Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center
EPA Grant Number: CR831276Subproject: this is subproject number R831276 , established and managed by the Center Director under a main grant
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Gulf Coast HSRC (Lamar)
Center Director: Ho, Tho C.
Title: Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center
Investigators: Ho, Tho C.
Institution: Lamar University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: December 1, 2003 through August 31, 2007
RFA: Targeted Research Center (2004) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research
Objective:
This final report executive summary is prepared in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the EPA Assistance Agreement CR83127601-0 and CR83127601-1 between Lamar University Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center (GCHSRC) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This Agreement covers a period of three years and ten months from December 1, 2003 through August 31, 2007 and the total amount of the Agreement is $2,441,655.00 where the EPA award was $1,937,900.00 and GCHSRC match was $503,755. During the Agreement period, the GCHSRC has supported a total of 26 general research projects that address a wide range of environmental needs associated with Gulf-Coast industries. The supported general research projects were focused in all three of the Center’s major focus areas that include site remediation, pollution prevention, and waste treatment. All the supported projects under this Agreement were carried out at the Center’s nine member universities. The list and the technical description of the supported projects are included in this final report.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center (GCHSRC) is a university-based consortium comprised of nine research universities in five Gulf Coast states: Texas A&M University, University of Texas, Rice University, University of Houston, Lamar University, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, University of Alabama, and University of Central Florida. Established in 1989, GCHSRC has earned recognition throughout the United States as one of the premier university-based environmental research centers currently conducting bench-, pilot-, and full-scale research in the areas of (1) site remediation by technology innovation, modification, and emerging technologies; (2) waste treatment; and (3) pollution prevention. The major areas of technology research include biological remediation, soils and sludge treatment, separations, hazardous substance monitoring and detection, combustion, oxidation, pollution prevention and modeling, and risk assessment. Research projects are multimedia in nature and involve remediation of pollutants in soil, water, and air. GCHSRC projects have received numerous awards, including the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, NASA's Gold Quality Dollar Award, and the State of Texas Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and Innovative Technology.
During this agreement period, the GCHSRC funded 26 projects distributed among eight of the nine member universities as follows: Lamar University-6; University of Houston-5; Rice University-2; Texas A&M University-4; The University of Texas-4; Louisiana State University-2; Mississippi State University-2; and University of Alabama-1. These funded projects are listed below:
LUB849 |
Daniel Chen |
Visible-Light-Responsive Titania Modified with Aerogel/Ferroelectric Optical Materials for VOC Oxidation |
LUB852 |
Helen Lou |
Reduction of Environmental Impact and Improvement of Intrinsic Security in Unsteady-state |
LUB855 |
Che-Jen Lin |
Simulations of the Emission, Transport, Chemistry and Deposition of Atmospheric Mercury in the Upper Gulf Coast Region |
LUB856 |
Hsing-Wei Chu |
Development of a Microwave-Induced On-Site Regeneration Technology for Advancing the Control of Mercury and VOC Emissions Employing Activated Carbon |
LUB857 |
Carl Yaws |
Integrated Chemical Complex and Cogeneration Analysis System: Greenhouse Gas Management and Pollution Prevention Solutions |
LSU857 |
Ralph Pike |
|
MSU862 |
Rafael Hernandez |
Effect of Pitting Corrosion Promoters on the Treatment of Waters Contaminated with a Nitroaromatic Compounds Using Integrated Reductive/Oxidative Processes |
UHH864 |
Bill Rixey |
A Large-Scale Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Ethanol on Groundwater Contamination |
RUH864 |
Philip Bedient |
|
TAM866 |
Bill Batchelor |
DNAPL Source Control by Reductive Dechlorination with Fe(II) |
TAM868 |
Bill Batchelor |
Arsenic Removal and Stabilization with Synthesized Pyrite |
TAM870 |
Mahmoud |
Pollution Prevention through Functionality Tracking and Property Integration |
UHH879 |
Deborah Roberts |
Minimization of Hazardous Ion-Exchange Brine Waste by Biological Treatment of Perchlorate and Nitrate to Allow Brine Recycle |
UHH880 |
James Richardson |
