Rice husks (RH) are the hard-protective coverings of grains of rice and are removed from rice seeds as a side stream during the milling process. The disposal of RH generates a huge problem for rice industry since RH represents about 23% of initial rice seed weight. The valorization of this side stream could solve the disposal problem and reduce the cost of waste treatment. One possible use of the RH is to burn them as fuel for energy and vapor production. The ash obtained during that process is called rice husk ash (RHA). RHA disposal still generates high disposal costs. Different uses are considered for RHA valorization. Regarding the use of RHA as an adsorbent, previous work efforts are focused on water treatment. This concept has potential benefits on both water treatment and waste management. This work provides an assessment of the adsorption capacity of bio-chars prepared from rice husks. Rice husk char (RH-Char), pre-treated rice husk char (PT-Char) and industrial rice husk char (M-Char) are tested as adsorbents for the removal of methylene blue (MB) and ethinylestradiol (EE2). Results show that RH-Char and PT-Char present zeta-potential values near -52 mV and are rich in amorphous SiO2. M-Char shows a zeta-potential value of -32 mV and has crystalline SiO2. The bio-chars remove MB and EE2 efficiently. The adsorption capacity values for MB (in μmol/g ) are 769.2 (RH-Char), 41.2 (PT-Char), and 31.7 (M-Char). The adsorption capacity values for EE2 (in μmol/g) are: 33.1 (RH-Char), 19.1 (PT-Char), and 16.9 (M-Char). The information gathered in this work evidences the potential of rice husks bio-chars for bio-remediation and may in future contribute to the conversion of this side-stream to value-added materials.

Bays, estuaries, and rivers provide vital ecological, economical, and recreational services to coastal communities. These vital water bodies are under increasing pressures from urbanization, land-use changes, population growth, a changing climate, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events. Closures of shellfish harvesting (and recreational) coastal and inland waters are most often due to fecal contamination. Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) can come from many sources; leaking sanitary sewers, pets, livestock, wildlife, and birds. Understanding the origin (source) of fecal pollution at locations where shellfish are grown is essential in assessing the associated human health risks as well as the determining actions required to manage shellfish harvesting areas. Regulatory methods for monitoring fecal contamination cannot differentiate between human and non-human fecal sources. Management and mitigation of fecal pollution entering shellfish waters would be more cost-effective if species-specific identification of the sources of fecal contamination were possible. To help address this gap, DNA-based genetic fingerprinting methods, collectively referred to as Microbial Source Tracking (MST) are gaining use, particularly as tools to supplement watershed assessments. Although MST-based studies have focused on beach and recreational waters, fewer have addressed their applicability for assessing shellfish growing areas. The overall objective of this project is to identify the species-specific source(s) of fecal contamination impairing shellfish harvesting waters in the Fowl River Bay area. Our experimental approach is to apply DNA-based source tracking methods using species-specific FIB markers for human, avian, ruminant, and domestic animal fecal bacteria present in water samples collected from designated shellfish harvesting locations in the Fowl River Bay. During this presentation, preliminary data for the applicability of a set of species-specific DNA markers for shellfish harvesting waters will be discussed.

Low Impact Development (LID) is an approach to land development that preserves natural resources and uses natural processes in a designed approach to slow, disburse, and filter stormwater close to its source to allow for soil infiltration, thereby preventing flooding and protecting the water quality in our rivers, bays, and bayous. Commercial sites, parks, green ways, new development subdivisions, medians, and urban street-scapes all provide opportunities to take pressure off existing municipal stormwater systems through Low Impact Development strategies. This presentation will introduce the science behind Low Impact Development as a proven and economically viable stormwater management strategy that will maximize dollars being invested in downstream restoration projects. With significant resources being directed toward these restoration projects directly adjacent to the coastline, the connection between upland management strategies and activities to downstream flooding and natural water body pollution is undeniably more important now than ever. The cross-disciplinary practice of Low Impact Development stormwater management is highlighted in over 50 case studies near the Gulf Coast region in the "L.I.D. Gulf Coast" Story Map which will be showcased during this presentation. This growing collection of regional low impact development and green infrastructure projects serves as a learning tool to inspire practice, and as a catalyst for dialogue to drive sustainable stormwater management policy that will protect our natural water bodies. The audience will be invited to contribute projects to the story map collection, and to become involved in the ongoing dialogue around policy for Low Impact Development on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Two major problematic waterborne pathogens in coastal Gulf of Mexico include Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. We surveyed 44 locations in 7 major basins for the abundances of these species during a cool winter month, where water temperatures ranged 12.3 – 22.2oC. Viable Vibrio species were enumerated in water column (n=44), sediments (n=43), and invertebrate biofilms (n=14) employing a chromogenic agar assay. In surface waters, V. vulnificus outnumbered V. parahaemolyticus by about 5-fold in most samples and was detected in 37 of 44 water samples, with maximum levels of 3,556 cells/mL. V. parahaemolyticus was only detected in 15 of 44 water samples, but with a maximum concentration of 8,919 cells/mL. On average, V. vulnificus outnumbered V. parahaemolyticus by 18-fold in all sediments. In all but one sediment sample, V. vulnificus was detected, with concentrations from 121 to 607,222 cells/mL. In contrast, V. parahaemolyticus were only detected in 33 of the 43 sediment samples, where concentrations ranged from 28 to 77,333 cells/mL. Of note is the positive significant correlation between V. vulnificus abundances in sediments and the salinity observed in the water column at depth (R=0.3887, p< 0.05), where bottom water salinities ranged from 2 to 28 PSU. Abundances in biofilms, collected from oyster or barnacle shells or from invertebrate worms found in sediment samples, were also evaluated. In comparing biofilm abundances on different types of shells, there was not a statistical difference between oysters (n=5) and barnacles (n=7) for V. vulnificus (p=0.675) or V. parahaemolyticus (p=0.628). This is the first study of the Pensacola Bay System enumerating viable Vibrio abundances and assessing ecological factors affecting their distributions in these 7 basins.