues of common cultivated crops are an important resource not only as a source of significant quantities of nutrients for crop production but also affecting soil physical, chemical, and biological functions and properties and water and soil quality. ...
Water Environment Research, 2019
The nitrogen (N) release from composted and un‐composted biosolids and plant available N (PAN) of... more The nitrogen (N) release from composted and un‐composted biosolids and plant available N (PAN) of the biosolids were quantified to evaluate if composting can contribute to stabilize biosolids N and reduce the nitrate () leaching potential in biosolids‐amended soil. Biosolids were composted at >55°C for 21 days after mixing the biosolids with yard waste at 1:1 (w/w) ratio. In the N release study, we installed field lysimeters filled with soil (sand and clay) amended with composted and un‐composted biosolids at two rates (30 and 150 dry Mg/ha) and measured the inorganic N in leachate after each rainfall and soil inorganic N monthly. The N released from composted biosolids during the two‐year study period were lower (6% of organic N added for clay and 11% for sandy loam soil) as compared to un‐composted biosolids (14% of organic N added for clay and 21% for sandy soils). Composted biosolids showed a lower N release rate constant k value of 0.0014 and 0.0027 month−1 for clay and sand...
Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, 2016
An innovative algal biofilm technology is being pilot tested for potential application as a susta... more An innovative algal biofilm technology is being pilot tested for potential application as a sustainable means for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) recovery at Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs). The technology uses revolving belts that extend vertically up from the wastewater to provide sunlight for microalgae growth. This Revolving Algae Biofilm (RAB) reactor has demonstrated the ability to recover nutrients in a smaller footprint than traditional raceway ponds. The resultant biomass is easily harvested from the biofilm with a scraping mechanism, providing an algae product that is ready to be processed for use as a biomass feedstock for bioplastics, fertilizers, biofuels, aquaculture feed, and other sustainable products. A pilot plant is in place at a major WRRF to test the performance of the RAB on a variety of wastewater streams. The results of a half year operation plus operating experiences are presented.
Improving the Productivity and Sustainability of Rice-Wheat Systems: Issues and Impacts, 2015
Large quantities of crop residues produced in the rice-wheat system spanning 13.5 million hectare... more Large quantities of crop residues produced in the rice-wheat system spanning 13.5 million hectares in South Asia are a potential source for improving soil organic matter dynamics, nutrient cycling, and the soil physical environment. Burning of plant residues is causing ...
Water Environment Research, 2019
Total dissolved solids (TDS) comprising inorganic salts and organic matters are pollutants of con... more Total dissolved solids (TDS) comprising inorganic salts and organic matters are pollutants of concern to aquatic systems and water for human use. This work aimed to investigate the use of revolving algal biofilm (RAB) reactors as a sustainable and environmental friendly method to remove TDS from industrial effluents and municipal wastewaters. The wastewaters contained chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfate as the major components. The RAB reactors fed with synthetic industrial effluent with high TDS level demonstrated the best algal growth, with the highest TDS removal efficiency (27%) and removal rate (2,783 mg/L-day and 19,530 mg/m 2-day). A suspended algal culture system only removed 3% TDS from the same wastewater. The TDS removal by the RAB reactors was considered due to several mechanisms such as absorption by the algae cells, adsorption by extracellular polymeric substance of the biofilm, and/or precipitation. Collectively, this research shows that the RAB reactors can serve as an efficient system in wastewater remediation for TDS removal. © 2019 Water Environment Federation • Practitioner points • Total dissolved solids (TDS) in wastewater are pollutants of concern. • The RAB reactors can remove TDS from various types of wastewater. • The RAB reactors removed TDS by adsorbing ions elements such as Cl, Na, K, Ca, Mg, and S. • The algal biomass absorbs ions through extracellular polymeric substance.
Algal Research, 2021
Abstract This work is to evaluate the feasibility of using a revolving algal biofilm (RAB) reacto... more Abstract This work is to evaluate the feasibility of using a revolving algal biofilm (RAB) reactor for nickel (Ni) removal from high strength industrial wastewater. The RAB reactor can grow an indigenous microalgal species consortium in a wastewater containing up to 5000 mg/L of Ni. The tolerance of RAB biomass to the high strength nickel was attributed to maintaining cells membrane integrity, which is possible due to its high amount of extracellular polymer substances (EPS). The RAB system also demonstrated a superior Ni removal performance with >90% Ni removal efficiency and 534 mg/L-day Ni removal rate. The advantage of RAB system in nickel removal over suspended-based system might be attributed to the high contents of EPS in RAB biofilm, given the fact that the extracellular nickel occupied 60% or higher of the total nickel in the RAB biofilm. The adsorption of Ni by the biomass harvested from the RAB reactors was also studied. The “biomass-physical-adsorption” was less effective than “growing-algae-while-removing-Ni” for Ni removal. Collectively, the results in this study demonstrated that the RAB reactor is a potential system for Ni removal from high strength industrial wastewater.
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2016
Journal of Environmental Quality ANTIBIOTICS IN AGROECOSYSTEMS: STATE OF THE SCIENCE SPECIAL SECT... more Journal of Environmental Quality ANTIBIOTICS IN AGROECOSYSTEMS: STATE OF THE SCIENCE SPECIAL SECTION Core Ideas • The "Rule of 3" is an important tool to predict uptake by crops. • Organic chemicals with certain chemical properties may not be taken up by crops. • Organic compounds following the "Rule of 3" may be better candidates for phytoremediation.