Improved Combustion Catalysts for NOx Emission Reduction |
UTA883 |
Matthew Hall |
Compact Nephelometer System for On-Line Monitoring of Particulate Matter Emissions |
UTA884 |
James Holcombe |
Linear Polymer Chain and Bioengineered Chelators for Metals Remediation |
UTA887 |
Kerry Kinney |
Rapid Determination of Microbial Pathways for |
UTA889 |
Lynn Katz |
Treatment of Perchlorate Contaminated Water Using a Combined Biotic/Abiotic Process |
LUB897 |
Carl Yaws |
Developing New Continuous Processes for Carbon Nanotubes Required for Advanced Materials Based on Nanotube-Polymer Composites Using Total Cost and Life-Cycle Assessment |
LSU897 |
Ralph Pike |
|
MSU899 |
Rafael Hernandez |
Tuning Sorptive Capacity and Reactivity of Zero-Valent Metals Integrated to Lighted Advanced Oxidation Techniques for Treating Nitroaromaticss Contaminated Waters |
RUH901 |
Pedro Alvarez |
Development and Evaluation of a RTQ-PCR Protocol for Quantification of Anaerobic Benzene Degraderss in Aquifer Materials |
TAM904 |
Mahmoud |
Pollution Prevention Through Functionality Tracking and Property Integration |
UAL906 |
Duane Johnson |
Development of a Supersaturated Dissolved Oxygen Probe for Non-chlorinated Bleach Substitutes |
UHH914 |
Michael Harold |
Development of an Integrated Particulate and Nox Trap System for Diesel Engines |
UHH915 |
Deborah Roberts |
Minimization of Hazardous Ion-Exchange Brine Waste by Biological Treatment of Perchlorate and Nitrate to Allow Brine Recycle |
While the executive summary for each funded project is available and separately reported, the significant accomplishments from the funded projects are summarized below. In general, the funded projects have achieved various degree of success in terms of the objectives, goals and milestones set up for the projects. The accomplishments related to the educational component have included the training of undergraduate students, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows; related to the technology transfer component have included theses and dissertation completion, paper publication and conference presentation; and related to the commercialization component have included patent application and the commercialization of the developed technology. Many funded projects have received substantial amount of follow-up grants as the results from the GCHSRC funding support.
During the report period the Center continued to place emphasis on the implementation of the Quality Management Plan approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Project Officer in January 2003. The goal of this QMP is to assure that data collected for the characterization of environmental processes and conditions are of the appropriate type and quality for their intended use and that environmental technologies are designed, constructed, and operated according to defined expectations. It is the policy of the Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center to implement and fully support accepted standards for practicing quality assurance and quality control in all research conducted under its auspices.
An annual site visit was made to each member university to monitor research projects and conduct laboratory inspections as required by the Center’s Policy Manual to the Grants Administration Division. During the site visit the principal investigator or graduate students working on the project made presentations and updated the status of the research effort. In addition quality assurance audits were conducted on selected projects to assure compliance with the approved quality assurance project plans. The audits also involved laboratory inspections for health and safety related issues.
The Center has updated its homepage to make it more user friendly. In addition to access to all sponsored projects (with abstracts and publications) the homepage has links to other hazardous substance research centers and related environmental sites. Center newsletters, important dates, workshops, member universities, science advisory council, principal investigators, and staff are available under appropriate tabs.
The Center receives numerous requests to make presentations on the research program from local and state environmental organizations as well as the media. Presentations to environmental managers from local industries and community action panels are typical examples. The Center provides technical advice to citizen inquires on a wide range of environmental issues.
In summary, the Center has successfully accomplished its mission and fulfilled its obligations under this Assistance Agreement CR83127601-0 and CR83127601-1 with the US EPA during the Agreement period from December 1, 2003 through August 31, 2007. The Center was awarded $1,937,900 on this grant. We spent $1,346,739 conducting and supporting 26 research projects over the three years and ten months grant period. The Center had estimated supplying $503,755 of matching funds; however, $593,955.01 of matching funds was actually supplied.
