全國中小學科展

環境工程

為「世紀之毒」找解藥!- 探討以Pseudomonas mendocina 菌株降解污染土壤中戴奧?

本研究採自中石化安順廠戴奧辛污染場址之土壤,篩選出一株純 菌微生物(Pseudomonas mendocina NSYSU) , 其含有PCDD/Fs (Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, PCDD/Fs)土壤於實驗室進行微生物降解試驗,結果顯示約21 天即有 明顯降解結果;本研究同時觀察到該微生物能在汞濃度達50 ppm 之 戴奧辛土壤中,仍具有相當程度之耐受度,並進一步降解戴奧辛化合 物。 我更以標準品探討菌種對於戴奧辛類化合物(Dioxin like congener) 之降解效果,成功地發現這株菌種不僅對於PCDD/Fs 有降 解能力,對於戴奧辛類化合物也有明顯之降解效果。 由研究結果,明顯看出P. mendocina 菌株為「世紀之毒」找到了 解藥,開發出以生物復育改善污染環境的一種新方法。A dioxin-degrading bacterial strain Pseudomonas mendocina NSYSU was isolated from dioxin contaminated soil by selective enrichment techniques. In our previous study, P. mendocina NSYSU was found to be able to use pentachlorophenol (PCP) as its sole carbon source and energy source and was capable of completely degrading this compound. Moreover, P. mendocina NSYSU was also able to mineralize a high concentration of PCP up to 150 mg/L. In this study, P. mendocina NSYSU was investigated for its ability to degrade polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs). Results show that P. mendocina NSYSU could grow well in media containing both PCDFs and PCDDs, and was able to degrade both compounds efficiently. In this study, isotope dilution method and a high resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) technique were applied for the analyses of PCDFs and PCDDs. Investigation results reveal that significant biodegradation of octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) and octachlorinated dibenzofuran (OCDF) by treating with P. mendocina NSYSU resting cells was observed. The results also indicate that this bacterial strain is able to biodegrade OCDD and OCDF effectively under anoxic conditions due to its facultative anaerobic character. No accumulation of inhibitory toxic byproducts was found in this study. These findings suggest that in situ or on-site bioremediation of dioxin-contaminated soils by using indigenous microorganisms or inoculated P. mendocina NSYSU strain would be a feasible technology for field application.

Bio-Conversion of Agricultural Waste to Ethanol

a. Purpose of the research: Find a potential way to reduce the global warming, and develop a process for the lignocellulosic ethanol production using rice straw, which is an agricultural waste. b. Procedures: One of the greatest challenges for society in the 21st century is to meet the growing energy demand for transportation, heating and industrial processes. This significantly contributes to “Greenhouse Effect.” Rice straw is one of the lignocellulosic biomasses which are renewable organic substance and alternative source of energy. For the first time, rice straw was pretreated using autoclaving or a hypochlorite-hydrogen peroxide (Ox-B) solution, which is broadly used in potable water treatment. The pretreated rice straw was hydrolyzed with two kinds of enzymes: Cellulase and Spezyme. Following hydrolysis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia stipitis were inoculated for ethanol production. c. Data: With the 5% Ox-B sample (initial sugar concentration was 5%), the final ethanol concentration was about 1.1%, is 87.3 % of stoichiometric and fermentation efficiency yield. Currently, we’re developing a new mutant, which can use glucose and xylose simultaneously, by using soft X-Ray. In conclusion, for the first time, rice straw was pretreated by using autoclaving or hypochlorite-hydrogen peroxide (Ox-B), solution which is broadly used in potable water treatment. The Ox-B solution treatment was an essential step for efficient hemicelluloase hydrolysis. Using 5% rice straw sugar, 1.1% ethanol was obtained. d. Conclusion: Further optimization study of fermentation process and strain improvement researches are in progress. We hope to see future cultivators to move through the energy of ethanol produced by rice straw. This project has a great emphasis towards understanding the importance of bio-energy and its nature.

Biodiesel:does it make cents?