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2016
The former US Steel Corporation's South Works site in Chicago, IL, is a 230-ha bare brownfield co... more The former US Steel Corporation's South Works site in Chicago, IL, is a 230-ha bare brownfield consisting of steel mill slag fill materials that will need to be reclaimed to support and sustain vegetation. We conducted a case study to evaluate the suitability of biosolids and dredged sediments for capping the steel mill slag to establish good quality turfgrass vegetation. Eight study plots were established on a 0.4-ha parcel that received biosolids and dredged sediment blends of 0, 25, 50, or 100% biosolids (v/v). Turfgrass was successfully established and was thicker and greener in biosolids-amended sediments than in unamended sediments. Concentrations of N, P, K, and micronutrients in turfgrass tissues increased with increasing biosolids. Soil organic carbon, N, P, and micronutrients increased with increasing biosolids. Cadmium, Cu, Ni, and Zn concentrations in biosolids-amended sediments also increased with increasing biosolids but were far below phytotoxicity limits for turfgrass. Lead and Cr concentrations in biosolids-amended plots were comparable to concentrations in unamended sediments. Groundwater monitoring lysimeters and wells below the study site and near Lake Michigan were not affected by nutrients leaching from the amendments. Overall, the results from this case study demonstrated that blends of biosolids and dredged sediments could be successfully used for capping steel mill slag brownfield sites to establish good quality turfgrass vegetation.
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2016
Large tracts of abandoned urban land, resulting from the deindustrialization of metropolitan area... more Large tracts of abandoned urban land, resulting from the deindustrialization of metropolitan areas, are generating a renewed interest among city planners and community organizations envisioning the productive use of this land not only to produce fresh food but to effectively manage stormwater and mitigate the impact of urban heat islands. Healthy and productive soils are paramount to meet these objectives. However, these urban lands are often severely degraded due to anthropogenic activities and are generally contaminated with priority pollutants, especially heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Characterizing these degraded and contaminated soils and making them productive again to restore the required ecosystem services was the theme of the "Soil in the City-2014" conference organized by W-2170 Committee (USDA's Sponsored Multi-State Research Project: Soil-Based Use of Residuals, Wastewater, & Reclaimed Water). This special section of Journal of Environmental Quality comprises 12 targeted papers authored by conference participants to make available much needed information about the characteristics of urban soils. Innovative ways to mitigate the risks from pollutants and to improve the soil quality using local resources are discussed. Such practices include the use of composts and biosolids to grow healthy foods, reclaim brownfields, manage stormwater, and improve the overall ecosystem functioning of urban soils. These papers provide a needed resource for educating policymakers, practitioners, and the general public about using locally available resources to restore fertility, productivity, and ecosystem functioning of degraded urban land to revitalize metropolitan areas for improving the overall quality of life for a large segment of a rapidly growing urban population.
In a large field experiment on an irrigated Templeton silt loam (Udic Ustochrept) soil using a co... more In a large field experiment on an irrigated Templeton silt loam (Udic Ustochrept) soil using a completely randomised block design with six replicates (each main plot = 30 x 20m), main plot treatments of wheat and ryegrass grown for seed produced more dry matter (17-23 t cf. 16-17 t ha⁻¹) but less nitrogen (N) (130-230 kg N cf. 387-427 kg N ha⁻¹) than peas and white clover for seed. The application of ¹⁵N tracer to leguminous crops and ¹⁵N-labelled fertiliser to non-leguminous crops in micro-plots allowed the determination of biological N₂ fixation (BNF) and fertiliser N recovery, respectively. Significant proportions of N accumulated in white clover (90%) and peas (69%) was attributed to BNF. Apart from providing a cash crop in the short-term, white clover and peas fixed 327 and 286 kg N ha⁻¹ respectively. On the other hand, between 41-52% of the applied fertiliser N was recovered by ryegrass and wheat crops. In the second year, residues from these main plot treatments and ¹⁵N-label...
Environmental Science & Technology, 2014
Crop uptake of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) from biosolidsamended soil has been identified as a p... more Crop uptake of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) from biosolidsamended soil has been identified as a potential pathway for PFAA entry into the terrestrial food chain. This study compared the uptake of PFAAs in greenhouse-grown radish (Raphanus sativus), celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce), tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum), and sugar snap pea (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon) from an industrially impacted biosolids-amended soil, a municipal biosolids-amended soil, and a control soil. Individual concentrations of PFAAs, on a dry weight basis, in mature, edible portions of crops grown in soil amended with PFAA industrially impacted biosolids were highest for perfluorooctanoate (PFOA; 67 ng/g) in radish root, perfluorobutanoate (PFBA; 232 ng/g) in celery shoot, and PFBA (150 ng/g) in pea fruit. Comparatively, PFAA concentrations in edible compartments of crops grown in the municipal biosolids-amended soil and in the control soil were less than 25 ng/g. Bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) were calculated for the root, shoot, and fruit compartments (as applicable) of all crops grown in the industrially impacted soil. BAFs were highest for PFBA in the shoots of all crops, as well as in the fruit compartment of pea. Root-soil concentration factors (RCFs) for tomato and pea were independent of PFAA chain length, while radish and celery RCFs showed a slight decrease with increasing chain length. Shootsoil concentration factors (SCFs) for all crops showed a decrease with increasing chain length (0.11 to 0.36 log decrease per CF 2 group). The biggest decrease (0.54−0.58 log decrease per CF 2 group) was seen in fruit-soil concentration factors (FCFs). Crop anatomy and PFAA properties were utilized to explain data trends. In general, fruit crops were found to accumulate fewer longchain PFAAs than shoot or root crops presumably due to an increasing number of biological barriers as the contaminant is transported throughout the plant (roots to shoots to fruits). These data were incorporated into a preliminary conceptual framework for PFAA accumulation in edible crops. In addition, these data suggest that edible crops grown in soils conventionally amended for nutrients with biosolids (that are not impacted by PFAA industries) are unlikely a significant source of long-chain PFAA exposure to humans.