Future Activities:
The future activities of the GCHSRC are to continue to promote research excellence in all three of the Center’s focus areas and at all nine of the Center’s member universities under potential future cooperative agreements with the US EPA. In 2005, the Center teamed up with the RTI International Research Team and was awarded with a STREAMS (Scientific, Technical, Research, Engineering and Modeling Support) contract by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development (ORD). This five-year contract, worth up to $50 million, allows GCHSRC to use its expertise to provide support to ORD as well as EPA program offices and other federal agencies. The program is managed by EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Specific research topics included in the contract are contaminated sediments and soils, waste management, endocrine disrupting compounds, confined animal feedlot operations, biosolids and wastewater treatment, ecosystem restoration, watershed stressors, brownfields revitalization, sustainability, groundwater, drinking water and emerging wastes.
Journal Articles: 18 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other center views: | All 64 publications | 19 publications in selected types | All 18 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Cang Y, Roberts DJ, Clifford DA. Development of cultures capable of reducing perchlorate and nitrate in high salt solutions. Water Research 2004;38(14-15):3322-3330. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C017 (2004) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Chen DH, Ye X, Li K. Oxidation of PCE with a UV LED photocatalytic reactor. Chemical Engineering & Technology 2005;28(1):95-97. |
CR831276 (Final) R828598 (Final) R828598C744 (Final) R831276C004 (2004) |
Exit |
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El-Halwagi MM, Glasgow IM, Qin X, Eden MR. Property integration: componentless design techniques and visualization tools. AIChE Journal 2004;50(8):1854-1869. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C006 (2004) |
Exit |
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Hernandez R, Zappi M, Kuo C-H. Chloride effect on TNT degradation by zerovalent iron or zinc during water treatment. Environmental Science & Technology 2004;38(19):5157-5163. |
R831276C008 (2004) |
Exit Exit |
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Ho TC, Kobayashi N, Lee Y, Lin J, Hopper JR. Experimental and kinetic study of mercury adsorption on various activated carbons in a fixed bed adsorber. Environmental Engineering Science 2004;21(1):21-27. |
CR831276 (Final) R828598 (Final) R828598C697 (Final) R831276C005 (2004) |
Exit |
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Huang C, Chen DH, Li K. Photocatalytic oxidation of butyraldehyde over titania in air: by-product identification and reaction pathways. Chemical Engineering Communications 2003;190(3):373-392. |
CR831276 (Final) R828598 (Final) R828598C744 (2001) R831276C004 (2004) |
Exit |
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Kazantzi V, Harell D, Gabriel F, Qin X, El-Halwagi MM. Property-based integration for sustainable development. Computer Aided Chemical Engineering 2004;18:1069-1074. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C006 (2004) |
Exit |
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Lin C-J, Ho TC, Chu H-W, Yang H, Mojica MJ, Krishnarajanagar N, Chiou P, Hopper JR. A comparative study of US EPA 1996 and 1999 emission inventories in the west Gulf of Mexico coast region, USA. Journal of Environmental Management 2005;75(4):303-313. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C012 (2004) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Lin C-J, Pongprueksa P, Bullock Jr. OR, Lindberg SE, Pehkonen SO, Jang C, Braverman T, Ho TC. Scientific uncertainties in atmospheric mercury models II: sensitivity analysis in the CONUS domain. Atmospheric Environment 2007;41(31):6544-6560. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C012 (2004) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Lin C-J, Lindberg SE, Ho TC, Jang C. Development of a processor in BEIS3 for estimating vegetative mercury emission in the continental United States. Atmospheric Environment 2005;39(39):7529-7540. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C012 (2004) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Lin C-J, Pongprueksa P, Lindberg SE, Pehkonen SO, Byun D, Jang C. Scientific uncertainties in atmospheric mercury models I: model science evaluation. Atmospheric Environment 2006;40(16):2911-2928. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C012 (2004) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Lou HH, Kulkarni MA, Singh A, Hopper JR. Sustainability assessment of industrial systems. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2004;43(15):4233-4242. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C014 (2004) |