My project explores the practicality of biodiesel. It researches the argument of food versus fuel, compares the energy efficiencies of petroleum diesel and biodiesel and studies the effect of temperature on biodiesel. To study the effect of temperature on biodiesel, I blended biodiesel with petroleum diesel. Biodiesel blends are represented by the letter B, and the percentage of biodiesel. I used B5, B10, B20, and B50 blends, as well as pure biodiesel. I then observed the reaction of the biodiesel blends with cold weather. My pure biodiesel and B50 blends gelled to an unusable point within 15 minutes outside at -20oC. The B20 blends didn’t gel until about a temperature of -20oC. I have concluded that the B20 blend would be best for the summer, and the B10 or B5 blends would be the best for winter in northern climates, where I live. Although the B10 blends gelled slightly around -30oC, this would only be a problem for northern climates. As I predicted, more energy is produced by biodiesel than is consumed in the production process. The process of making biodiesel uses 0.31 units of energy to get 1 unit of energy out. More energy (1.2 units) is used to produce petroleum diesel than is yielded (1 unit). Although B20 isn’t as energy efficient as B100, the energy factor is still only 0.98 units of energy in for every 1 unit of energy out. When I started this project I thought that Canada would have enough farmland to produce the canola needed to run the country on biodiesel. This is only partly true. Canada would have enough farmland, but only a fraction of that land is actually used to plant canola. By my calculations, Canada has enough canola to generate enough B20 for a year. This may seem like a drawback but realistically, a higher blend would be impractical due to the gelling factor. Also, if a B20 blend was used, land would be available to grow canola for other markets. If B100 was used, there would only be enough diesel for about three months consumption. By using all of the land for biodiesel feedstock, canola would become unavailable for other markets. If canola exports ceased, the countries that depend on our canola will be in a lot of trouble. Canada already produces a lot of canola and vegetable oil. Most of it goes to the fast food industry. The United States produces over three billion gallons of fryer oil yearly. This could provide Canada with a B50 blend for a year. Utilizing used vegetable oil in making biodiesel actually reduces emissions even more. This is accomplished by using a product that would normally go to waste and decompose, producing more carbon dioxide emissions. During this project, I have found that biodiesel is a practical alternative to petroleum diesel, if it is used in a blend. My experiment proves that biodiesel is a fuel alternative that could be implemented immediately, and one that does not require the research needed for other fuel alternatives such as hydrogen or electricity.

太陽能發電環境評估與追蹤器探討

本研究首先探討台灣各地的日照時數與世界重要都市的比較,發現台灣南部日照時數皆超過2000 小時,適合發展太陽能。接著,?了增加陽光的能量密度而加設弗瑞奈透鏡,雖然能順利的使照度放大三百餘倍,但歲日照角度的影響甚鉅,?了克服角度的問題,我們決定開發自製的追蹤器來改善角度的問題。太陽能板需要改變仰角跟傾角(雙軸調整),由光感應器判斷及自動控制程式,判斷隨時辰與季節變化的太陽角度。當搭配奈米塗料、弗瑞奈透鏡與追蹤器,總輸出功率可增加約50%。太陽電池表面玻璃會阻擋藍紫光的吸收,但本研究在太陽能板上塗佈奈米塗料,發現能增加短波長的吸收;經實驗後奈米等級表面具有自潔效應,可防止灰塵雨滴的堆積影響光線吸收,具有開發價值。This project first compares Taiwanese locations with other places in the world on average daylight times. It was discovered that southern Taiwan has the longest average daylight time all over 2000 hour sand therefore most ripe for solar power development. To increase the energy density of solar Fresnel lenses were incorporated. Although this has the advantage of magnifying illumination by three hundred percent, the alignment angle for the solar panel will have a significant impact on performance. We then designed and built a automated tracking device with illumination sensors to control the elevation and inclination of the solar panel which adjusts the angle according to environmental conditions such as time of day and season. When solar cell collocate Nano coating, Fresnel lens, tracking device, its power can promote almost150%. The glasses on the solar cell will interfere solar cell absorbing blue and purple light, but we lay on a Nano coating and we find Nano coating can improve solar cell to absorb short wave; and surface o Nano have lotus effect, it can prevent dust and rain effecting solar cell absorb lights, and it is worth developing .

