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---
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title: "Measuring diffusion of protons in polyvinyalginate"
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date: 2018-07-31
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cardImage: library
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draft: false
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featured: false
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categories:
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- poster
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people:
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- Thomas A. Christensen II
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- Jonathan Counts
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- James G. Moberly
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journal: "Idaho INBRE Summer Research Conference"
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location: "Moscow, Idaho"
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---
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Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a toxic and carcinogenic contaminant that presents
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unique challenges for cleanup because of its density and volatility. Use of
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microorganisms may be a promising remediation method, however metabolism of TCE
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results in acid buildup, which consequently impedes the ability of
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microorganisms to perform this remediation. Polyvinylalginate (PVA) shows
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promise as a useful shield for microorganisms carrying out bioremediation of TCE
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by surrounding them in a protective biofilm-like layer, however, key information
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is missing which relates diffusion of TCE or its metabolic products through PVA.
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To measure the effective diffusion coefficient of H{{< sup "+" >}} ions through
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a PVA membrane cross-linked with boric acid and calcium ions, we used a modified
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diaphragm cell. We found the effective diffusion coefficient to be 1.40 ×
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10{{< sup -5 >}} ± 1.91 × 10{{<sup -6 >}} cm{{< sup 2 >}}s, a nearly
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seven-fold decrease in diffusivity compared to protons in water, with an
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unexpected significant but as of yet unquantified adsorption capacity. These
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results suggest that polyvinylalginate is effective in slowing diffusion of
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protons and buffering these acids produced by trichloroethylene metabolism, and
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remains suitable for encapsulation of microorganisms involved in bioremediation.
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