6072 SMU Research Agreement - SignedSPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT
THIS SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), effective as of the latest date set
forth on the signature page to this Agreement ("Effective Date"), is by and between the City of Denton,
Texas, a Texas municipal corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of
Texas ("Sponsor"), whose address is 215 East McKinney Street, Denton, Texas 76201, and Southern
Methodist University, a Texas non-profit corporation ("University"), whose address is 6425 Boaz Lane,
Dallas, Texas 75205.
WHEREAS, the research program contemplated by this Agreement is of mutual interest and benefit
to University and to Sponsor, will further the instructional and research objectives of University in a manner
consistent with its status as a non-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation and may derive benefits for
both Sponsor and University through authorship, inventions, improvements, and/or discoveries;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, the
parties hereto agree to the following:
Article 1
Definitions
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
1.1 "Contract Period" is for a period of two (2) years from June 1, 2016 through May 31,
2018
1.2 "Joint Intellectual Property" shall mean, individually and collectively, all original works
of authorship, inventions, improvements and/or discoveries which are conceived and/or made (i) jointly by
one or more employees of University and by one or more employees of Sponsor in performance of Project
or (ii) by one or more employees of Sponsor involving use of funds, space or facilities of the University in
performance of Project. The University does not provide for use of its funds, space or facilities by non -
University personnel and it is not expected that any employees of Sponsor will use funds, space or facilities
of the University. Any such arrangement requires prior approval of the Associate Vice President for
Research and Dean of Graduate Studies, which may be withheld in his sole discretion.
1.3 "Principal Investigator" means Dr. Sevinc Sengor, Assistant Professor of the University.
1.4 "Project" shall mean the research project described in Appendix A, to be performed under
the direction of the Principal Investigator. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
Sponsor and University may at any time amend Project by mutual written agreement.
1.5 "University intellectual Property" shall mean individually and collectively all original
works of authorship, inventions, improvements and/or discoveries which are conceived and/or made by one
or more employees of University in performance of Project.
STANDARD SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT Page 1
July 2014
Article 2
Research Work
2.1 University shall commence the performance of Project promptly after the effective date of
this Agreement, and shall use reasonable efforts to perform such Project substantially in accordance with
the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
2.2 In the event that the Principal Investigator becomes unable or unwilling to continue
Project, and a mutually acceptable substitute is not available, University and/or Sponsor shall have the
option to terminate the Project.
2.3 Sponsor agrees that University's primary mission is education and advancement of
knowledge and the Project will be designed to carry out that mission. The manner of performance of the
Project shall be determined solely by the Principal Investigator. University does not guarantee specific
results. Any and all information, materials, services, intellectual property and other property and rights
granted and/or provided by University pursuant to this Agreement (including the deliverables), are granted
and/or provided on an "as is" basis. UNIVERSITY MAKES NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND,
EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO ANY MATTER, AND ALL SUCH WARRANTIES,
INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, NON -INFRINGEMENT OR ARISING OUT OF ANY COURSE OF DEALING, ARE
EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED.
2.4 Sponsor understands and agrees that nothing in this Agreement interferes with the
University's right to conduct research similar or related to the subject of the Project ("Related Research")
provided Related Research is conducted separately from the Project and does not involve the unauthorized
use of Sponsor Confidential Information. Sponsor further understands and agrees that nothing in this
Agreement grants Sponsor any rights to intellectual property that is conceived of or reduced to practice in
the performance of Related Research.
Article 3
Reports and Conferences
3.1 Written program reports shall be provided periodically by University to Sponsor as set
forth in Appendix A.
3.2 During the term of this Agreement, representatives of University will meet periodically
with representatives of Sponsor at times and places mutually agreed upon to discuss the progress and results,
as well as ongoing plans, or changes therein, of the Project.
Article 4
Costs Billings, and Other Support
4.1 It is agreed to and understood by the parties hereto that, subject to Article 2, total costs to
Sponsor hereunder shall not exceed the sum of $169,655 , which shall include all expenses except for
additional expenses not set forth in Appendix A attached hereto, which are independently authorized by
Sponsor in writing. Payment shall be made by Sponsor according to the following schedule:
4.2 University shall retain title to any equipment purchased with funds provided by Sponsor
under this Agreement; provided that any such equipment is not permanently affixed to Sponsor's realty. It
is understood that if any such equipment is permanently affixed to Sponsor's realty, then such equipment
shall belong to Sponsor.
STANDARD SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT Page 2
July 2014
4.3 University represents that it has used its best efforts to determine the actual costs for
completion of the Project, as set forth in Appendix A. The Principal Investigator may transfer funds
between Project budget lines without the prior approval of the Sponsor as long as such transfers do not have
an impact on the scope of the Project or interfere with its completion. Any fiends which Sponsor commits
to pay hereunder to University for the Project which remain unexpended upon the completion of the Project
shall be accounted for and repaid to Sponsor within thirty (30) days after completion of the Project, or
termination of this Agreement, whichever event shall first occur.
4.4 Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event of early termination of this
Agreement by Sponsor pursuant to Articles 2 and 10 hereof, Sponsor shall pay all costs accrued by
University as of the date of termination, including non -cancellable obligations, which shall include all non -
cancellable contracts and fellowships or postdoctoral associate appointments called for in Appendix A,
which are disclosed in writing to Sponsor by the University in advance, incurred prior to the effective date
of termination. After termination, any obligation of Sponsor for fellowships or postdoctoral associates
hereunder shall end no later than the end of University's academic semester following the effective date of
Sponsor's termination of this Agreement.
Article 5
Publicity
Sponsor will not use the name or any logos of University, nor the name of any member of
University's Project staff, in any publicity, advertising, or news release without the prior written approval
ofthe President or Vice President for Development and External Affairs ofthe University or their respective
designees. University shall have the right to acknowledge Sponsor as sponsor, the Principal investigator,
the nature of the research, and the dollar value of the award in normal University records and reports.
Beyond that, University will not use the name or any logos of Sponsor, nor the name of any employee of
Sponsor, in any publicity without the prior written approval of Sponsor.
Article 6
Non -Disclosure
6.1 Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, any and all knowledge,
know-how, practices, processes, and other information (hereinafter referred to as "Confidential
information") disclosed or submitted in writing or in other tangible form which is designated as Confidential
Information, and labeled "Confidential", to either party by the other shall be received and maintained by
the receiving party in strict confidence and shall not be disclosed to any third party. Information disclosed
orally will be "Confidential Information" if (a) the confidential nature of such information is identified at
the time of disclosure and (b) the confidential nature of such information is confirmed in writing within
five business days of oral disclosure. Neither party shall use Confidential Information for any purpose
other than those purposes specified in this Agreement. The parties may disclose Confidential information
to their employees requiring access thereto for the purposes of this Agreement; provided, however, that
prior to making any such disclosures each such employee shall be apprised of the duty and obligation to
maintain Confidential Information in confidence and not to use such information for any purpose other than
in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Neither party will be held financially liable
for any inadvertent disclosure, but each will agree to use its reasonable efforts not to disclose any designated
Confidential Information.
