Evaluation of in situ biodegradation of perchlorate in a contaminated site

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.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

2001

Author dc:creator

• Zhang, Zhong

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jacimaria R. Batista

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/1307

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-2306