Exit Exit |
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Lou HH, Kulkarni MA, Singh A, Huang YL. A game theory based approach for emergy analysis of industrial ecosystem under uncertainty. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy 2004;6(3):156-161. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C014 (2004) |
Exit Exit |
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Malachowski L, Holcombe JA. Immobilized poly-L-histidine for chelation of metal cations and metal oxyanions. Analytica Chimica Acta 2003;495(1-2):151-163. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C009 (2004) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Malachowski L, Holcombe JA. Comparison of immobilized poly-L-aspartic acid and poly-L-glutamic acid for chelation of metal cations. Analytica Chimica Acta 2004;517(1-2):187-193. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C009 (2004) |
Exit Exit Exit |
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Malachowski L, Stair JL, Holcombe JA. Immobilized peptides/amino acids on solid supports for metal remediation. Pure and Applied Chemistry 2004;76(4):777-787. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C009 (2004) |
Exit Exit |
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Qin X, Gabriel F, Harell D, El-Halwagi MM. Algebraic techniques for property integration via componentless design. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2004;43(14):3792-3798. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C006 (2004) |
Exit |
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Xu A, Indala S, Hertwig TA, Pike RW, Knopf FC, Yaws CL, Hopper JR. Development and integration of new processes consuming carbon dioxide in multi-plant chemical production complexes. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy 2005;7(2):97-115. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C014 (2004) |
Exit Exit |
Supplemental Keywords:
RFA, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Waste, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, Environmental Chemistry, Chemicals, Hazardous Waste, Hazardous, Environmental Engineering, contaminated sediments, hazardous waste management, hazardous waste treatment, groundwater remediation, remediation, contaminated groundwater, reductive dechlorinationProgress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R831276C001 DNAPL Source Control by Reductive Dechlorination with Fe(II)
R831276C002 Arsenic Removal and Stabilization with Synthesized Pyrite
R831276C003 A Large-Scale Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Ethanol on Groundwater Contamination
R831276C004 Visible-Light-Responsive Titania Modified with Aerogel/Ferroelectric Optical Materials for VOC Oxidation
R831276C005 Development of a Microwave-Induced On-Site Regeneration Technology for Advancing the Control of Mercury and VOC Emissions Employing Activated Carbon
R831276C006 Pollution Prevention through Functionality Tracking and Property Integration
R831276C007 Compact Nephelometer System for On-Line Monitoring of Particulate Matter Emissions
R831276C008 Effect of Pitting Corrosion Promoters on the Treatment of Waters Contaminated with a Nitroaromatic Compounds Using Integrated Reductive/Oxidative Processes
R831276C009 Linear Polymer Chain and Bioengineered Chelators for Metals Remediation
R831276C010 Treatment of Perchlorate Contaminated Water Using a Combined Biotic/Abiotic Process
R831276C011 Rapid Determination of Microbial Pathways for Pollutant Degradation
R831276C012 Simulations of the Emission, Transport, Chemistry and Deposition of Atmospheric Mercury in the Upper Gulf Coast Region
R831276C013 Reduction of Environmental Impact and Improvement of Intrinsic Security in Unsteady-state
R831276C014 Integrated Chemical Complex and Cogeneration Analysis System: Greenhouse Gas Management and Pollution Prevention Solutions
R831276C015 Improved Combustion Catalysts for NOx Emission Reduction
R831276C016 A Large-Scale Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Ethanol on Groundwater Contamination
R831276C017 Minimization of Hazardous Ion-Exchange Brine Waste by Biological Treatment of Perchlorate and Nitrate to Allow Brine Recycle
R831276C018 Integrated Chemical Complex and Cogeneration Analysis System: Greenhouse Gas Management and Pollution Prevention Solutions
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.