6.2 Nothing contained herein will in any way restrict or impair either party's right to use,
disclose, or otherwise deal with any Confidential Information which at the time of its receipt:
(a) Is generally available in the public domain, or thereafter becomes available to the
public through no act of the receiving party;
STANDARD SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT Page 3
July 2014
(b) Was independently known prior to receipt thereof, or made available to such
receiving party as a matter of lawful right by a third party;
(c) Relates to potential hazards or cautionary warnings associated with performance
of the Project;
(d) Is required by government regulation, by law or by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be disclosed, provided that the disclosing party is given adequate advance written
notice to allow it to protest such disclosure;
(e) Has already been developed by the receiving party independently of the disclosing
party's confidential information; or
(f) Relates to or resulted from research programs or other activities that have been
designated as "Fundamental Research" under National Security Decision Directive 189 or
otherwise approved in writing for publication by Sponsor.
6.3 The above obligations relating to Confidential Information shall be in effect for a period
of one (1) year from the termination of this Agreement.
Article 7
Publications
Sponsor recognizes that under University policy, the results of Project must be publishable and
agrees that Principal investigator or researcher(s) engaged in Project shall be permitted to present at
symposia, national or regional professional meetings, and to publish in journals, theses or dissertations, or
otherwise of their own choosing, methods and results of Project; provided, however, that Sponsor shall
have been furnished copies of any proposed publication or presentation at least forty-five (45) days in
advance of the submission of such proposed publication or presentation to a journal, editor, or other third
party, solely for the purpose of allowing Sponsor to confirm that the proposed publication will not
compromise any of its Confidential Information or patent rights. Sponsor shall have thirty (30) days after
receipt of said copies to object to such proposed presentation or proposed publication because there is
patentable subject matter which needs protection and/or there is Confidential Information of Sponsor
contained in the proposed publication or presentation, other than University Intellectual Property; In the
event that Sponsor makes such objection, the parties shall negotiate an acceptable version and Principal
Investigator and/or researcher(s) shall refrain from making such publication or presentation for a period of
time to be agreed to by the parties, in order for University to file patent application(s) with the United States
Patent and Trademark Office and/or foreign patent office(s) directed to the patentable subject matter
contained in the proposed publication or presentation, pursuant to Article 8.
Article R
Intellectual Property
8.1 All rights and title to University Intellectual Property created solely by the University
under Project shall belong to University and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
All Joint Intellectual Property shall belong jointly to University and Sponsor and shall be subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement.
8.2 University will promptly notify Sponsor of any University Intellectual Property or Joint
Intellectual Property conceived and/or made during the Contract Period under Project. Such disclosure is
confidential, whether or not labeled confidential. SMU may file patent applications at its own discretion
and expense, or at the request of Sponsor at Sponsor's expense. If Sponsor elects to license University
intellectual Property as provided in Article 9, Sponsor will pay for the costs of patent filing, prosecution
and maintenance in the United States and any foreign country. If Sponsor directs that a patent application
STANDARD SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT Page 4
July 2014
or application for other intellectual property protection be filed, University shall promptly prepare, file, and
prosecute such U.S. and foreign application(s) in University's name. Sponsor shall cooperate with
University to assure that such application(s) will cover, to the best of Sponsor's knowledge, all items of
commercial interest and importance. While University shall be responsible for making decisions regarding
scope and content of application(s) to be filed and prosecution thereof, Sponsor shall be given an
opportunity to review and provide input into the application. University shall keep Sponsor advised as to
all developments with respect to such application(s) and shall promptly supply to Sponsor copies of all
papers received and filed in connection with the prosecution thereof in sufficient time for Sponsor to
comment thereon.
8.3. All intellectual property developed outside of this Agreement shall remain the property of its owner.
Except as explicitly provided in this Agreement, neither party receives any right to the other's intellectual
property developed outside of this Agreement.
Article 9
Grant of Rights
9.1 University grants Sponsor a non-exclusive, royalty -free license to University Intellectual
Property for internal, non-commercial research purposes only.
9.2 Provided that Sponsor has paid or is paying costs of protection of intellectual property
rights pursuant to Paragraph 8.2, University grants Sponsor the option to elect the following, by notice in
writing to SMU within three months after SMU notifies Sponsor of creation of University Intellectual
Property or Joint Intellectual Property:
For fair market value consideration determined at the time of a license agreement is signed,
taking into account Sponsor's payment of intellectual property protection costs and the nature
of the license, a royalty bearing, limited term exclusive license (subject to third party rights, if
any, and in a designated field of use) to make, have made, use and sell products embodying or
produced through the use of such University Intellectual Property and Joint Intellectual
Property with a right to sublicense, on terms and conditions to be mutually agreed upon. This
option to elect an exclusive license is conditioned upon Sponsor's agreement to diligently
commercialize the University Intellectual Property or Joint Intellectual Property and to cause
any products produced pursuant to this license that will be used or sold in the United States to
be substantially manufactured in the United States.
If Sponsor does not provide written notice of election to SMU within three months of a written disclosure
under Paragraph 8.2, If Sponsor and SMU do not enter into a license agreement within three months after
Sponsor's election to proceed under, Paragraph 9.2, the Sponsor's rights under Paragraph 9.2 will expire
and SMU has no further obligations to the Sponsor and may license the University Intellectual Property to
third parties.
In the event that a license is granted, the University retains a non-exclusive, royalty -free license for internal,
non-commercial or educational and research use, with a right to sublicense such use to other educational
institutions.
Article 10
erm and Termination
10.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon the date first hereinabove written and shall
continue in effect for the full duration of the Contract Period unless sooner terminated in accordance with
the provisions of this Article. The parties hereto may, however, extend the term of this Agreement for
additional periods as desired under mutually agreeable terms and conditions which the parties reduce to
STANDARD SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT Page 5
July 2014
writing and sign. Either party may terminate this Agreement upon ninety (90) days' prior written notice to
the other, with or without cause. In the event that Sponsor terminates this Agreement prior to the end of
the term of this Agreement, for any reason other than University's breach of this Agreement, Sponsor shall
continue to be obligated to pay to University the amounts set forth in Article 4 until the close of the
applicable semester.