Water Environment Research, 2014
Promulgation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) authorized the United States Environmental Protection A... more Promulgation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) authorized the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) to regulate quality standards for surface waters and establish regulations limiting the amounts and types of pollutants entering the nation's waters. U.S. EPA imposed national pretreatment standards on industrial wastes discharged to the collection systems of publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and promulgated General Pretreatment Regulations in 1978. This study analyzed trace metals data from the National Sewage Sludge Surveys conducted by U.S. EPA and the American Metropolitan Sewage Agencies (AMSA) to evaluate the effect of implementation of the national industrial pretreatment standards on concentrations of trace metals in sludges generated by POTWs in the United States. The data showed that implementation of pretreatment programs has been highly effective in reducing the amount of pollutants that enter POTWs and has resulted in a substantial reduction in the levels of trace metals in the municipal sludges. Concentrations of chromium, lead, and nickel in sludge declined by 78, 73, and 63%, respectively, within a year after promulgation of General Pretreatment Regulations. Resulting from these measures, metal concentrations in the sludges generated by a majority of POTWs in the United States are sufficiently low that the sludges can be classified as biosolids and also meet the U.S. EPA's exceptional quality criteria for trace metals in biosolids. This improvement gives POTWs the option to use their biosolids beneficially through land application. Water Environ. Res., 86, 134 (2014).
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2009
Water quality concerns, including greater potential for nutrient transport to surface waters resu... more Water quality concerns, including greater potential for nutrient transport to surface waters resulting in eutrophication and nutrient leaching to ground water, exist when agricultural or food processing industry wastes and by-products are land applied. Plot-and fi eld-scale studies were conducted to evaluate the eff ects of sugar beet by-products on NO 3-N and P losses and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in runoff and NO 3-N concentrations in percolating waters. In the runoff plot study, treatments in the fi rst year included two rates (224 and 448 Mg ha −1 fresh weight) of pulp and spoiled beets and a nonfertilized control. In the second year, no by-products were applied on the treated plots, the control treatment was fertilized with N fertilizer, and an additional treatment was added as a nonfertilized control in buff er areas. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown in the year of by-product application and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in the following year. In the percolation fi eld study, the treatments were the control, pulp (224 Mg ha −1), and spoiled beets (224 Mg ha −1). Results from the runoff plot showed that both by-products caused immobilization of soil inorganic N and thus reduced NO 3-N losses in runoff and soil waters during the fi rst growing season. Th ere was some risk of NO 3-N exceeding the drinking water limit of 10 mg L −1 , especially between the period of wheat harvest and soil freezing in fall when pulp was applied at 448 Mg ha −1. Th e fi eld-scale study showed that by-product application at 224 Mg ha −1 did not result in increased ground water NO 3-N concentrations. Application of spoiled beets at both rates caused signifi cantly higher BODs in runoff in the fi rst year of application. Th e concentrations of total and soluble reactive P (SRP) were also higher from both rates of spoiled beet application and from the higher application rate of pulp during the 2-yr study period. Th ese high BODs and total P and SRP concentrations in runoff waters from land application of sugar beet by-product suggest that application rates should not be higher than 224 Mg ha −1. Best management practices that prevent runoff from entering surface waters directly from these fi elds are warranted.
Journal of Environment Quality, 2004
ronmental Media Services (2000), more than 40% of the antibiotics produced in the U.S. are used a... more ronmental Media Services (2000), more than 40% of the antibiotics produced in the U.S. are used as feed Two commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay supplements. The use of antibiotics in animal feed helps (ELISA) kits that are commonly used for tylosin or tetracycline resiincrease the animal's ability to absorb feed and reach dues in meat and milk were adapted for ultratrace analysis of these market weight on time. It may also counteract the effects antibiotics in surface and ground waters. These two antibiotics are commonly fed to swine, turkeys, and cattle at subtherapeutic doses of crowded living conditions and poor hygiene in intenfor growth promotion purposes. Both ELISA techniques were found sive animal agriculture systems (Environmental Media to be highly sensitive and selective for the respective antibiotics with Services, 2000). detection limits of 0.10 and 0.05 g L Ϫ1 for tylosin and tetracycline, Antibiotics commonly used as feed additive for anirespectively. The recovery of both tylosin and tetracycline from spiked mals include chlortetracycline, bacitracin, bambermysamples of lake waters, runoff samples, soil saturation extracts, and cins, erythromycin, lincomycin, monensin, oleandomycin, nanopure water was close to 100%. Tetracycline ELISA was highly oxytetracycline, penicillin, tylosin, and virginiamycin specific for tetracycline and chlortetracycline but not for other forms (Church and Pond, 1982). The antibiotic dose varies from of tetracycline (oxytetracycline, demeclocycline, and doxycycline). 1 to 100 g Mg Ϫ1 of feed depending upon the type and Analysis of a few liquid swine manure samples by liquid chromasize of the animal and the type of antibiotic. Most of the tography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) showed lower concentrations for chlortetracycline as compared with concentrations obtained using antibiotics added to animal feed are excreted in urine ELISA. However, the concentrations of tylosin from ELISA were or feces. In some cases, as much as 80% of the antibicomparable with that of LC-MS. The lower concentrations of chlortetotic administered orally may pass through the animal racycline obtained by LC-MS in manure samples indicate the presence unchanged (Levy, 1992). of other similar or transformed compounds that were detected by Once excreted in urine and feces, antibiotics may ELISA but not determined by LC-MS. These results indicate that enter surface and/or ground waters through nonpointboth ELISA kits can be useful tools for low-cost screening of tylosin, source pollution from manure-applied lands. Land aptetracycline, and chlortetracycline in environmental waters. Furtherplication of manure is a common practice in many parts more, both ELISA procedures are rapid, portable, and easily adaptof the USA. In the northern tier of the country, manure able for testing of multiple samples simultaneously.
