HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.a. (Handout) Student Presentation-Testing Bacterial Remediation of Simulated Fracking Flowback WastewaterTesting Bacterial
Remediation of Fracking
Flowback Wastewater
By : Rithik Castelino & William
Cumbelich
About Us
Rithik Castelino
Sophomore at De La Salle High School
Intending to enter the medical field
William Cumbelich
Sophomore at De La Salle High School
Aiming to further pursue science research in multiple fields, including plant biology, water, and energy related
research.
Background
Since 2012 however, “the US has the surged past the Middle East and
Russia to become the world’s largest oil and gas producer, and due
to fracking, the US will become energy independent by the year
2020” (Manfred, 2015).
“The wastewater includes complex mixtures of organics, such as
toluene and ethylbenzene, inorganics, 6 of which are at
concentrations unsafe to drink, and radioactive materials, including
Ra-226. The wastewater also contained halocarbons at potentially
toxic levels, and overall, the wastewater has several carcinogens”
-Barron and Boyle (2014)
The Link Between Fracking and Seismicity
Formation of Our Project
We received advice from :
Valorie Rice -Mentor -Chemist, Valero
Refinery in Martinez, Ca
Professor Andrew Barron -Advisor -Rice
University
We also focused on Salinity, since
fracking wastewater can range from
1.5% salinity up to around 18%
The Question
Can the bacteria Achromobacter methanophila
remediate a simulated fracking wastewater solution and
how does salinity affect the bacterial remediation of the
simulated fracking wastewater solutions?
The Procedure
The Results
In Summary . . .
Overall, this project is about awareness of the issues surrounding fracking, and the possible treatment
options.
1.The lack of change in organic content at the 5% salt concentration shows the need for desalination of
wastewater before it could be remediated by bacteria.
2.Due to fracking wastewater being a very new subject of scientific research there is an large room for
growth and advancement.
Acknowledgements
Victoria Acquistapace –Science Instructor -De La Salle High School
Julian Homburger –Data Coach –Student at Stanford University
Dr. Elizabeth Berkes -Paper editor -Administrator, De La Salle High School
The End
Thank you.