Impact of Type and Shape of Microplastics on the Transport in Column Experiments.

The pervasive nature of plastic and the longevity of plastics leaves a legacy of microplastics (MPs) that contaminate our environment, including drinking water sources. Although MPs have been documented in every environmental setting, a paucity of research has focused on the transport and fate of MPs in groundwater. Previous field and laboratory studies have shown that MPs can migrate through aquifer material and are influenced by environmental factors.

Natural attenuation of pharmaceuticals and an illicit drug in a laboratory column experiment.

Trace amounts of pharmaceutical compounds have been detected in waters across the United States. Many compounds are released as the result of human ingestion and subsequent excretion of over-the-counter and prescription medications, and illicit drugs. This research utilized columns (30×30cm) of sand and undisturbed fine-grained sediments to simulate injection of wastewater containing pharmaceuticals and an illicit drug, such as would be found in a septic system, leaky sewer, or landfill.

Influence of microbial biofilms on the preservation of primary soft tissue in fossil and extant archosaurs.

Background: Mineralized and permineralized bone is the most common form of fossilization in the vertebrate record. Preservation of gross soft tissues is extremely rare, but recent studies have suggested that primary soft tissues and biomolecules are more commonly preserved within preserved bones than had been presumed. Some of these claims have been challenged, with presentation of evidence suggesting that some of the structures are microbial artifacts, not primary soft tissues.

Anaerobic biodegradation of TCE in laboratory columns of fractured saprolite.

An experiment was conducted to determine if biodegradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) can occur in previously uncontaminated ground water in saturated fractured saprolite (highly weathered material derived from sedimentary rocks). Two undisturbed columns (0.23 m diameter by 0.