Biomedical subjects

Victor F Medina

Publications and source records attributed to Victor F Medina.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Phytotreatment of propellant contamination.

Nitroglycerine (NG) and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) are propellants often found in soil and groundwater at military firing ranges. Because of the need for training with live ammunition, control or cleanup of these contaminants may be necessary for the continued use of these firing ranges. One inexpensive approach for managing sites exposed to these contaminants is the use phytoremedation, particularly using common or native grasses. In this study, the uptake of NG and 2,4-DNT from water by three common grasses, yellow nutsedge (Cyperus escalantus), yellow foxtail (Setaria glauca), and common rush (Juncus effusus), was investigated using hydroponic reactors. Rapid removal from solution by all grasses was observed, with yellow nutsedge removal rates being the highest. NG or 2,4-DNT accumulated in the tissues in all of the plants, except yellow foxtail did not accumulate NG. Higher concentrations were observed in killed roots, demonstrating the presence of plant-based enzymes actively transforming the contaminants. Yellow nutsedge was also grown in 2,4-DNT spiked soil. Significant uptake into the plants roots and leaves was observed and concentrations in the soil decreased rapidly, although 2,4-DNT concentration also decreased in the unplanted controls. In summary, the three grasses tested appear to be good candidates for phytoremediation of propellant contamination.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2005

Evaluating factors affecting the permeability of emulsions used to stabilize radioactive contamination from a radiological dispersal device.

Present strategies for alleviating radioactive contamination from a radiological dispersal device (RDD) or dirty bomb involve either demolishing and removing radioactive surfaces or abandoning portions of the area near the release point. In both cases, it is imperative to eliminate or reduce migration of the radioisotopes until the cleanup is complete or until the radiation has decayed back to acceptable levels. This research investigated an alternative strategy of using emulsions to stabilize radioactive particulate contamination. Emergency response personnel would coat surfaces with emulsions consisting of asphalt or tall oil pitch to prevent migration of contamination. The site can then be evaluated and cleaned up as needed. In order for this approach to be effective, the treatment must eliminate migration of the radioactive agents in the terror device. Water application is an environmental condition that could promote migration into the external environment. This research investigated the potential for water, and correspondingly contaminant, migration through two emulsions consisting of Topein, a resinous byproduct during paper manufacture. Topein C is an asphaltic-based emulsion and Topein S is a tall oil pitch, nonionic emulsion. Experiments included water adsorption/ mobilization studies, filtration tests, and image analysis of photomicrographs from an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) and a stereomicroscope. Both emulsions were effective at reducing water migration. Conductivity estimates were on the order of 10(-80) cm s(-1) for Topein C and 10(-7) cm s(-1) for Topein S. Water mobility depended on emulsion flocculation and coalescence time. Photomicrographs indicate that Topein S consisted of greater and more interconnected porosity. Dilute foams of isolated spherical gas cells formed when emulsions were applied to basic surfaces. Gas cells rose to the surface and ruptured, leaving void spaces that penetrated throughout the emulsion. These experiments indicate that emulsions may be a viable means for containing RDD residuals; however, improvements are needed for optimal performance.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2005

Perchlorate analysis using solid-phase extraction cartridges.

Perchlorate is a compound of increasing concern as an environmental contaminant and is being regulated at increasingly stringent levels. Reliable methods are needed to consistently analyze perchlorate at low concentration levels. This research investigates the use of solid-phase extraction cartridges as an alternative to large-volume injection loops to achieve low-level (microg/L level) perchlorate quantitation. The method involves commercially available strong anion exchange (SAX) cartridges. Water samples are filtered (100 to 1000 mL) using the cartridge, which removes the perchlorate from the solution by anion exchange. Then, after the desired volume is filtered, the perchlorate is extracted using 4 mL of 1% NaOH. In addition, a cleanup method is developed to remove competing anions (chloride, sulfate, and carbonate) that are often found in environmental samples. Analyses are performed with an ion chromatograph using a 10-microL injection loop, yielding a perchlorate method detection limit (MDL) of 210 microg/L. One-liter volumes of a 2-microg/L perchlorate spiked deionized water solution are filtered with SAX SPE. Following extraction and analysis, an MDL of 0.82 microg/L is obtained, comparable to that found for 1-mL injection loop systems (reported as low as 0.53 microg/L). MDL studies are then conducted on perchlorate-amended groundwater (solution concentration of 70 microg/L) and surface water (solution concentration of 10 microg/L) using a filtration volume of 200 mL. The MDLs are 6.7 microg/L for the groundwater and 2.4 microg/L for the surface water.

Chromatography, Ion Exchange↗

PubMed2004

Treatment of trinitrotoluene by crude plant extracts.

Crude plant extract solutions (spinach and parrotfeather) were prepared and spiked with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) (20 mgl(-1)). 90-h TNT removal by these solutions was compared to controls. Spinach and parrotfeather extract solutions removed 99% and 50% of the initial TNT, respectively; TNT was not eliminated in the controls or in extract solutions where removal activity was deactivated by boiling. A first-order removal constant of 0.052 h(-1) was estimated for spinach extract solutions treating 20 mgl(-1) TNT concentrations, which compared favorably to intact plant removal. Concentration variation was described by Michaelis-Menton kinetics. Detectable TNT degradation products represented only a fraction of the total TNT transformed, and the transformation favored the formation of 4-aminodinitrotoluene. The results indicated that crude plant extracts transform TNT, without the presence of the live plant.

Biotransformation↗

PubMed2002

Treatment of munitions in soils using phytoslurries.

Phytoremediation is an established technology for the treatment of explosives in water and soil. This study investigated the possibility of using slurried plants (or phytoslurries) to treat explosives (TNT and RDX). The degradation of TNT in solution using intact and slurried parrotfeather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), spinach (Spinicia oleracea), and mustard greens (Brassica juncea) was evaluated. Phytoslurries of parrotfeather and spinach removed the TNT faster than the intact plant. Conversely, the removal rate constants for slurried and intact mustard greens were about the same. A study using pressurized heating to destroy enzymatic activity in the phytoslurries was also conducted to compare removal from released plant chemicals to adsorptive removal. Aqueous phase removal of TNT by autoclaved spinach phytoslurry was compared with nonautoclaved spinach phytoslurry. The autoclaved phytoslurry did remove TNT, but not as completely as nonautoclaved slurry. This suggests that some removal is due to adsorption, but not all. Phytoslurries of mustard greens and parrotfeather had higher RDX removal rates compared with intact plant removal, but the rates for parrotfeather in either case were relatively low. Phytoslurries of spinach had relatively modest increases in RDX removal rates compared with intact plant. Studies were then conducted with phytoslurry/soil mixtures at two scales: 60 ml and 1.5 l. In both cases, phytoslurries of mustard greens and spinach removed TNT and RDX at higher levels than control slurries.

Evaluation Study↗