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2005
factors including soil type, climate, and class of antibiotics (Boxall et al., 2004). Most antibi... more factors including soil type, climate, and class of antibiotics (Boxall et al., 2004). Most antibiotics are biodegradable There is some concern that antibiotic residues in land-applied main soils but some of them have a long half-life. Weeranure may promote the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the environment. The goal of this study was to determine whether or singhe and Towner (1997) reported a half-life of 87 to not soil bound antibiotics are still active against bacteria. The proce-173 d for virginiamycin in sandy silt and silty sand soils dure involved sorbing various amounts of tetracycline or tylosin on under laboratory conditions. Kü mmerer (2003) found two different textured soils (Webster clay loam [fine-loamy, mixed, that cyclosporin-A persisted in a garden soil for many superactive, mesic Typic Endoaquolls] and Hubbard loamy sand [sandy, months in spite of the presence of several degrading mixed, frigid Entic Hapludolls]), incubating these soils with three bacteria. Marengo et al. (1997) determined that less different bacterial cultures (an antibiotic resistant strain of Salmonella than 1% of sarafloxacin, an antibiotic used widely in sp. [Salmonella R ], an antibiotic sensitive strain of Salmonella sp. poultry production, degraded in the soil after 80 d of [Salmonella S ], and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922), and then enumerincubation. ating the number of colony forming units relative to the control. Antibiotics in manure-applied land may leach to Incubation was done under both static and dynamic conditions. Soiladsorbed antibiotics were found to retain their antimicrobial proper-ground water or move to surface waters via surface runties since both antibiotics inhibited the growth of all three bacterial off. De Liguoro et al. (2003) detected oxytetracycline species. Averaged over all other factors, soil adsorbed antimicrobial in soil (Ͻ5 g kg Ϫ1 of soil) at a 60-cm depth after treatactivity was higher for Hubbard loamy sand than Webster clay loam, ment with cattle manure while Hamscher et al. (2002) most likely due to higher affinity (higher clay content) of the Webster reported the presence of tetracycline (170 g kg Ϫ1) at soil for antibiotics. Similarly, there was a greater decline in bacterial a 30-cm soil depth, 6 mo after liquid swine manure was growth with tetracycline than tylsoin, likely due to greater amounts applied. Antibiotics have also been detected in rivers of soil-adsorbed tetracycline and also due to lower minimum inhibitory (Kolpin et al., 2002, 2004) and marine sediments (Nyconcentration of most bacteria for tetracycline than tylosin. The anti
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2007
Animal manure is applied to agricultural land as a means to provide crop nutrients. However, anim... more Animal manure is applied to agricultural land as a means to provide crop nutrients. However, animal manure often contains antibiotics as a result of extensive therapeutic and subtherapeutic use in livestock production. The objective of this study was to evaluate plant uptake of a sulfonamide-class antibiotic, sulfamethazine, in corn (Zea mays L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown in a manure-amended soil. The treatments were 0, 50, and 100 mg sulfamethazine mL 21 manure applied at a rate of 56 000 L ha 21. Results from the 45-d greenhouse experiment showed that sulfamethazine was taken up by all three crops, with concentrations in plant tissue ranging from 0.1 to 1.2 mg kg 21 dry weight. Sulfamethazine concentrations in plant tissue increased with corresponding increase of sulfamethazine in manure. Highest plant tissue concentrations were found in corn and lettuce, followed by potato. Total accumulation of sulfamethazine in plant tissue after 45 d of growth was less than 0.1% of the amount applied to soil in manure. These results raise potential human health concerns of consuming low levels of antibiotics from produce grown on manure-amended soils.
Frontiers in Microbiology, Jul 17, 2023
Excess phosphorus (P) in wastewater effluent poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and can... more Excess phosphorus (P) in wastewater effluent poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and can spur harmful algal blooms. Revolving algal biofilm (RAB) systems are an emerging technology to recover P from wastewater before discharge into aquatic ecosystems. In RAB systems, a community of microalgae take up and store wastewater P as polyphosphate as they grow in a partially submerged revolving biofilm, which may then be harvested and dried for use as fertilizer in lieu of mined phosphate rock. In this work, we isolated and characterized a total of 101 microalgae strains from active RAB systems across the US Midwest, including 82 green algae, 9 diatoms, and 10 cyanobacteria. Strains were identified by microscopy and 16S/18S ribosomal DNA sequencing, cryopreserved, and screened for elevated P content (as polyphosphate). Seven isolated strains possessed at least 50% more polyphosphate by cell dry weight than a microalgae consortium from a RAB system, with the top strain accumulating nearly threefold more polyphosphate. These top P-hyperaccumulating strains include the green alga Chlamydomonas pulvinata TCF-48 g and the diatoms Eolimna minima TCF-3d and Craticula molestiformis TCF-8d, possessing 11.4, 12.7, and 14.0% polyphosphate by cell dry weight, respectively. As a preliminary test of strain application for recovering P, Chlamydomonas pulvinata TCF-48 g was reinoculated into a bench-scale RAB system containing Bold basal medium. The strain successfully recolonized the system and recovered twofold more P from the medium than a microalgae consortium from a RAB system treating municipal wastewater. These isolated P-hyperaccumulating microalgae may have broad applications in resource recovery from various waste streams, including improving P removal from wastewater.