10.2 In the event that either party hereto shall commit any breach of or default in any of the
terms or conditions of this Agreement, and also shall fail to remedy such default or breach within ninety
(90) days after receipt of written notice thereof from the other party hereto, the party giving notice may, at
its option and in addition to any other remedies which it may have at law or in equity, terminate this
Agreement by sending notice oftermination in writing to the other party to such effect, and such termination
shall be effective as of the date of the receipt of such notice.
10.3 Subject to Article 9, termination of this Agreement by either party for any reason shall not
affect the rights and obligations of the parties accrued prior to the effective date of termination of this
Agreement. No termination of this Agreement, however effectuated, shall affect the Sponsor's rights and
duties under Article 8 hereof, or release the parties hereto from their rights and obligations under Articles 4
(except as provided for herein in Articles 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4) , 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (except as provided for in Article
10.1) 15 and 16.
Article 1 1
Indeependent Contractor
In the performance of all services hereunder:
(a) University shall be deemed to be and shall be an independent contractor and, as
such, University shall not be entitled to any benefits applicable to employees of Sponsor; and
(b) Sponsor shall be deemed to be and shall be an independent contractor and, as such,
Sponsor shall not be entitled to any benefits applicable to employees of University.
(c) Neither party is authorized or empowered to act as agent for the other for any
purpose and shall not on behalf of the other enter into any contract, warranty, or representation as
to any matter. Neither shall be bound by the acts or conduct of the other.
Article 12
Force Majeure
In the event of circumstances beyond the reasonable control of either or both parties, including but
not limited to proven illness of Principal Investigator, riots, strikes, Acts of God, or the exercise of authority
of either the federal or state governments or any political subdivision thereof, which prevent the
performance of the obligations of this Agreement by either party, this Agreement may be modified by
mutual consent of the parties or shall otherwise become null and void.
Article 13
Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas and the
United States of America. This Agreement shall be deemed fully performable in Dallas County, State of
Texas, United States of America.
STANDARD SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT Page 6
July 2014
Article 14
Assi nment
This Agreement shal I not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the parties
hereto. Any unauthorized assignment shall be null and void.
Article 15
Agreement Modification
Any agreement to change the terms of this Agreement in any way shall be valid only if the change
is made in writing and approved by mutual agreement of authorized representatives of the parties hereto.
Article 16
Limitation of Liability, Responsibility of Sponsor
University and Sponsor shall not be liable to the other or to any third party for any reason whatsoever
arising out of or relating to this Agreement (including any breach of this Agreement) for loss of profits or
for incidental, indirect, special or consequential damages, even if either party hereto has been advised of
the possibility of such damages or has or gains knowledge of the existence of such damages. IT IS THE
EXPRESSED INTENT OF UNIVERSITY AND SPONSOR THAT RESEARCH IS
PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE SPONSOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE USE OF THE
RESULTS OF THE RESEARCH EVEN TO THE EXTENT DAMAGE OR HARM IS
ALLEGED TO BE CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY THE SOLE OR
CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE OF THE UNIVERSITY, ITS TRUSTEES, OFFICERS,
EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS OR AGENTS.
Article 17
Miscellaneous Provisions
17.1 Notices. Notices, invoices, communications, and payments hereunder shall be deemed
made if given by registered or certified U.S. mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to the party to receive
such notice, invoice, or communication at the address given below, or such other address as may hereafter
be designated by notice in writing:
Sponsor: General Manager
Solid Waste Department
1527 South Mayhill Road
Denton, Texas 76208
and
City Manager
215 East McKinney Street
Denton City Hall
Denton, Texas 76201
University: Kathleen Furr
Director of Sponsored Projects
Southern Methodist University
P.O. Box 750302
Dallas, Texas 75275-0302
STANDARD SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT Page 7
July 2014
Technical Matters: S.Sevinc Sengor
Assistant Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
Southern Methodist University
PO Box 750340
Dallas, TX 75275
Tel: (214)-768-3110
17.2 Debt and Debarment Certifications. By signing this Agreement, Sponsor certifies that
Sponsor is not delinquent on any federal debt, and neither the Sponsor, nor its principals are presently
debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered
transactions by any United States governmental department or agency.
17.3 Export of Technologyy, Compliance with Law. Sponsor shall be solely responsible for
obtaining any and all clearances and permits which are required by the treaties, laws, and regulations of the
United States in the event the transfer of the hardware, software and/or technology (collectively, the
"Items") which are the subject of this Agreement from University to Sponsor, or from Sponsor to a third
party is subject to the International Traffic in Arms regulations, (ITAR, 22 CFR Chapter 1, Subchapter M,
Parts 120-130), Export Administration Regulations (EAR, 15 CFR Chapter VII, Subchapter C, Parts 730-
774), Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulations (OFAC, 31 CFR Parts 500 through 599), Assistance
to Foreign Atomic Energy Activities Regulations (10 CFR Part 810) and any other federal laws and
regulations regarding the export of such Items from the United States Because SMU is an institution of
higher education and has many students, faculty, staff and visitors who are foreign persons, SMU intends
to conduct the Project as fundamental research under the export regulations, so that the results generated
by SMU qualify as "public domain" under ITAR Parts 120.10(a) (5) and 120.11 or "publicly available"
under EAR Parts 734.3(b) (3) and 734.8(a, b).
Sponsor will not knowingly disclose and will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent disclosure to
SMU of any technology or software source code controlled under the ITAR, the Commerce Control List
(EAR Part 774 and Supplements) or 10 CFR Part 810 Restricted Data or Sensitive Nuclear Technology. If
for purposes of the Project, Sponsor intends to disclose export -controlled information to SMU, Sponsor
will not disclose such information to SMU unless and until a plan for transfer, use, dissemination and
control of the information has been approved by SMU. In the event Sponsor inadvertently (i) discloses
export -controlled information or (ii) breaches the obligations set forth in this Paragraph 16.3, any deadlines
contemplated by the statement of work will be adjusted based on the time it takes to address the disclosure.
Sponsor agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless University, its trustees, officers, employees,
students, volunteers, agents, and representatives, including the Principal Investigator and researcher(s), to
the extent provided by applicable law, against all claims, suits, administrative actions, fines, penalties, and
damages assessed or made against any of the parties hereby released as the result of Sponsor's intentional
or negligent acts or omissions related to the failure to comply with export control laws and regulations or
other local, state or U.S. federal laws. The parties agree to advise each other promptly of the existence of
any claims made against University which Sponsor has agreed to indemnify herein.
17.4 Severability. if any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or
unenforceable in whole or in part, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision or
part thereof and the remaining part of such provision and all other provisions hereof shall continue in full
force and effect.
