Dona Ana Community College
Mentor(s): Dr. Nicole Pietrasiak, New Mexico State University, Assistant Professor for Environmental Soil Microbiology, Plant & Environmental Sciences Department
Program: NM AMP SCCORE
Characterizing Exopolysaccharide Sheathing from Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae are a special group of Bacteria capable of Photosynthesis. They can colonize almost any habitats on earth that receives sunlight including dryland soils. Cyanobacteria produce Extracellular Polysaccharides (EPS) which are a sticky protective layer surrounding their cells. The purpose of this experiment was to characterize the EPS sheath formation of selected filamentous cyanobacteria from permanent and ephemeral freshwater habitats as well as desert soil. Twelve subcultures were sampled and the grown on a Line Orbit Shaker MN 3850 table @ 50 rpm for 14 days. Light was analyzed from different points on the table and the average light that was provided was 40µmol/m2s-1. Then each sample was observed through a Zeiss AxioImager Microscope to survey EPS presence or absence. There was a total of 10 images captured for each of the twelve selected samples. With these images, it was evaluated if the cyanobacteria did or did not produce EPS. Even though the results varied, they all had at least two occurrences of EPS on filaments in the assessed field of view. Quantifying the extend of EPS produced may offer deeper information about potential differences in EPS production of each species and how this may relate to the habitat they occur.
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Vennessa D Maestas, Biology
Central New Mexico Community College
Mentor(s): Marina Hien, New Mexico Tech, Graduate Student
Program: NM AMP SCCORE
Vegetation Surveys
I filled the position of a vegetation survey intern. My job was to assist my advisor Marina Hien in her research on quantifying Rio Grande water loss due to invasive plants. The vegetation surveys were conducted to collect data on plant variation and quantity. The data was collected by conducting vegetation surveys within 200 meters of the Rio Grande. We would scout the 200 meters then decide what portion was most representative of the area. We would lay a 30-meter tape vertically starting at the west point then heading east. We would carry a meter stick horizontally on the line then walk and record all vegetation within that locality onto a data sheet. The data we collected showed plant variation within the 6 locations surveyed. The data can later be used by Marina to answer her research question "How much water is lost along the middle Rio Grande due to Tamarisk evapotranspiration?" A pattern I was able to observe is that in areas of canopy such as Cottonwoods or Tamarisk there was little ground vegetation. Further research is desirable. Considering the aid, I was able to hand lasted only a month. I was part to the successful completion of 6 out of 7 of the transects.
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Ashley Berenice Medina Cardona, Chemical and Material Engineering
Dona Ana Community College
Mentor(s): Dr. Catherine Brewer, New Mexico State University, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering
Program: NM AMP SCCORE/REinWEST
Use of Pyrolysis for Production and Characterization of char
Activated carbon is commonly used in water treatment, however, activated carbon is more expensive than biochar. Pyrolysis is a thermal degradation process of organic compounds in the absence of oxygen or air to produce various gaseous component as well as yield of tar and char residues. Biochar preparation by pyrolysis is relatively low-cost and provides the potential for co-creation of renewable energy. The properties of biochars change depending on their production conditions, therefore, to design the best biochar production process, one needs to understand the effects on biochar properties The end point of the pyrolysis process was decided not on the time but based on the rate of smoke exiting the reactor (approximately 1 hour after the furnace reached 600 °C). The pyrolysis process used appears to create good biochar: the char is black in color. Future work will be addition of instrumental characterization data for the Atriplex char. We will compare the characteristics to commercial activated carbons and other synthesized chars.
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Suzann M Pakozdi , Chemistry
Dona Ana Community College
Mentor(s): Dr. Lambis Papelis, Professor, Civil Engineering, New Mexico State University
Program: NM AMP SCCORE/REinWEST
Removing arsenic and selenium from wast water using zeolite.
Removing arsenic and selenium from a water source using zeolites and microbes This research deals with removing oxyanions of arsenic and selenium from water using a novel approach that combines iron-modified zeolites, a relatively common mineral, and common microorganisms obtained from a wastewater treatment plant. Removing arsenic and selenium from water is important because both of these elements can be encountered at concentrations that are toxic or carcinogenic for humans and wildlife. Elevated concentrations may occur naturally or as a result of industrial operations and mining activities. The proposed technology hinges on a combination of sorption, a physicochemical process, and microbial reduction of elements to less mobile or less toxic forms. The experiments are conducted in columns packed with modified zeolites to which sludge containing microbes, as well as necessary nutrients are added. Columns for arsenic treatment are currently being operated. Column experiments with selenium show removal efficiency up to 98%, depending on selenium oxidation state.
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Mario Portillo, Engineering
Central New Mexico Community College
Mentor(s): Dr. Curtis O'Malley, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Program: NM AMP
Robotics Workshop
This past summer I participated in a research project with NM Tech. The basis for the project was to assist in the development of a robotics workshop that can help teach grade school student with the basics of engineering. This would be accomplished by designing six workshops to guide them with designing, programming, wiring, and assembly of their battle bot.
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Mikayla D Romero, Chemical Engineering
Central New Mexico Community College
Mentor(s): Dr. Catherine Brewer, New Mexico State University, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering
Program: NM AMP SCCORE/REinWEST
The Use of Activated Carbons for Uranium Adsorption
Uranium is a toxic element. If ingested, uranium can cause kidney damage and potentially lead to cancer. Groundwater around abandoned uranium mines can contain uranium from erosion. The use of activated carbons has become an increasing interest for water treatment due to the lower-cost and lower energy requirements when compared to other water treatment methods such as membrane filtration. Here, we study the use of a commercial activated carbon derived from coconut shell, a rice husk char, and pecan shell chars that were created at 400°C and 600°C and at 450°C with activating agent, K2CO3. Simulant contaminated water solutions were created using uranyl nitrate and deionized water at 20, 50, and 100 µg/L. Adsorbent (50 mg) was added to each concentration and placed on the shaker table for 48 hours. The samples were then filtered into three 10 mL samples and the uranium concentration quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Initial concentration results were unable to be interpreted due to ending concentrations appearing to be higher than initial concentrations, we would suggest that the adsorbents already contained uranium-which is known to not be the case. Next steps will include rerunning the experiment being more precise with concentration and solution pH, the testing the adsorbents on contaminated water from a uranium mine site to determine if the lab stimulation is an accurate representation of the adsorption rates needed for the actual problem.
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