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