Recipient Organization
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV
(N/A)
EAST LANSING,MI 48824
Performing Department
BIOSYSTEMS & AGRIC ENGINEERING
Non Technical Summary
Because of prevalent use of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and pesticides by consumers and in agriculture, organic chemicals are common contaminants in U.S. surface waters. Plant-based systems, including natural and engineered wetlands, vegetative filter strips, and phytoremediation plots, have capabilities to treat waters contaminated with organic chemicals. Research focuses on using controlled-laboratory studies to identify important processes in treatment of organic chemicals in plant-based systems. Laboratory research will also aim to identify native plant species with enhanced capabilities to treat organic chemicals and waters; tissue culture and genetic engineering research may also be used to further enhance capabilities of native plants species with regards to treatment of organic chemicals and growth under unfavorable field conditions. Results from laboratory studies are then to be applied to green-house and field studies to optimize design of
plant-based systems that can address full-scale agricultural/urban runoff and waste issues. Additionally, field-scale studies are to be used to assess relative importance of plant-associated processes in environmental fate of organic chemicals.
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
30%
Developmental
30%
Goals / Objectives
Research focuses on designing laboratory to field scale systems to assess fate of emerging and agricultural pollutants in plant-based systems, including wetlands, vegetative filter strips, and phytoremediation fields. Particular pollutants of concern include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and pesticides. These pollutants are introduced to surface water via wastewater effluents, urban stormwater, and agricultural runoff; additionally, these pollutants often coexist with traditional pollutants (e.g., fecal coliforms, suspended solids, nutrients). As plant-based systems can effectively treat many traditional pollutants, it is important to assess the capabilities of natural and engineered ecosystems to treat surface waters containing emerging and agricultural pollutants. Research objectives are to (1) design bench-scale systems in which plant-associated processes can be delineated and quantified with regards to emerging and agricultural pollutants, (2) identify
important plant-associated processes for removal of emerging and agricultural pollutants in plant-based systems, (3) identify crucial parameters in plant-associated removal of emerging and agricultural pollutants, (4) optimize design of plant-based systems for treatment of surface waters containing emerging and agricultural pollutants, and (5) engineer plants with enhanced removal capabilities for emerging and agricultural pollutants. Expected outputs include integration of laboratory experimental assessments with field scale applications. Research results are to be integrated into teaching (BE 481 and 482; Ecological Engineering course in development) and will be disseminated via publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and international conferences.
Project Methods
This research projects aims to integrate laboratory, green-house, and field scale experimentation to yield basic scientific knowledge and the ability to incorporate thus newly discovered knowledge into field-scale applications. On a laboratory and green-house scale, research utilizes both controlled experimentation and mass balance approaches (e.g., C-labeling) to identify and quantify important plant-associated removal processes that contribute to fate of emerging and agricultural pollutants. Tools will be developed at the laboratory and green-house scale to track and quantify important processes in field systems. Analyses are to include separation via liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (e.g., MS, MS/MS, TOF), and UV/Vis spectrometry (e.g., DAD). Research also includes use of tissue culture and genetic engineering to develop plants with enhanced capabilities to metabolize emerging and agricultural pollutants and to grow under
unfavorable field conditions. Research activities will be used to train undergraduate and graduate students in experimental design, reactor design, chemical analysis, and result interpretation. Research outputs will be evaluated based on acceptability of results for publication in peer-reviewed literature and ability to apply results to pressing water quality issues at Michigan State University and community.