17.5 Conflict of Interest. Except as set forth herein, Sponsor represents and warrants that no
Trustee, officer, employee, student or agent of University has been or will be employed, retained, or paid a
fee, or otherwise has received or will receive any personal compensation or consideration by or from
STANDARD SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT Page 8
July 2014
Sponsor or any of Sponsor's directors, officers, employees, or agents in connection with the obtaining,
arranging, or negotiation of this Agreement.
17.6 Headings. Paragraph headings are for reference and convenience only and shall not be
determinative of the meaning or the interpretation of the language of this Agreement.
17.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including all appendices and exhibits, constitutes the
entire agreement between Sponsor and University with respect to the subject matter hereof and cancels and
supersedes any prior understandings and agreements with respect to the subject of this Agreement.
17.8 Waiver. No waiver of any breach of any provision of this Agreement shall operate as a
waiver of any other or subsequent breach thereof or of the provision itself, or of any other provision. No
provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived unless such waiver is in writing and
signed by the party waiving the same, with the signature on behalf of University being that of a vice
president of University.
17.9 Authorityto o Sign, Counterparts. The individuals executing this Agreement on behalf of
the parties hereby represent and warrant that they have full power and authority to execute this Agreement
on behalf of the institution they are representing. The approving authority on behalf of the Sponsor is the
City Council of the City of Denton, Texas acting by and through its City Manager. This Agreement and
any amendment hereto may be executed in counterparts and all such counterparts taken together will be
deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. If this Agreement is executed in counterparts, no
signatory hereto will be bound until all the parties named below have duly executed a counterpart of this
Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused these presents to be executed in triplicate
originals as of the day and year first above written.
"SPONSOR"
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
A Texas Municipal Corporation
By:
Name: Gt rge C. Campbell
Title: City Manager
Date: CaL Z�l%
ATTEST:
JENNIFER WALTERS, CITY SECRETARY
TA BURGESS, CITY ATTORNEY
STANDARD SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT Page 9
July 2014
"UNIVERSITY"
SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
B'i
Kathleen Furr
Director, Sponsored Projects
I)ate:2- (8160 L(,
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Fay:
Name: S. Sevinc Sew, s•
Title: Assistant Prof ... ir
Date: /,Q 16
STANDARD SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT Page 10
July 2014
APPENDIX A
BUDGET AND STATEMENT OF WORK
STANDARD SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT Page 11
July 2014
Proposal Budget
SMU# 143533
Agency: City of Denton MSW Facility
PI: Sevinc Sengor
Period: 06/01/2016 - 05/31/2018
FINAL 02108/2016
Acct Description
Year 1
Year 2
Total
6112 Full -Time Faculty Extra Comp (summer)
Y1 - Sengor @ 0.1 summer month
6165 Graduate Research Assistant
1 @ $1,800 for 12 mons
1,047
21,600
1,078
22,248
2,125
43,848
TOTAL SALARIES
22,647
23,326
45,973
6201 Emp. Ben. FT Faculty 26.1 %
6210 Tuition Remisison 32% *
273
6,912
286
7,119
559
14,031
TOTAL EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
7,185
7,405
14,590
TOTAL SALARIES & BENEFITS
29,832
30,731
60,563
6330 Lab Supplies
6600 Domestic Travel
6615 Conference & Seminar Registration
7500 G&C Subcontract/Conslt 1 $25k (ERDC)
7501 G&C Subcontract/Conslt 1 > $25k (ERDC)
8240 Capital Equipment *
17,000
0
0
23,144
0
0
15,000
1,500
500
1,856
22,028
0
32,000
1,500
500
25,000
22,028
0
TOTAL OTHER DIRECT COSTS
40,144
40,884
81,028
TOTAL DIRECT COSTS
69,976
71,615
141,591
MODIFIED TOTAL DIRECT COSTS* BASE
63,064
64,496
127,560
7600 On Campus F&A @ 22% allowed by agency)
13,874
14,189.
28,063
7620 Unfunded On Campus F&A a 23.5%
14,820
15,157
29,977
7640 SMU CS On Campus F&A @ 23.5%
-14,820
-15,157
-29,977
TOTAL DIRECT & INDIRECT COSTS FOR SMU
98,670
100,961
1919,631
AMOUNT OF REQUEST TO AGENCY
_�13 850
$85,805
$169 655
* MTDC = Total Direct Costs, less GRA Benefits, Stipends, Equipment, Rental Equip, and amounts greater than the first $25,000 of each sub -contract
2/8/20162:27 PM
SCOPE OF WORK
Title: Investigation of Enhanced Methane Generation in the Bioreactor Landfill Facility at
the City of Denton
Institution: Southern Methodist University (SMU)
Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Principle Investigator: S. Sevinc Sengor, Ph.D (ssengor(cr,smu.edu) (SMU)
Collaborators: Andy Martin, Ph.D, P.E. (Andy.Martingusace.army. mi1), Patrick Deliman,
Ph.D (Patrick.N. Del iman(2c usace.army.mi1), and Steve Larson, Ph.D.
(Steven.L.Larson(a�erdc.dren.mil) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research
and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory (ERDC-EL))
USACE
Environmental Laboratory
3909 Galls Ferry Road
Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180-6199
SCOPE OF WORK
Summary:
The City of Denton Landfill at ECO-W.E.R.C.S. is a Type 1 Landfill receiving municipal solid
waste (MSW), where a portion of the waste is recycled, composted and converted to energy. The
current capacity of the electric generator at the facility is 1.6 megawatts, powering the equivalent
of approximately 1,600 homes per year. Landfill gas is the natural by-product of the microbial
decomposition of the solid waste in landfills and is comprised primarily of carbon dioxide and
methane. The main objective of this work is to maximize the methane production efficiency at
the landfill facility at the City of Denton, TX. The focus of this project is to provide fundamental
improvements in the conversion of the solid waste compounds to methane gas along with
maintaining uniform methane gas migration through the cells at the site. Emphasis will be
particularly placed on the incorporation of a biopolymer, (which will be obtained from U.S.
Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory (ERDC-EL))
within the pilot bioreactor landfill that is to be constructed at the ECO-W.E.R.C.S. facility.
Biopolymer compounds produced by Rhizobia sp. have been tested and proved to be effective
especially with regards to (i) enhanced water retention in the matrix, and (ii) enhanced microbial
nutrient uptake efficiency in the matrix, which are the main factors affecting methane gas
generation. Thus, the impact of biopolymer addition will be in an acceleration of the landfilled
waste biodegradation, which will then enhance landfill methane gas generation. Apart from the
biopolymer amendment of the pilot bioreactor cell soils, further alternatives will be sought to
accelerate waste degradation for a further increase in methane generation. The proposed research
effort will investigate the above items as a result of an extensive integrated experimental -and -
modeling analysis of key species involved in the biological and chemical reactions of concern.
