UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
McInnis, Joseph Anthony Carlton
Dept./Program:
Natural Resources
Year:
2011
Degree:
Ph. D.
Abstract:
Mining plays an integral role in our current economic system and requires vast technological and human resources to convert raw natural resources into fmished products. The beneficiation processes for minerals often uses organic compounds for the recovery of the desired ore mineral. Discarded minerals have the potential to play new roles in the economy, but must undergo intermediate treatment steps to strip them of the residual organic compounds. A widely used high-production volume alkanolamine, 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol, is the precursor of choice for the synthesis of a fatty imidazoline surfactant used in the beneficiation of calcite. This alkano, lamine is also of great interest for its potential in carbon capture and sequestration applications, as empirical studies have shown it to be the preferred candidate compound for flue gas scrubbing to combat greenhouse gas discharges from major point sources.
Many alkanolamines have been studied with respect to their biodegradability, yet the biodegradation and ecological fate of 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol is poorly characterized. The few papers that do discuss the biodegradation or ecological fate of 2[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol have conflicting results. The most commonly cited source for the degradation of 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol has been misinterpreted and the error perpetuated since early 1980. Many other citations for ready biodegradability are based on internal industry data, which has not been peer-reviewed and published for the scientific community.
This research is broken into 3 major sections. First, it provides a comprehensive, review of the current literature covering 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol, through synthesis and uses to analysis and fates. Second, it describes the ecological engineering approach behind the first ecomimetic treatment system designed to treat calcium carbonate-rich mine tailings and its residual beneficiation reagents. This section provides an assessment of the system's performance, and suggests design improvements for subsequent screening or treatment systems. Third, biodegradation and chemical fate of 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol in the ecomimetic system was assessed using a combination of ¹⁵N stable isotope enrichment tracing, LC-MS-MS, inorganic nitrogen testing and microbiological enrichment cultures and isolation. A number of bacteria were also isolated which are able to utilize AEEA as both their sole carbon and nitrogen source.
Many alkanolamines have been studied with respect to their biodegradability, yet the biodegradation and ecological fate of 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol is poorly characterized. The few papers that do discuss the biodegradation or ecological fate of 2[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol have conflicting results. The most commonly cited source for the degradation of 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol has been misinterpreted and the error perpetuated since early 1980. Many other citations for ready biodegradability are based on internal industry data, which has not been peer-reviewed and published for the scientific community.
This research is broken into 3 major sections. First, it provides a comprehensive, review of the current literature covering 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol, through synthesis and uses to analysis and fates. Second, it describes the ecological engineering approach behind the first ecomimetic treatment system designed to treat calcium carbonate-rich mine tailings and its residual beneficiation reagents. This section provides an assessment of the system's performance, and suggests design improvements for subsequent screening or treatment systems. Third, biodegradation and chemical fate of 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethanol in the ecomimetic system was assessed using a combination of ¹⁵N stable isotope enrichment tracing, LC-MS-MS, inorganic nitrogen testing and microbiological enrichment cultures and isolation. A number of bacteria were also isolated which are able to utilize AEEA as both their sole carbon and nitrogen source.