Elsevier eBooks, 1999
This review reveals that crop residues of common cultivated crops are an important resource not o... more This review reveals that crop residues of common cultivated crops are an important resource not only as a source of significant quantities of nutrients for crop production but also affecting soil physical, chemical, and biological functions and properties and water and soil quality. ...
Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, 2016
An innovative algal biofilm technology is being pilot tested for potential application as a susta... more An innovative algal biofilm technology is being pilot tested for potential application as a sustainable means for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) recovery at Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs). The technology uses revolving belts that extend vertically up from the wastewater to provide sunlight for microalgae growth. This Revolving Algae Biofilm (RAB) reactor has demonstrated the ability to recover nutrients in a smaller footprint than traditional raceway ponds. The resultant biomass is easily harvested from the biofilm with a scraping mechanism, providing an algae product that is ready to be processed for use as a biomass feedstock for bioplastics, fertilizers, biofuels, aquaculture feed, and other sustainable products. A pilot plant is in place at a major WRRF to test the performance of the RAB on a variety of wastewater streams. The results of a half year operation plus operating experiences are presented.
Advances in Agronomy, 1999
This review reveals that crop residues of common cultivated crops are an important resource not o... more This review reveals that crop residues of common cultivated crops are an important resource not only as a source of significant quantities of nutrients for crop production but also affecting soil physical, chemical, and biological functions and properties and water and soil quality. ...
Water Environment Research, 2019
The nitrogen (N) release from composted and un‐composted biosolids and plant available N (PAN) of... more The nitrogen (N) release from composted and un‐composted biosolids and plant available N (PAN) of the biosolids were quantified to evaluate if composting can contribute to stabilize biosolids N and reduce the nitrate () leaching potential in biosolids‐amended soil. Biosolids were composted at >55°C for 21 days after mixing the biosolids with yard waste at 1:1 (w/w) ratio. In the N release study, we installed field lysimeters filled with soil (sand and clay) amended with composted and un‐composted biosolids at two rates (30 and 150 dry Mg/ha) and measured the inorganic N in leachate after each rainfall and soil inorganic N monthly. The N released from composted biosolids during the two‐year study period were lower (6% of organic N added for clay and 11% for sandy loam soil) as compared to un‐composted biosolids (14% of organic N added for clay and 21% for sandy soils). Composted biosolids showed a lower N release rate constant k value of 0.0014 and 0.0027 month−1 for clay and sand...
Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, 2016
An innovative algal biofilm technology is being pilot tested for potential application as a susta... more An innovative algal biofilm technology is being pilot tested for potential application as a sustainable means for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) recovery at Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs). The technology uses revolving belts that extend vertically up from the wastewater to provide sunlight for microalgae growth. This Revolving Algae Biofilm (RAB) reactor has demonstrated the ability to recover nutrients in a smaller footprint than traditional raceway ponds. The resultant biomass is easily harvested from the biofilm with a scraping mechanism, providing an algae product that is ready to be processed for use as a biomass feedstock for bioplastics, fertilizers, biofuels, aquaculture feed, and other sustainable products. A pilot plant is in place at a major WRRF to test the performance of the RAB on a variety of wastewater streams. The results of a half year operation plus operating experiences are presented.
Improving the Productivity and Sustainability of Rice-Wheat Systems: Issues and Impacts, 2015
Large quantities of crop residues produced in the rice-wheat system spanning 13.5 million hectare... more Large quantities of crop residues produced in the rice-wheat system spanning 13.5 million hectares in South Asia are a potential source for improving soil organic matter dynamics, nutrient cycling, and the soil physical environment. Burning of plant residues is causing ...
Water Environment Research, 2019
Total dissolved solids (TDS) comprising inorganic salts and organic matters are pollutants of con... more Total dissolved solids (TDS) comprising inorganic salts and organic matters are pollutants of concern to aquatic systems and water for human use. This work aimed to investigate the use of revolving algal biofilm (RAB) reactors as a sustainable and environmental friendly method to remove TDS from industrial effluents and municipal wastewaters. The wastewaters contained chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfate as the major components. The RAB reactors fed with synthetic industrial effluent with high TDS level demonstrated the best algal growth, with the highest TDS removal efficiency (27%) and removal rate (2,783 mg/L-day and 19,530 mg/m 2-day). A suspended algal culture system only removed 3% TDS from the same wastewater. The TDS removal by the RAB reactors was considered due to several mechanisms such as absorption by the algae cells, adsorption by extracellular polymeric substance of the biofilm, and/or precipitation. Collectively, this research shows that the RAB reactors can serve as an efficient system in wastewater remediation for TDS removal. © 2019 Water Environment Federation • Practitioner points • Total dissolved solids (TDS) in wastewater are pollutants of concern. • The RAB reactors can remove TDS from various types of wastewater. • The RAB reactors removed TDS by adsorbing ions elements such as Cl, Na, K, Ca, Mg, and S. • The algal biomass absorbs ions through extracellular polymeric substance.
