Mn bio ox webinar, aug 2016

Veteran Owned Business
CAGE: 7KPH4 NAICS: 562910, 541620, 238910
www.EcoIslandsLLC.com
Colin Lennox
EcoIslands LLC
Founder, Inventor & CEO
Colin@EcoIslandsLLC.com
Kyle Dammann
EcoIslands LLC
Communications Director
Founding 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 Lennox
CEO, 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 factorPatents Pending - All Rights Reserved - © EcoIslands LLC 2016

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 MRU
MRUs 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.

Request a quote, consultation or site visit
Reserve your delivery and installation to avoid long lead times
Send us your sample data: Colin@EcoIslandsLLC.com
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

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
Bibliography

Mn bio ox webinar, aug 2016

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to Mn bio ox webinar, aug 2016

Similar to Mn bio ox webinar, aug 2016 (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Mn bio ox webinar, aug 2016

Editor's Notes