Journal of Bioremediation & Biodegradation
Open Access

Abstract

Biogeophysics is an emerging research discipline in near surface geophysics which is sensitive to physicochemical alterations associated with microbial processes. Thus, it may be easier to apply geophysical techniques such as electrodic potential, self potential and induced polarisation to engineered biological systems where there is a degree of control over the design of the physical and chemical domain. A column experiment that was designed to anaerobically biodegrade dissolved organic matter in landfill leachate is presented here. The column utilises a recycled porous media to help sequester organic carbon. Electrodic potential, self potential and induced polarisation are used in conjunction with geochemical, microbiological and isotopic techniques to monitor the effectiveness of this approach. Results obtained in supportive studies including X-ray diffraction (XRD), metal analysis by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICPAES) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) support bioprecipitation of metals and variations in time-lapse biogeophysical measurements. Further, micrographs obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of column sediments support the presence of biofilm and biomineralization. Strong biogeophysical signatures associated with anaerobic microbial sulphate reduction and biofilm growth facilitate the possibility that the biogeophysics could be a cost-effective, fast and noninvasive potential tool for monitoring the performance of bioreactors and designing bioremediation strategies.

Biography

Dr. Kushal. P. Singh has completed his PhD in biogeophysics (2006-2010) from Queen’s University Belfast, UK in the year 2010 and has done his M.Tech in Applied Geophysics from IIT Roorkee, India in the year 1995. He has pursued bachelor degree from HNB Garhwal University in the year of 1992. He has won many competitive scholarships among these Medhavi Chatra Pratiyogita (Integrated Scholarship) conducted by U.P. Government is noticeable in which he stood first in the year 1985. He has been awarded Bhagirathi Lal Wadhawan prize for his master thesis in seismic anisotropy and in the same year he has been selected for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), CSIR (India) and for the post of scientist in National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad. In his early career, he was engaged in application of integrated geophysical techniques comprising direct current resistivity, electromagnetic and magnetic for various purposes (e.g. exploration of natural resources, geophysical detection of weak zones for nuclear disposal sites etc). He is currently engaged in hydrogeophysical and biogeophysical research activities. His main research activity, biogeophysics is a multidisciplinary research which combines microbiology, geophysics and geochemistry. He is the first graduate in biogeophysics at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), UK and is awarded Special Research Scholarship by Queen’s University for his innovative research work in the year 2007-08. He has been honored with many awards like “UCD Fellowship in sustainable environment management-2009 by University College Dublin, Ireland”. Recently, he has been nominated by Queen’s University, UK for the possible award of Brunel Fellowship-2011 awarded by Royal Commission, UK for his outstanding efforts in understanding the mechanism of biogeophysical processes associated with engineered and natural bioremediation of contaminants in polluted environments. He has been awarded travel support by SEGJ- 2009, Japan for representing UK in public forum and technical sessions during the annual convention of SEGJ in the Outstanding Young Researchers’ Category. He also has been awarded “Biogeophysics Travel Grant awarded by AGU via NSF, USA, Fall Meeting December-2007 and AGU Chapman Conference on Biogeophysics-2008”. He is a member of many national and international scientific societies including the AGU, USA, ISCA (India) and EGU, Vienna. He has published 13 papers in reputed journals, peer reviewed abstracts and papers in proceedings of international conferences like AGU, EGU, SEGJ etc. He has presented many of his papers as oral and poster presentations in various national and international conferences.