Algal Research, 2021
Abstract This work is to evaluate the feasibility of using a revolving algal biofilm (RAB) reacto... more Abstract This work is to evaluate the feasibility of using a revolving algal biofilm (RAB) reactor for nickel (Ni) removal from high strength industrial wastewater. The RAB reactor can grow an indigenous microalgal species consortium in a wastewater containing up to 5000 mg/L of Ni. The tolerance of RAB biomass to the high strength nickel was attributed to maintaining cells membrane integrity, which is possible due to its high amount of extracellular polymer substances (EPS). The RAB system also demonstrated a superior Ni removal performance with >90% Ni removal efficiency and 534 mg/L-day Ni removal rate. The advantage of RAB system in nickel removal over suspended-based system might be attributed to the high contents of EPS in RAB biofilm, given the fact that the extracellular nickel occupied 60% or higher of the total nickel in the RAB biofilm. The adsorption of Ni by the biomass harvested from the RAB reactors was also studied. The “biomass-physical-adsorption” was less effective than “growing-algae-while-removing-Ni” for Ni removal. Collectively, the results in this study demonstrated that the RAB reactor is a potential system for Ni removal from high strength industrial wastewater.
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2016
Journal of Environmental Quality ANTIBIOTICS IN AGROECOSYSTEMS: STATE OF THE SCIENCE SPECIAL SECT... more Journal of Environmental Quality ANTIBIOTICS IN AGROECOSYSTEMS: STATE OF THE SCIENCE SPECIAL SECTION Core Ideas • The "Rule of 3" is an important tool to predict uptake by crops. • Organic chemicals with certain chemical properties may not be taken up by crops. • Organic compounds following the "Rule of 3" may be better candidates for phytoremediation.
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2016
The former US Steel Corporation's South Works site in Chicago, IL, is a 230-ha bare brownfield co... more The former US Steel Corporation's South Works site in Chicago, IL, is a 230-ha bare brownfield consisting of steel mill slag fill materials that will need to be reclaimed to support and sustain vegetation. We conducted a case study to evaluate the suitability of biosolids and dredged sediments for capping the steel mill slag to establish good quality turfgrass vegetation. Eight study plots were established on a 0.4-ha parcel that received biosolids and dredged sediment blends of 0, 25, 50, or 100% biosolids (v/v). Turfgrass was successfully established and was thicker and greener in biosolids-amended sediments than in unamended sediments. Concentrations of N, P, K, and micronutrients in turfgrass tissues increased with increasing biosolids. Soil organic carbon, N, P, and micronutrients increased with increasing biosolids. Cadmium, Cu, Ni, and Zn concentrations in biosolids-amended sediments also increased with increasing biosolids but were far below phytotoxicity limits for turfgrass. Lead and Cr concentrations in biosolids-amended plots were comparable to concentrations in unamended sediments. Groundwater monitoring lysimeters and wells below the study site and near Lake Michigan were not affected by nutrients leaching from the amendments. Overall, the results from this case study demonstrated that blends of biosolids and dredged sediments could be successfully used for capping steel mill slag brownfield sites to establish good quality turfgrass vegetation.
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2016
Large tracts of abandoned urban land, resulting from the deindustrialization of metropolitan area... more Large tracts of abandoned urban land, resulting from the deindustrialization of metropolitan areas, are generating a renewed interest among city planners and community organizations envisioning the productive use of this land not only to produce fresh food but to effectively manage stormwater and mitigate the impact of urban heat islands. Healthy and productive soils are paramount to meet these objectives. However, these urban lands are often severely degraded due to anthropogenic activities and are generally contaminated with priority pollutants, especially heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Characterizing these degraded and contaminated soils and making them productive again to restore the required ecosystem services was the theme of the "Soil in the City-2014" conference organized by W-2170 Committee (USDA's Sponsored Multi-State Research Project: Soil-Based Use of Residuals, Wastewater, & Reclaimed Water). This special section of Journal of Environmental Quality comprises 12 targeted papers authored by conference participants to make available much needed information about the characteristics of urban soils. Innovative ways to mitigate the risks from pollutants and to improve the soil quality using local resources are discussed. Such practices include the use of composts and biosolids to grow healthy foods, reclaim brownfields, manage stormwater, and improve the overall ecosystem functioning of urban soils. These papers provide a needed resource for educating policymakers, practitioners, and the general public about using locally available resources to restore fertility, productivity, and ecosystem functioning of degraded urban land to revitalize metropolitan areas for improving the overall quality of life for a large segment of a rapidly growing urban population.
In a large field experiment on an irrigated Templeton silt loam (Udic Ustochrept) soil using a co... more In a large field experiment on an irrigated Templeton silt loam (Udic Ustochrept) soil using a completely randomised block design with six replicates (each main plot = 30 x 20m), main plot treatments of wheat and ryegrass grown for seed produced more dry matter (17-23 t cf. 16-17 t ha⁻¹) but less nitrogen (N) (130-230 kg N cf. 387-427 kg N ha⁻¹) than peas and white clover for seed. The application of ¹⁵N tracer to leguminous crops and ¹⁵N-labelled fertiliser to non-leguminous crops in micro-plots allowed the determination of biological N₂ fixation (BNF) and fertiliser N recovery, respectively. Significant proportions of N accumulated in white clover (90%) and peas (69%) was attributed to BNF. Apart from providing a cash crop in the short-term, white clover and peas fixed 327 and 286 kg N ha⁻¹ respectively. On the other hand, between 41-52% of the applied fertiliser N was recovered by ryegrass and wheat crops. In the second year, residues from these main plot treatments and ¹⁵N-label...