Development of a bio-monitoring system using behavioral pattern recognition of the medaka(Oryzias la

Water pollution is a severe problem for human beings. Sewage and hot water\r coming from homes and factories have changed the environment for aquatic\r animals. To manage a polluted environment, an accurately designed monitoring\r system is needed that will detect signs of toxic material or increase in temperature as\r fast as possible. A new and more accurate bio-monitoring system, which involves\r actual creatures, needs to be developed to save the aquatic environment from\r pollution.\r This experiment focused on discovering a new way to monitor aquatic\r creatures by observing the behavioral patterns of the medaka and observing how\r they changed when exposed to external stress, especially an increase in temperature\r or exposure to insecticide. The behavioral patterns of the medaka were observed and\r measured by a tracking program called the Movement Viewer. In the transition\r period, that is, when the temperature was raised from 25°C to 35°C, the total moving\r distance of the medaka suddenly increased compared to that in 25°C. When the\r medaka was in a temperature of 35°C, it slowly adapted to the new environment and\r the total moving distance showed a similar value to that in 25°C. For section\r dominance, the medaka showed a sudden increase in the dominance of the top part\r of the tank, meaning that the medaka tended to swim on the surface of the\r experimental aquarium. Again, it slowly adapted when the temperature had\r completely changed to 35°C.

Applications of Biofuel Technologies for Third World Countries

Innovative, inexpensive, sustainable fuel for cooking and light can be produced with an anaerobic digestion biogas system. A biodigester was designed from parts that are locally available to purchase and maintain in a developing nation. The prototype was designed, built and the engineering was approved and tested. Research and testing of techniques used to produce biogas were recorded and analyzed. The digester successfully produced enough biogas to connect to a stove and burn. Research and testing continued on different ways to pressurize the biogas. A burn time of eleven minutes was recorded. A Bunsen burner was designed, again from locally available parts, in order to enhance the flame to use for cooking. The designed digester and burner worked satisfactorily to burn the biogas collected in the system. Using small scale tests, additional research and testing continued on the most efficient production of the biogas. Figure 1 shows the results of the small scale biogas testing. The results from the small scale testing showed that the best variables for producing biogas are using school compost, ie apples, bananas, oranges, cucumbers, grapefruit, grapes etc, which has been blended to acquire the most surface area with a 1:1 ratio. Figure 3 shows the results of a sample of methane (first three peaks) and of the biogas that was produced (last two peaks). The first peak is the nitrogen and the oxygen in the sample. The second peak is the methane and the third peak is carbon dioxide. The first biogas sample that was tested had no methane so there was an absence of the second peak. This was similar for Figures 4 and 5. Figure 6 shows a sample of the final biogas product which is producing methane as shown by the blue circle. Figures 3 through 5 lack a methane peak due to leaks in the biogas system and limited time within testing periods. The hypothesis was proved correct. An innovative, inexpensive, sustainable fuel for cooking and light using an anaerobic digestion system that can be built completely in developing nations such as Honduras was created. The biogas was ignited using a stove which provided heat for cooking. The biogas was not tested using a light; however, since the biogas can burn, this is theoretically possible. The final system achieved these goals.

利用光合作用機制研發光電材料之研究

葉綠素為植物體內進行光合作用關鍵物質,在能源領域內也有不少的應用。葉綠素是光合作用的鑰匙,葉綠素能夠累積光的能量並放出激發態電子,利用激發態電子的能量進行一連串複雜的反應,本研究的理論就建立在光合作用上,利用葉綠素吸收光能轉為電能的特性開發新型光電池。光電池使用金屬或非金屬材料,照光後能產生電流之材料作為發電材料。電池的製作過程非常簡單,實驗發電材料葉綠素也很容易取得,完全沒有汙染環境的疑慮,是非常乾淨的綠色能源。另外也探討葉綠素濃度對於發電效能的影響。研究使用的裝置是由兩片玻璃與矽膠片組裝而成的電池,在電池中間加入葉綠素與電解液。藉由改變電解液與有無光照來探討葉綠素在該電池中的氧化還原作用是否有明顯的變化,並推出化學反應式。結果顯示在葉綠素與電解液的配合下能夠建立出一套循環產電系統。

