mn bio ox webinar, aug 2016

Veteran Owned BusinessCAGE: 7KPH4 NAICS: 562910, 541620, 238910

www.EcoIslandsLLC.com

Colin Lennox EcoIslands LLCFounder, Inventor & CEO [email protected]

Kyle DammannEcoIslands LLC Communications DirectorFounding Member

Ben Franklin Technology Partners 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 Technology Grant Recipient

2012 Blair County Chamber Of Commerce Technology Award Recipient

2013 Blair County Chamber Of Commerce Technology Award Recipient

Who Is this Presentation For?●AMD & Hard Rock Mining●Trouble Meeting TMDLS ●Help Removing Iron, Manganese, Aluminum●Reducing alkalinity amendments and costs●Limited Space, Budget, and or Time Constraints●Governmental Agencies & Engineering Firms

Looking for Better Solutions

Patents Pending - All Rights Reserved - © EcoIslands LLC 2016

Presented by Colin LennoxCEO, EcoIslands LLC

Naturally Attenuating Bioreactors

Natural Attenuation of AMD Generated

Manganese by Fungal Biofilm and Metal Removal Units (MRUs)



Patents pending, completely passive, all in one solution to pollutant remediation.

What is an MRU & Natural Attenuation

● AMD & Hard Rock Metals and Metalloids

● Nutrients & Agriculture ● Human Waste

Big picture of truck and many mrus

Metal Removal Unit Site Diagram


Who are we?We Provide Water Contaminant

Solutions using MRU Technology


●Founded in 2009 - Team of 7 Experts ●Government Contracting Codes:

○ CAGE: 7KPH4 NAICS: 562910, 541620, 238910●We are serving 5 clients on 6 sites

○ Cambria & Clearfield County DEPs ○ Vindex Energy, Bentley Dev., M.B. Energy, Green Sky Co.

●We are here to help you solve your AMD & Hard Rock Mining pollution problems.


Who Are We Contd.

What is Biofilm?“By the skin of your teeth”. A colloid, like mayo. Covers every square inch of surface area on the planet. ● Up to 50% of all biomass. ● Primary component of wetland natural

attenuation.

Photo: Glasgow, 2013, MRU prototype in operation


Early Prototype MRUS at Flight 93 Nat. Memorial

and Glasgow 2013


Glasgow Early Prototype MRUs 2012-13


“{(5 gal/min) * (23 mg Mn/L)]/24 ft^2) * (1/1000) (g/mg) * 3.78 (L/gal) * 1440 (min/day) * 10.76 (ft^2/m^2) = 281 (g Mn/d*m^2).

We examined 8 conventional limestone-based Mn removal beds and calculated GDM values of ~2 – 10 (g Mn/d*m^2) (see Santelli et al. 2010). Your unit is 28 – 140 times better than any of those!” (W. Burgos, 2014, personal correspondence concerning Glasgow calculations.)


Average In = 3.7mg/L Mn. Out = 0.39 mg/L Mn

(25gpm x 3.78L/gal x 3.3mg/l Mn x 1440min x 1/1000) / 3 meters square = 149.68 grams/day/m2 or, 158.67g/d/m3

449 grams/day/3m2 for both MRUs

Flight 93, gaber brown, curley, deitrich

Eagle Daily Removal @ pH 6.5-7


Manganese Dioxide, identified as rancieite mixed with diatoms, SEM. (Ling. F. 2014. Glasgow Site.)


Coir and Mn Oxide particles

(Ling, F. 2014.Glasgow Site.)



Mn concentrations by dry weight report from Fairways Labs of Altoona, PA

Metals by EPA 6000/7000 Series Methods EPA 6010B/2.0

22% of the original sample taken were solids, and of those solids,

Aluminum = 0.184%Iron = 2.91%Manganese = 51.8%

Considering the diatoms, the rest of the dry weight is hypothesized to be primarily Si, Ca, and Mg

We’ve replicated the results for four years, and what the lit says about what we are seeing.

1. “The ability for microorganisms to oxidize Mn(II) and Mn(III/IV) oxides is found throughout the bacterial and fungal domains of life.” (Hansel et. al. 2012.)

2. “The presence of manganese may be inhibited by the presence of large amounts of iron, because iron exerts a preferential claim on available oxygen (Hedin and Nairn, 1993):” ( cited from Treatment Wetlands: 2nd, p 434.)

3. “(Mn) oxide formation is not observed in the presence of superoxide scavengers (e.g. Cu) and inhibitors of NADH oxidases.” (Hansel et. al. 2012. abstract).

“The 3rd most common plant polymer”, “Lignin degrades slowly (bc) it is constructed as a highly heterogeneous polymer (which) precludes the evolution of specific degradative enzymes.” (? Treatment Wetlands.)

“The peroxidase enzyme and H2O2 system generates oxygen-based free radicals that react with the lignin, (Morgan et. al 1993. from Environmental Microbiology. 2000. pg 325, ).

Coconut Coir: Lignin


In this reactor, evidence suggests the dissolved metal ions are scavenging the superoxidase, removing the last of the Fe, then moving onto the Mn. This could prolong the life of the coir while gaining additional dissolved metal oxidation.

So what?