Environmental Science & Technology, 2014
Crop uptake of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) from biosolidsamended soil has been identified as a p... more Crop uptake of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) from biosolidsamended soil has been identified as a potential pathway for PFAA entry into the terrestrial food chain. This study compared the uptake of PFAAs in greenhouse-grown radish (Raphanus sativus), celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce), tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum), and sugar snap pea (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon) from an industrially impacted biosolids-amended soil, a municipal biosolids-amended soil, and a control soil. Individual concentrations of PFAAs, on a dry weight basis, in mature, edible portions of crops grown in soil amended with PFAA industrially impacted biosolids were highest for perfluorooctanoate (PFOA; 67 ng/g) in radish root, perfluorobutanoate (PFBA; 232 ng/g) in celery shoot, and PFBA (150 ng/g) in pea fruit. Comparatively, PFAA concentrations in edible compartments of crops grown in the municipal biosolids-amended soil and in the control soil were less than 25 ng/g. Bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) were calculated for the root, shoot, and fruit compartments (as applicable) of all crops grown in the industrially impacted soil. BAFs were highest for PFBA in the shoots of all crops, as well as in the fruit compartment of pea. Root-soil concentration factors (RCFs) for tomato and pea were independent of PFAA chain length, while radish and celery RCFs showed a slight decrease with increasing chain length. Shootsoil concentration factors (SCFs) for all crops showed a decrease with increasing chain length (0.11 to 0.36 log decrease per CF 2 group). The biggest decrease (0.54−0.58 log decrease per CF 2 group) was seen in fruit-soil concentration factors (FCFs). Crop anatomy and PFAA properties were utilized to explain data trends. In general, fruit crops were found to accumulate fewer longchain PFAAs than shoot or root crops presumably due to an increasing number of biological barriers as the contaminant is transported throughout the plant (roots to shoots to fruits). These data were incorporated into a preliminary conceptual framework for PFAA accumulation in edible crops. In addition, these data suggest that edible crops grown in soils conventionally amended for nutrients with biosolids (that are not impacted by PFAA industries) are unlikely a significant source of long-chain PFAA exposure to humans.
Water Environment Research, 2014
Promulgation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) authorized the United States Environmental Protection A... more Promulgation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) authorized the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) to regulate quality standards for surface waters and establish regulations limiting the amounts and types of pollutants entering the nation's waters. U.S. EPA imposed national pretreatment standards on industrial wastes discharged to the collection systems of publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and promulgated General Pretreatment Regulations in 1978. This study analyzed trace metals data from the National Sewage Sludge Surveys conducted by U.S. EPA and the American Metropolitan Sewage Agencies (AMSA) to evaluate the effect of implementation of the national industrial pretreatment standards on concentrations of trace metals in sludges generated by POTWs in the United States. The data showed that implementation of pretreatment programs has been highly effective in reducing the amount of pollutants that enter POTWs and has resulted in a substantial reduction in the levels of trace metals in the municipal sludges. Concentrations of chromium, lead, and nickel in sludge declined by 78, 73, and 63%, respectively, within a year after promulgation of General Pretreatment Regulations. Resulting from these measures, metal concentrations in the sludges generated by a majority of POTWs in the United States are sufficiently low that the sludges can be classified as biosolids and also meet the U.S. EPA's exceptional quality criteria for trace metals in biosolids. This improvement gives POTWs the option to use their biosolids beneficially through land application. Water Environ. Res., 86, 134 (2014).
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2009
Water quality concerns, including greater potential for nutrient transport to surface waters resu... more Water quality concerns, including greater potential for nutrient transport to surface waters resulting in eutrophication and nutrient leaching to ground water, exist when agricultural or food processing industry wastes and by-products are land applied. Plot-and fi eld-scale studies were conducted to evaluate the eff ects of sugar beet by-products on NO 3-N and P losses and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in runoff and NO 3-N concentrations in percolating waters. In the runoff plot study, treatments in the fi rst year included two rates (224 and 448 Mg ha −1 fresh weight) of pulp and spoiled beets and a nonfertilized control. In the second year, no by-products were applied on the treated plots, the control treatment was fertilized with N fertilizer, and an additional treatment was added as a nonfertilized control in buff er areas. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown in the year of by-product application and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in the following year. In the percolation fi eld study, the treatments were the control, pulp (224 Mg ha −1), and spoiled beets (224 Mg ha −1). Results from the runoff plot showed that both by-products caused immobilization of soil inorganic N and thus reduced NO 3-N losses in runoff and soil waters during the fi rst growing season. Th ere was some risk of NO 3-N exceeding the drinking water limit of 10 mg L −1 , especially between the period of wheat harvest and soil freezing in fall when pulp was applied at 448 Mg ha −1. Th e fi eld-scale study showed that by-product application at 224 Mg ha −1 did not result in increased ground water NO 3-N concentrations. Application of spoiled beets at both rates caused signifi cantly higher BODs in runoff in the fi rst year of application. Th e concentrations of total and soluble reactive P (SRP) were also higher from both rates of spoiled beet application and from the higher application rate of pulp during the 2-yr study period. Th ese high BODs and total P and SRP concentrations in runoff waters from land application of sugar beet by-product suggest that application rates should not be higher than 224 Mg ha −1. Best management practices that prevent runoff from entering surface waters directly from these fi elds are warranted.