The quantitative synthesis of these processes will thus provide the conditions for maximum
methane generation and the optimum conditions to maintain uniform methane gas migration at
the site.
The results obtained at each stage of the above proposed approach will be discussed by the
City of Denton, TX, MSW Landfill authority and project partners at ERDC-EL. The
experimental plan can be revised as seen necessary by the landfill authority. SMU will develop
lists of action items needed following each project coordination meeting and distribute the items
as well as the results of the analysis to the project personnel.
2
1. Introduction and Background:
The City of Denton Landfill at ECO-W.E.R.C.S. is a Type 1 Landfill which receives MSW and
has a unique liner system designed to protect groundwater. Waste going into the Landfill is
compacted and covered with dirt. In 2008, the Landfill at ECO-W.E.R.C.S. installed a landfill
gas collection system to collect and use landfill gas as a green energy source. Currently, there are
73 vertical wells and 34 horizontal collection lines. The system covers the entire 63 -acres of
current waste in place. The collected gas is directed to an electric power generator on-site which
is connected to the Denton Municipal Utilities electric grid. The current capacity of the electric
generator is 1.6 megawatts, powering the equivalent of approximately 1,600 homes per year. The
electric power station was designed for expansion as methane gas production increases (City of
Denton, MSW, 2014).
In 2009, the Landfill at ECO-W.E.R.C.S. received approval from the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for the recirculation of leachate and storm water to increase
landfill gas production. Leachate is water that trickles down through the waste pack to the
bottom liner. A leachate collection system pumps leachate back to the upper levels of the waste
pack. This process speeds up the decomposition of waste which increases methane gas
production and recovery. The addition of the enhanced leachate recirculation system will allow
the area to be reused for new trash and start the process over again when thewastehas been
completely decomposed. This unique effort to utilize methane emissions provides significant
energy, economic and environmental benefits (City of Denton, MSW, 2014).
Landfill gas is produced as a byproduct of anaerobic biodegradation of organic materials in
landfills. Landfill gas generation is a biological process where microorganisms decompose the
organic waste within the landfill to produce carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide and other
gases (Manzur, 2010). Landfill gas is composed of a mixture of various gases which typically
contains about 45 - 60 % methane, 40 - 60% carbon dioxide as well as trace amounts of nitrogen,
oxygen, ammonia, sulfides, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and non -methane organic compounds
(NMOCs) such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and vinyl chloride (ATSDR, 2001). Table 1 shows
the main compounds and their average concentrations in a typical landfill gas generated from
anaerobic biodegradation (US DOE, 1996).
Table 1: Cnnznasition of landfill izas ('US DOE. 1996)
Compound
Average concentration (%)
Methane (CH4)
50
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
45
Nitrogen (N2)
5
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
<1
Non -methane organic compound (NMOCs)
2700 ppmv
After the MSW is landfilled, the organic components are decomposed in the presence of
microorganisms mainly in four phases. The composition of the gas produced changes with each
of the four phases of decomposition.
Phase I: During the first phase of decomposition, aerobic bacteria (i.e., bacteria that live only in
the presence of oxygen) consume oxygen while breaking down the organic waste that consists of
long molecular chains of complex carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. The primary products of
3
this phase are carbon dioxide and shorter carbon chain compounds. This phase continues until all
the available oxygen is depleted by the aerobic bacteria.
Phase II: During the second phase, anaerobic bacteria (i.e., bacteria that do not live in the
presence of oxygen) convert the compounds produced by the aerobic bacteria during phase I into
acetic, lactic, formic acids and alcohols such as methanol and ethanol:
Acetogenesis: C61 -112O6 10 2C2H5OH + 2CO2
The landfill becomes highly acidic. As the acids mix with the moisture present in the landfill,
certain nutrients dissolve in the pore space increasing nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations for
increasingly diverse species to be active. The primary products of this phase are carbon dioxide
and hydrogen.
Phase III: During Phase III, certain kinds of anaerobic bacteria consume the organic acids
produced by the acetogenic bacteria in Phase II to form methane and carbon dioxide:
Methanogenesis: CH3COOH 10 CH4 + CO2
CO2 + 4 H2 10 CH4 + 2 H2O
The maximum amount of methane or natural gas that may be generated during anaerobic
decomposition of an organic waste (e.g. cellulose), can be shown by the reaction:
C61-11005 + H2O 3CH4 + 3CO2
C61 -110O4 + 1.5 H2O 0 3.25 CH4 + 2.75 CO2
This reaction produces a very small amount of heat and the product gas contains about 54%
methane and 46% carbon dioxide (Manzur, 2010). The methanogenic and acetogenic bacteria
have a symbiotic (i.e., mutually beneficial) relationship, where the acetogenic bacteria produce
the compounds for the methanogenic bacteria to consume, and methanogenic bacteria consume
the carbon dioxide and acetate, too much of which would be toxic to the acetogenic bacteria
(ATSDR, 2001).
Phase IV: Phase IV starts when the composition and production rates of landfill gas remain
relatively constant. This phase typically results in production of a gas that contains 45-60 %
methane, 40-60 % carbon dioxide, and 2-9 % other gases, by volume, such as sulfide products. A
summary of the waste decomposition phases and the corresponding amounts of gas composition
is shown in Figure 1 below.
0
100
90
80
70
60
0
s0
c
8 40
30
20
10
0
Aerobic
Anaerobic
Note: Phase duration time varies with landfill conditions
Figure 1. Summary of the decomposition phases and gas components in a typical landfill
(ATSDR, 2001).
Factors Affecting Gas Generation: The amount of generated gas from a MSW landfill depends
on several factors including the waste composition, moisture content, particle size, age of
waste, pH, and temperature. Recently, leachate recirculation has been used to accelerate
landfilled waste biodegradation to enhance landfill gas generation. Although first suggested in
the mid 1970s (Pohland, 1975), the concept of operating a landfill as a bioreactor or enhanced
leachate recirculation (ELR) landfill has recently received an increased attention (Pacey et al.,
1999). An ELR landfill operation has been observed to enhance gas production, refuse
decomposition, and waste stabilization. The influence of leachate recirculation at the City of
Denton landfill facility has been studied by Manzur et al. (2010), where landfill gas generation
and gas composition data were monitored for ten (10) individual lateral pipes HI to HIO. The
results showed that the gas flow rate and composition at the site were highly affected by
additional moisture intrusion into refuse mass in the form of recirculated leachate. This led to
the enhancement of gas generation. These recirculated gas pipes resulted in a methane
percentage (% CH4) close to 60%, whereas the non -recirculating pipes provided around 45%
(Manzur, 2010).