Fungi are “Farming”. Speculation and Conclusions“...Mn(II) oxidation by most Ascomycete fungi, as well as by bacteria, remains poorly understood, and apparently serves no known physiological or ecological benefit to these organisms. Thus, the reason microbes expend energy to enzymatically oxidize Mn(II) is presently unknown and brings into question any evolutionary basis for this process.” (Hansel et. al. 2012).

“Mn Oxides are among the most reactive minerals within the environment, where they control the bioavailability of carbon, nutrients, and numerous metals.” (Hansel et. al. 2012).


That dissolved/and or precipitating Fe(II) act as superoxide scavengers, blocking Mn Oxidation of Mn(II) at circumneutral to acidic pH in Fe concentrations higher than 0.35mg/L,

That the fungi exist throughout the MRUs when all growth parameters are met but the Fe/Mn preferentialization line is mobile

That they may or may not be producing superoxidase constantly to oxidize metals or lignins to improve the quality of their environment,

That even if superoxidase production is for lignin decomposition, metal scavengers “steal” the superoxidase, leaving the coir untouched.

The literature and our own evidence and experience suggests (Conclusions),


The literature and our own evidence and experience suggests (Conclusions) cont.

That when the Fe(II) concentrations drop below app 0.35mg/L Mn removal spikes, creating a Mn Oxide rich MRU wetland, requiring periodic and convenient cleaning and service.

Because of the biogeochemical cycling and nutrient “sink” (trophic uptake) effect engendered by this self-selected Mn Oxide and O2 rich wetland, the lack of lignocarbonic compounds doesn’t matter to the fungi bc they are in a sea of diatoms, organic matter, constantly replenished O2, and taking advantage of the biofilms’ Extra Pollysacharridal Film coating, the biodiversity the film contains, and the Mn Oxides nutrient sink and abiotic oxidation principles,

The fungi oixidized Mn Oxides, probably aided to some extent by Mn(II) mineralization on existing Mn oxide surfaces, are constantly generated as new surface area which is a key oxidative component to biogeochem cycling.


The literature and our own evidence and experience suggests (Conclusions) cont.

It may be that the fungi are taking advantage of both environments, oxidizing the Fe to get to the benefits of Mn oxides which yields a banquet, And breaking down the coir for a food source, the waste of which is adsorbed by the MnOx nutrient sink effect, which again benefits primary productivity and indirectly the fungi, for a complete self selecting ecosystem.

So, are the fungi farming?

The fungi appear to be engendering environments that increase the localized environments overall carrying capacity and biodiversity. The fungi are advantageous, so weather consuming other fungi or primary producers, the overall growth phase of the biofilm will remain exponential, curved, or linear until all oxidizable metals are removed or a limiting nutrient or growth factor becomes deficient.



An MRU Mk1.5/3, Mk4 embodiments in development.

The first modular, scalable, self-selective wetland bioreactor capable of natural attenuation.

The Economic Arguments for the MRUMRUs provide consistent, more concentrated treatment

Self Selective embodiment

With 25-100 times the treatment density of other constructed wetlands, they can be made to 1/25th-1/100 the scale for the same treatment.

Rapid retrofits to existing systems which may be out of compliance from changing TMDLs

Site construction is typically one day

Can cost less than current BMP wetland system (the upfront) and even less for the long term O and M, preserving the life of bonds on current and new AMD treatment systems.

More MRUs = better client deals on longterm O and M

The fungi oxidize Mn at pH 6.5+, much reduced or eliminated alkalinity amendments.


Request a quote, consultation or site visit

Reserve your delivery and installation to avoid long lead times

Send us your sample data: [email protected]

Stay tuned for upcoming webinar in September, low pH iron oxidation

Come meet us at DARPA and MinExpo in Las Vegas

We’re Here To Help Solve Your Problems!

Call Us Today: 814-937-9115

Conclusion & Action Steps


mailto:[email protected]

We would like to thank Bentley Development Co Inc., Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Chris Forsha and CEC, Cambria and Clearfield County DEP, The Blair County Chamber of Commerce, and The Blair County Conservation District, Vindex Energy Inc., MB Energy, and the Altoona Water Authority for all their guidance and help in getting us this far. Together, we do good work, thank you.


Special Thanks

Hansel, C., Zeiner, C., Santelli, C., Webb, S., (March 2012). MN(II) oxidation by an ascomycete fungus is linked to superoxide production during aseual reproduction. PNAS.

Hedin R., Nairn R., (1993) Contaminant removal capabilities of wetlands constructed to treat coal mine drainage. In: Constructed Wetlands for Water Quality Improvements, Moshiri G.A. (ed.)

Lennox, C. (2013). Iron and Manganese Reclamation using BioHaven® Wetland Reactors, Results from 2012. Pennsylvania’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference, 2013.

Ling, F. (2015). email correspondence concerning MnO2 samples taken which will be included in doctoral dissertation.

Santelli, C., Webb, S., Dohnalkova, A., & Hansel, C. (2011). Diversity of Mn oxides produced by Mn(II)-oxidizing fungi. Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, 2762-2776.

Santelli, C., Pfister, D., Lazarus, D., Sun, L., Burgos, W., & Hansel, C. (2010). Promotion of Mn(II) Oxidation and Remediation of Coal Mine Drainage in Passive Treatment Systems by Diverse Fungal and Bacterial Communities. Applied and Environmental Microbiology,4871-4875.

Treatment Wetlands, 2nd Edition, Kadlec and Wallace, pg 434-38. 2009.

Bibliography