Journal of Environment Quality, 2004
ronmental Media Services (2000), more than 40% of the antibiotics produced in the U.S. are used a... more ronmental Media Services (2000), more than 40% of the antibiotics produced in the U.S. are used as feed Two commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay supplements. The use of antibiotics in animal feed helps (ELISA) kits that are commonly used for tylosin or tetracycline resiincrease the animal's ability to absorb feed and reach dues in meat and milk were adapted for ultratrace analysis of these market weight on time. It may also counteract the effects antibiotics in surface and ground waters. These two antibiotics are commonly fed to swine, turkeys, and cattle at subtherapeutic doses of crowded living conditions and poor hygiene in intenfor growth promotion purposes. Both ELISA techniques were found sive animal agriculture systems (Environmental Media to be highly sensitive and selective for the respective antibiotics with Services, 2000). detection limits of 0.10 and 0.05 g L Ϫ1 for tylosin and tetracycline, Antibiotics commonly used as feed additive for anirespectively. The recovery of both tylosin and tetracycline from spiked mals include chlortetracycline, bacitracin, bambermysamples of lake waters, runoff samples, soil saturation extracts, and cins, erythromycin, lincomycin, monensin, oleandomycin, nanopure water was close to 100%. Tetracycline ELISA was highly oxytetracycline, penicillin, tylosin, and virginiamycin specific for tetracycline and chlortetracycline but not for other forms (Church and Pond, 1982). The antibiotic dose varies from of tetracycline (oxytetracycline, demeclocycline, and doxycycline). 1 to 100 g Mg Ϫ1 of feed depending upon the type and Analysis of a few liquid swine manure samples by liquid chromasize of the animal and the type of antibiotic. Most of the tography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) showed lower concentrations for chlortetracycline as compared with concentrations obtained using antibiotics added to animal feed are excreted in urine ELISA. However, the concentrations of tylosin from ELISA were or feces. In some cases, as much as 80% of the antibicomparable with that of LC-MS. The lower concentrations of chlortetotic administered orally may pass through the animal racycline obtained by LC-MS in manure samples indicate the presence unchanged (Levy, 1992). of other similar or transformed compounds that were detected by Once excreted in urine and feces, antibiotics may ELISA but not determined by LC-MS. These results indicate that enter surface and/or ground waters through nonpointboth ELISA kits can be useful tools for low-cost screening of tylosin, source pollution from manure-applied lands. Land aptetracycline, and chlortetracycline in environmental waters. Furtherplication of manure is a common practice in many parts more, both ELISA procedures are rapid, portable, and easily adaptof the USA. In the northern tier of the country, manure able for testing of multiple samples simultaneously.
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2005
factors including soil type, climate, and class of antibiotics (Boxall et al., 2004). Most antibi... more factors including soil type, climate, and class of antibiotics (Boxall et al., 2004). Most antibiotics are biodegradable There is some concern that antibiotic residues in land-applied main soils but some of them have a long half-life. Weeranure may promote the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the environment. The goal of this study was to determine whether or singhe and Towner (1997) reported a half-life of 87 to not soil bound antibiotics are still active against bacteria. The proce-173 d for virginiamycin in sandy silt and silty sand soils dure involved sorbing various amounts of tetracycline or tylosin on under laboratory conditions. Kü mmerer (2003) found two different textured soils (Webster clay loam [fine-loamy, mixed, that cyclosporin-A persisted in a garden soil for many superactive, mesic Typic Endoaquolls] and Hubbard loamy sand [sandy, months in spite of the presence of several degrading mixed, frigid Entic Hapludolls]), incubating these soils with three bacteria. Marengo et al. (1997) determined that less different bacterial cultures (an antibiotic resistant strain of Salmonella than 1% of sarafloxacin, an antibiotic used widely in sp. [Salmonella R ], an antibiotic sensitive strain of Salmonella sp. poultry production, degraded in the soil after 80 d of [Salmonella S ], and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922), and then enumerincubation. ating the number of colony forming units relative to the control. Antibiotics in manure-applied land may leach to Incubation was done under both static and dynamic conditions. Soiladsorbed antibiotics were found to retain their antimicrobial proper-ground water or move to surface waters via surface runties since both antibiotics inhibited the growth of all three bacterial off. De Liguoro et al. (2003) detected oxytetracycline species. Averaged over all other factors, soil adsorbed antimicrobial in soil (Ͻ5 g kg Ϫ1 of soil) at a 60-cm depth after treatactivity was higher for Hubbard loamy sand than Webster clay loam, ment with cattle manure while Hamscher et al. (2002) most likely due to higher affinity (higher clay content) of the Webster reported the presence of tetracycline (170 g kg Ϫ1) at soil for antibiotics. Similarly, there was a greater decline in bacterial a 30-cm soil depth, 6 mo after liquid swine manure was growth with tetracycline than tylsoin, likely due to greater amounts applied. Antibiotics have also been detected in rivers of soil-adsorbed tetracycline and also due to lower minimum inhibitory (Kolpin et al., 2002, 2004) and marine sediments (Nyconcentration of most bacteria for tetracycline than tylosin. The anti
Journal of Environmental Quality, 2007
Animal manure is applied to agricultural land as a means to provide crop nutrients. However, anim... more Animal manure is applied to agricultural land as a means to provide crop nutrients. However, animal manure often contains antibiotics as a result of extensive therapeutic and subtherapeutic use in livestock production. The objective of this study was to evaluate plant uptake of a sulfonamide-class antibiotic, sulfamethazine, in corn (Zea mays L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown in a manure-amended soil. The treatments were 0, 50, and 100 mg sulfamethazine mL 21 manure applied at a rate of 56 000 L ha 21. Results from the 45-d greenhouse experiment showed that sulfamethazine was taken up by all three crops, with concentrations in plant tissue ranging from 0.1 to 1.2 mg kg 21 dry weight. Sulfamethazine concentrations in plant tissue increased with corresponding increase of sulfamethazine in manure. Highest plant tissue concentrations were found in corn and lettuce, followed by potato. Total accumulation of sulfamethazine in plant tissue after 45 d of growth was less than 0.1% of the amount applied to soil in manure. These results raise potential human health concerns of consuming low levels of antibiotics from produce grown on manure-amended soils.