5
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase IV
�r
4"0%
♦
40-60%
I
I
A
•
i
I
• ♦ _ Nitrogen
•.•
Oxygen
i.............-------------•--
2�
i
Note: Phase duration time varies with landfill conditions
Figure 1. Summary of the decomposition phases and gas components in a typical landfill
(ATSDR, 2001).
Factors Affecting Gas Generation: The amount of generated gas from a MSW landfill depends
on several factors including the waste composition, moisture content, particle size, age of
waste, pH, and temperature. Recently, leachate recirculation has been used to accelerate
landfilled waste biodegradation to enhance landfill gas generation. Although first suggested in
the mid 1970s (Pohland, 1975), the concept of operating a landfill as a bioreactor or enhanced
leachate recirculation (ELR) landfill has recently received an increased attention (Pacey et al.,
1999). An ELR landfill operation has been observed to enhance gas production, refuse
decomposition, and waste stabilization. The influence of leachate recirculation at the City of
Denton landfill facility has been studied by Manzur et al. (2010), where landfill gas generation
and gas composition data were monitored for ten (10) individual lateral pipes HI to HIO. The
results showed that the gas flow rate and composition at the site were highly affected by
additional moisture intrusion into refuse mass in the form of recirculated leachate. This led to
the enhancement of gas generation. These recirculated gas pipes resulted in a methane
percentage (% CH4) close to 60%, whereas the non -recirculating pipes provided around 45%
(Manzur, 2010).
5
2. Objectives:
The main objective of this study is to maximize the methane production efficiency at the landfill
facility at the City of Denton, TX. This project is focused to provide fundamental improvements
in the conversion of the solid waste compounds to methane gas along with maintaining uniform
methane gas migration at the site. Emphasis will be particularly placed on the incorporation of a
biopolymer salt and/or concentrate, (which will be obtained through ERDC-EL authority) within
the pilot bioreactor landfill to be constructed at the Denton site. The biopolymer compound has
been proven to enhance water retention in the soils, increase microbial carbon and nutrient
uptake efficiency, and increase the rates of microbial waste conversion to methane gas. The
proposed research effort will address the efficiency of the above items as a result of an extensive
experimental analysis of the key biological and chemical reactions of concern.
The overall hypothesis is that "the biopolymer film, when amended with landfill soils,
will maintain the maximum moisture content within the soils, significantly enhancing the
carbon and nutrient uptake efficiency of the microbial species, resulting in higher
efficiency of solid waste conversion to methane gas". The hypothesis will be tested by
performing the work plan consisting of the tasks and subtasks as described below. These include:
1) Laboratory experiments for the determination of optimum % of biopolymer loading
2) Pilot scale bioreactor operation at the landfill facility with amended biopolymer compounds,
The results obtained at each stage of the above proposed approach will be discussed by the
City of Denton, TX, MSW Landfill authority and project partners at ERDC-EL. The
experimental plan can be revised as seen necessary by the landfill authority. SMU will develop
lists of action items needed following each project coordination meeting and distribute them to
the project personnel.
Use of a Natural Biopolymer as an Amendment:
A variety of bacterial species produce extracellular polymeric substances (named as EPS) which
are localized at or outside the cell surface (Geesey, 1982; Castellane and Lemos, 2007; Monteiro
et al., 2012; Mota et al., 2013; Radchenkova et al., 2013; Silvi, et al., 2013). An important
function of EPS is that they can trap, bind, and concentrate organic materials in close proximity
to the cells. This facilitates the efficient uptake of hydrolysis products by reducing diffusion loss
of products to the surrounding water (Hoffman and Decho, 1999; Wingender et al., 1999;
Laspidou and Rittmann, 2002). Bacterial production of EPS has been studied and recognized as a
cohesive force facilitating resistance against erosion in sediments (Droppe 2009; Gerbersdorf et
al., 2008a, 2008b; Larson et al., 2012) In the marine environments, it has been recognized as an
important alternate route for organic carbon cycling (Bhaskar and Bhosle 2005). EPS has also
been demonstrated to be promoting soil adhesion for several cyanobacteria in and environments
(Hu et al., 2003).
Among the bacteria that produce EPS, Rhizobia sp., has been reported to excrete large
amounts of polysaccharides into the rhizosphere and, when grown in pure cultures (Noel, 2009),
produce abundant amounts of EPS, causing an increase in viscosity (Castellane et al., 2014). Due
to its adhesive, water retention, and protective biofilm formation characteristics of the EPS
produced by R. tropici, it has been investigated as a potential soil engineering agent (Larson et
al., 2012). The main characteristics of this biopolymer include:
➢ Surface adhesion,
➢ Water retention,
0
➢ Nutrient accumulation in the soils.
These results warrant the
investigation of the impact of
biopolymer potential to (i)
enhance water retention, (ii)
enhance microbial carbon
and nutrient uptake efficiency
in the landfill cells, which are
the main factors affecting
methane gas generation as
discussed above. Thus, the
impact of biopolymer
addition will be an
acceleration in the landfilled
waste biodegradation, which
will then enhance the landfill
methane gas generation.
Larsen et al. (2012)
provides a performance
evaluation of this biopolymer
film produced by R. tropici at
pilot scale. R. tropici
biopolymer film was used to
coat seeds, where an increase
in the germination rates with
decreased water application
was observed (Figure 2).
When the soil was amended
with 0.2 % biolpolymer film,
rate of establishment of
vegetative cover was
90
80
0 70
R 60
50
40
• 30 —
20
10
0
Control 10 mg biopolymer 30 mg blopolymer
Figure 2. Comparison of germination rate for control and
biolpolymer coated seeds, when the 0.2 % biopolymer is amended
in soil (from Larsen et al., 2012).
260
increased, which also
required minimal application of water. It was also observed that the soil amended with
biopolymer retained moisture for a longer time compared to the unamended soil (Figure 3). This
was also a contributing factor to increased establishment of vegetative cover in areas that were
subjected to erosion.
