Optimizing Bioremediation of Lead (II) in Wastewater with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Chitosan Across Variable pH Levels

Overview

The presence of lead ions in wastewater is a growing concern worldwide, but especially in impoverished communities, where approximately one-third of children have elevated lead levels in their bloodstream. The current remediation techniques are expensive, inefficient, and inaccessible to regions that require quick and dependable removal of toxins from water, particularly those economically challenged communities. Novel filtration techniques have been investigated, including one involving lactic acid bacteri a (LAB) ubiquitous in living organisms, ranging from dairy products to the human gut. LAB carries a negative charge, facilitating metal ion binding due to the positive charge of Pb (II). This experiment aimed to examine the interaction between the specific LAB, Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus), and chitosan at varying pH levels of lead (II) contaminated wastewater. The hypothesis asserted that the addition of d -glucosamines, such as chitosan, and the manipulation of the acidity of the solution cou ld enhance the negative charge, thereby increasing the absorption of lead. The results of this experiment demonstrated that while both L. acidophilus and chitosan exhibited absorbent properties individually, the combination of L. acidophilus and chitosan was more effective in absorbing lead in almost all groups tested (ANOVA p < .001), and that their synergy was enhanced the most in basic environments. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. These findings have promising implications for larger -scale wastewater purification, particularly in communities that do not have access to standard lead removal techniques due to economic constraints. Analysis of Methanol and Hydrogen Interactions Under High Pressure Using Raman Spectroscopy Alana Nisperos Lemont High School, Lemont, IL Mentor Dr. Stephen Gramsch, University of Illinois Chicago In this study, I compared two samples: one with pure methanol and another containing a methanol - hydrogen mixture. My goal was to see if the interactions between hydrogen and methanol at high pressures would result in a clathrate, a structure where the liqu id methanol would form a cage around the hydrogen gas. To model a high-pressure environment, the samples were put into a diamond anvil cell (DAC), which was able to compress the materials up to 12.0 gigapascals. Raman spectroscopy analysis was used to determine the vibrational modes of the molecules in my samples — this allowed me to yield information about the chemical structure and molecular dynamics of both the pure methanol and the methanol - hydrogen mixture as they experienced increasing pressure. The Raman spectra showed changes in the methanol-hydrogen mixture that point to a clathrate-like structure beginning to form at the mixture’s freezing pressure of 6.5 GPa. The most drastic change occurred in the vibrational mode of the hydrogen molecule. This study provides new information on high pressure behavior of simple hydrogen-bonded liquids, as well as how organic molecules interact with hydrogen in extreme conditions. This could potentially contribute to further studies relating to planet-forming processes, especially as more organic molecules are discovered in the material surrounding stars. The results of this study have potential implications in planetary systems such as TW Hydrae, where methanol makes up the composition of the protoplanetary disk.

Competition history

• JSHS 2024 Category not listed

Resources

• National JSHS abstract book ↗

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