新型空氣清淨燈具之研究與開發

本研究主要的目的是在開發同時具有空氣清淨與照明的兩種燈具。其中桌燈是基於自然對流原理,利用燈泡發熱讓氣流通過燈具上方的濾網達到過濾功能,為了尋求過濾效果與照度兼顧的最佳值,本研究並提出比較因子的概念。在吊燈方面,除了運用自然對流原理之外,還更進一步利用太陽能驅動風扇,進行強制對流,強化過濾的效果,使得本研究成果更趨於完善。 由實驗結果可得知,桌燈在四星期長期測試條件之下,其過濾效果增進率分別為39.1, 40.8與 40.1%。在吊燈四週長期實驗的結果方面,螺旋與 100W 鎢絲燈泡在自然對流的過濾效果增進率分別為49.1%與 51.4%,而100W鎢絲燈強制對流方面過濾效果增進率則為60.2%。由整個研究結果可以發現,本燈具對於空氣清淨有極佳的效果,在不增加額外耗能條件之下,能增加燈具的散熱效果與延長壽命,同時又具備空氣清淨效果,對環境空氣品質具有相當的貢獻。 The purpose of this study is to develop a novel lamp with both the functions of air-cleaning and lighting. One of it is the desk light. Basing on free convection principle, it makes the air run through the filter on the top of the lamp by its heat in order to attain the aim of air cleaning. To find the optimum value of both cleaning effect and illumination, we advanced the compare factor. The other is the droplight, though it is based on the same principle, we use the solar energy as its power to drive the fan. So that the effect of the filter can be augmented and the result of this research approach perfect. According to the experimental result, in the four-week experiment with desk light, the enhanced efficiency of filter is 39.1%, 40.8% and 40.1% respectively. On the way of droplight with four-week experiment, the enhanced efficiency of filter is 49.1% and 51.4% with helix and tungsten(100W) lamp under the condition of free convection; the enhanced efficiency of filter is 60.2% with tungsten(100W) lamp under forced convection. All these results of the research shows that the novel lamp has great performance on air cleaning and much better effect of heat sink without extra consuming of energy, also the lifespan of the lamp can be extended. Furthermore, it is capable of air cleaning and contributes to the quality of environmental air.

SEAWEED ON THE NAMIBIA COAST EXTRACTION OF AGAR & USE OF KELP AS FERTILIZER

In Swakopmund we have a problem with seaweed deposits on our beaches. Tons of seaweed are throwni away yearly. The reason I did this project was to see if the seaweed on the Namibian coast can he used instead of just being thrown away.Seaweed is a rich source of natural minerals and vitamins such as calcium, potassium iodine and also Vitamin A, BI and K. The seaweed on our coastline cannot he eaten as the salt content is too high. Seaweed is a marine algae that works like a sponge absorbing nutrients and minerals from the water.I extracted agar (a jelly) from red seaweed called(GracilariaVerrucosa). I dried the agar and seaweed, and I also grew mushroom spawns and bacteria on the agar plates. Secondly, I researched the possibility of using kelp (Laminaria Pallida), as fertilizer and livestock supplements. The unemployment rate in Namibia is very high. With adequate financial resources and proper marketing, seaweed can he used to increase the economy. We can market the agar to pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies, and also supply it to the university for students in Biology to grow bacteria and other micro organisms. The ferti lizer can be used to boost agriculture in Namibia. It is cheap and the farmers will he able to p1 ant vegetables with better nutritional value.All this was done to promote of biggest natural resource to create more work and to find a way for the less fortunate to create a better life for themselves.

Sisa-Friend or Foe?

It is beyond my logistical ability to determine the extent of the sisal problem in Namibia and as such I have investigated the following aspects, which should be of value to countries such as Tanzania and Kenya where there are still large plantations of the sisal plant. There is also a need to establish industries in Namibia and it is for these reasons that plant has been investigated.