4. Work Plan:
The proposed research plan will be performed in two tasks as seen in Figure 4. The details are as
described below:
Task 1: Laboratory experiments for the determination of optimum % of biopolymer
loading:
rh
Prior to the implementation of pilot scale bioreactor experiment at the landfill facility, laboratory
experiments will be conducted at SMU to determine the optimum % loading of the biopolymer
to be used at the pilot bioreactor at the facility. For this purpose, a series of laboratory -scale
columns will be constructed using 20 cm -diameter polyacrylic plastic pipe with a total height of
100 cm loaded with about 15 kg of solid waste sample in each column. The solid wastes will be
amended with 1 — 5 % biopolymer compound, resulting in a total of 6 columns including a
biopolymer -free control. A leachate injection port and a gas collection port will be installed on
the top of each column. A leachate collection port will be located at the bottom of each column
for leachate collection. All columns will be operated in a thermostatic room (25 ± 5 _C)
temperature for a few months. Leachate collected from each column will be recirculated with a
flow rate of 500 ml/day. Additional columns will also be tested to vary the recirculation flow
rate, to determine if desired moisture content and solid waste decomposition can be achieved
with lower flow rate of leachate circulation. Leachate, which will be collected for sampling from
the leachate collection port, will be analyzed for pH, COD, BODS, and ammonia—nitrogen.
Major cations can be measured by ICP -MS (Perkin Elmer 6100). Most anions can be determined
by ion chromatography, alkalinity by titration, and DOC by high temperature combustion
(Shimadzu). Eh and temperature will also be monitored.
Anticipated results of this task will be the determination of optimum biopolymer % loading
to be used in the plot scale bioreactor experiments, described in Task 2 below.
Task 2a: Setup of pilot scale bioreactor experiment at the landfill facility:
A pilot scale bioreactor experiment will be conducted at the landfill facility to mimic the waste
decomposition process occurring at the landfill site. The pilot bioreactor will be constructed at
the facility with 16-20 ft long, 12 ft high and 12 ft wide representative cell filled with the landfill
material in 2 vertical layers, sloped at 1-2% (see Figure 4). The cell will be sealed and lined with
a high density polyethylene material. The pilot cell will receive municipal solid waste and will be
adopted to have leachate recirculation system, similar to the main landfill cells operating at the
0 Biopolymer Amendment
® Gas Collection Task 1. Laboratory
�* experiments for the
Leachate andligtrids addition determination of
liq>ads
Storage optimum % of
biopolymer loading
Task 2. Pilot scale
bioreactor operation at
Gas 11 laver the landfill facility with
Colectiaa ' ' ' " amended biopolymer
...
40*. . .
compounds
Z layer _
Integration of results to public outreach ---
and education activities
Figure 4. Illustration of the project experimental design, pilot scale bioreactor experiment, and work
plan proposed in this study
8
facility. The flow rate of the leachate, mass of the incoming solid waste, etc. will be adjusted to
be representative of the main landfill cells. Interconnected horizontal pipes will be installed for
gas collection and leachate recirculation purposes. Leachate which will percolate through the
pipes to the bottom of the 2°d layer will be collected to a storage tank and then will be resent
back to different locations within the pilot cell using different pipes from the leachate storage
tank. The collected gas (once every hour from various locations) will be analyzed for methane
and CO2 concentrations. The hourly collected leachate at various locations will be analyzed for
solution chemistry to obtain the concentrations of main dissolved ions in the solution. The pilot
cell will operate until a steady state condition will be achieved. After collection, leachate samples
will be refrigerated until the time of analysis, which will always be carried out within 2 h frame
from the time of collection. The experiments will be conducted in duplicates. Major cations can
be measured by ICP -MS (Perkin Elmer 6100). Most anions can be determined by ion
chromatography, alkalinity by titration, and DOC by high temperature combustion (Shimadzu).
Eh and temperature will also be monitored.
Task 2b: Pilot scale bioreactor operation with amended biopolymer compounds:
Once the pilot cell operation reaches steady state conditions, both layers of the landfill will be
amended with the biopolymer compound produced from Rhizobium tropici. The biopolymer salt
will be obtained from ERDC-EL in collaboration with Drs. Martin, Deliman, and Larson. The
bacterial species can be stimulated to produce large quantities of this biopolymer that can be
applied as a concentrate as an amendment. Once the biopolymer is separated from the growth
media and extracted to produce a non-reactive (non -cross-linking) material, it can be transported
to the landfill facility to apply at the pilot bioreactor cell. The biopolymer can be applied using
one of the two methods. The first involves mixing the biopolymer concentrate with water at the
site of use, producing a viscous liquid, or gel that is applied. The second method involves mixing
the biopolymer, then applying water. Using either application method, when wetted, the
biopolymer will form a gel within the MSW matrix. With the small particulates acting as a
buffer, the ionic character of the biopolymer is neutralized and the biopolymer can begin reacting
with itself and the constituents of the soil matrix as described in Larson et al., (2012). The
amount of the biopolymer amendment that will be applied will be adjusted so that both layers of
the pilot cell will be mixed well with the biopolymer compound. After about 3 weeks of process
time, landfill gas will be collected (once every hour from various locations) to be analyzed for
methane and CO2 concentrations. The hourly collected leachate samples at various locations will
be analyzed for solution chemistry to obtain the concentrations of main dissolved ions in the
solution, with the same procedure as obtained in Task 1. The results will be compared with the
prior results obtained in Task 1.
Anticipated results of this task will be a significant improvement in the efficiency of methane
generation. The data obtained in this task will be further incorporated into a reactive transport
model to predict the interactions of microorganisms with nutrients leading to methane production
along with the transport of methane in the pilot cell, as described below. The quantitative
synthesis of these processes will also provide the insights for optimum conditions to maintain
uniform methane gas migration at the pilot reactor. The model results will also be used to test
hypothesis for further experimentation for Task 2, where the experimental set-up, sampling
points, frequencies of sampling and analysis may be revised as deemed necessary to ensure the
best set of conditions are implemented at the reactor.
M
5. Schedule of tasks:
The Gantt chart below describes the anticipated timing of the research with the associated tasks
and subtasks):
6. Integration of the proposed research with education, public outreach components,
project management plan and collaboration:
PI Sengor has expertise in solid waste decomposition, environmental microbiology,
environmental biogeochemistry, multi-component multi -phase reactive transport modeling,
quantitative geochemistry, and scientific project management. She has been extensively working
and publishing on microbial growth kinetics, modeling microbial metabolism in low energy
yielding environments, and the coupling of kinetic reactions with multi -phase reactive transport.
