Date of Award

6-2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Science

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

Charles A. Bleckmann, PhD

Abstract

The use of wetlands to effectively remediate aquifers contaminated with chlorinated solvents is an emerging technique, which shows high promise. In order to better understand this process and test its legitimacy, a treatment wetland was constructed at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio and, in a joint effort with Wright State University (WSU), has previously shown the effective removal of PCE. The purpose of this research was to characterize the soil bacterial community, pre-PCE injection, among three wetland plant species from the sedge family (Cyperaceae) within constructed wetland mesocosms and to identify any bacterial dominance. Carex comosa, Scirpus atrovirens, and Eleocharis erythropoda were planted in multiple columns (mesocosms) filled with inoculated soils; water flow was through a vertical up-flow design representative of a ground water-fed wetland. DNA extractions ;.vere .made from soil samples taken at each three depths. 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloning, plasmid DNA isolation, and sequencing were used to characterize the bacterial community.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GES-ENV-06J-01

DTIC Accession Number

ADA466099

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