Award Date

1-1-2001

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

First Committee Member

Jacimaria R. Batista

Number of Pages

174

Abstract

This thesis investigated parameters affecting perchlorate biodegradation in the Las Vegas Wash area in Las Vegas, NV. Perchlorate is known to interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland of humans. Perchlorate concentrations along the Las Vegas Wash were found to range from zero to 1000 ppb, while perchlorate concentrations in the contaminated seepage were approximately 100 ppm. Microbial counts in 30 water samples from the Las Vegas Wash and the contaminated seepage indicated that indigenous perchlorate-reducing microbes are ubiquitous and present in reasonable numbers. In the contaminated area, natural perchlorate biodegradation seems to be limited by at least three factors: the absence of electron donors, the presence of high levels of nitrate, and high salinity levels.

Keywords

Biodegradation; Contaminated; Evaluation; Perchlorate; Site; Situ

Controlled Subject

Environmental engineering; Environmental sciences; Microbiology

File Format

pdf

File Size

4075.52 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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