This project will train and mentor 1 graduate student who will be engaged in the experimental
and modeling efforts. PI Sengor will have the responsibilities for the experimental design and
analysis, and the implementation of the mathematical numerical model integrated with the
experiments, as well as training and supervision of students. Her research group will work very
closely with the City of Denton MSW Landfill authority, especially with Mr. Vance Kemler
(Landfill General Manager) and Mr. David Dugger (Landfill Manager) with regards to the
operation of the landfill pilot bioreactor experiment. She will also work closely with the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental
Laboratory especially with Drs. Larson, Martin, and Deliman. The graduate students will be
spending significant amount of time at the landfill facility to carry out the sampling and
experimental analysis at the landfill pilot bioreactor. The project results will be disseminated to
the City of Denton, TX, MSW Landfill authority. SMU will host coordination meetings or
conference calls, at least quarterly, with Project Partners to discuss project activities, project
schedule, communication needs, deliverables, and other requirements as seen necessary by the
landfill authority. SMU will develop lists of action items needed following each project
coordination meeting and distribute to the project personnel. This project would highly appeal to
the public outreach and education aspects by dissemination of the results to other interested
parties through focused workshops, meetings, peer-reviewed articles and conference
presentations. Research work will also be incorporated into students' thesis and/or dissertations
and published in peer-reviewed journals. The project will build up a solid collaboration with the
City of Denton MSW Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Environmental Laboratory,
and Southern Methodist University, with regards to the state of the art research effort, as well as
graduate level teaching and public outreach components.
mi
Time from start of the project
Year 1
Year 2
Project Schedules
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Q6
Q7
Q8
Task 1: Laboratory experiments for the determination of
optimum % of biopolymer loading
Task 2: Pilot scale bioreactor operation at the landfill
facility with amended biopolymer compounds
Integration of the proposed research with education,
public outreach components
6. Integration of the proposed research with education, public outreach components,
project management plan and collaboration:
PI Sengor has expertise in solid waste decomposition, environmental microbiology,
environmental biogeochemistry, multi-component multi -phase reactive transport modeling,
quantitative geochemistry, and scientific project management. She has been extensively working
and publishing on microbial growth kinetics, modeling microbial metabolism in low energy
yielding environments, and the coupling of kinetic reactions with multi -phase reactive transport.
This project will train and mentor 1 graduate student who will be engaged in the experimental
and modeling efforts. PI Sengor will have the responsibilities for the experimental design and
analysis, and the implementation of the mathematical numerical model integrated with the
experiments, as well as training and supervision of students. Her research group will work very
closely with the City of Denton MSW Landfill authority, especially with Mr. Vance Kemler
(Landfill General Manager) and Mr. David Dugger (Landfill Manager) with regards to the
operation of the landfill pilot bioreactor experiment. She will also work closely with the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental
Laboratory especially with Drs. Larson, Martin, and Deliman. The graduate students will be
spending significant amount of time at the landfill facility to carry out the sampling and
experimental analysis at the landfill pilot bioreactor. The project results will be disseminated to
the City of Denton, TX, MSW Landfill authority. SMU will host coordination meetings or
conference calls, at least quarterly, with Project Partners to discuss project activities, project
schedule, communication needs, deliverables, and other requirements as seen necessary by the
landfill authority. SMU will develop lists of action items needed following each project
coordination meeting and distribute to the project personnel. This project would highly appeal to
the public outreach and education aspects by dissemination of the results to other interested
parties through focused workshops, meetings, peer-reviewed articles and conference
presentations. Research work will also be incorporated into students' thesis and/or dissertations
and published in peer-reviewed journals. The project will build up a solid collaboration with the
City of Denton MSW Landfill Facility, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Environmental Laboratory,
and Southern Methodist University, with regards to the state of the art research effort, as well as
graduate level teaching and public outreach components.
mi
7. References:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 2001. Landfill Gas Primer - An
Overview for Environmental Health Professionals.
F4.errscli.ccic.gov�HACllcrncljill/PDFr�Lanill 20'11 ch2mnd.pdf
Arora B., SS Sengor, NF Spycher, Cl Steefel (2014). A reactive transport benchmark on heavy
metal cycling in lake sediments. Computational Geosciences, pp 1-21.
Bhaskar, P. V., and N. B. Bhosle. 2005. Microbial extracellular polymeric substances in marine
biogeochemical processes. Current Science 88: 45-53.
Castellane, T. C. L., & Lemos, E. G. de M. (2007). Composie, do de
exopolissacarideosproduzidos por estirpes de riz6bios cultivados em diferentes fontes de
carbono.Pesquisa Agropecudria Brasileira, 42, 1503-1506.
Castellane, T. C. L., Lemos, M. V. F., & Lemos, E. G. D. M. (2014). Evaluation of the
biotechnological potential of Rhizobium tropici strains for exopolysaccharide
production. Carbohydrate Polymers.
City of Denton, Denton Municipal Utilities, Landfill Gas to Energy, 2014.
lett ://www.cit •ofdenton.com/de artments-services/de artments--zlsolid-waste-
recycl ingllandti ll-at-eco-w-e-r-c-s-Ilandfi ll-gas-to-eiiergy-
Droppo, I. C. 2009. Biofilm structure and bed stability of five contrasting freshwater sediments.
Marine and Freshwater Research 60: 690-699.
Geesey GG. Microbial exopolymers: ecological and economic considerations. ASM News
1982;48:9-14.
Gerbersdorf, S. A., T. Jancke, B. Westrich, and D. M. Paterson. 2008a. Microbial stabilization of
riverine sediments by extracellular polymeric substances. Geobiology 6: 57-69.
Hoffman M, Decho AW. Extracellular enzymes within microbial biofilms and the role of the
extracellular polymer matrix. In: Wingender J, Neu TR, Flemming H -C, editors.
Microbial extracellular polymeric substances: characterization, structure and function. Berlin:
Springer, 1999.
Hong, K. J., Tokunaga, S., Ishigami, Y., & Kajiuchi, T. (2000). Extraction of heavy metals from
MSW incinerator fly ash using saponins. Chemosphere, 41(3), 345-352.
Hu, C., Y. Liu, B. S. Paulsen, D. Petersen, and D. Klaveness. 2003. Extracellular carbohydrate
polymers from five desert algae with different cohesion in the stabilization of fine sand grain.
Carbohyd. Polym. 54: 33-42.
Larson, S. L., Newman, J. K., Griggs, C. S., Beverly, M., & Nestler, C. C. (2012). Biopolymers
as an Alternative to Petroleum -Based Polymers for Soil Modification, ESTCP ER -0920:
Treatability Studies (No. ERDC-TR-12-8). Army Corps Of Engineers Vicksburg MS Engineer
Research And Development Center.
Laspidou, C. S., & Rittmann, B. E. (2002). A unified theory for extracellular polymeric
substances, soluble microbial products, and active and inert biomass. Water Research, 36(11),
2711-2720.
Lee, J. C., & Pandey, B. D. (2012). Bio -processing of solid wastes and secondary resources for
metal extraction—a review. Waste Management, 32(1), 3-18.
Manzur, S.R. 2010. Effect of leachate recirculation for methane generation in bioreactor landfill.
Masters Thesis, The University of Texas at Arlington.
Monteiro, N. K., Aranda-Selverio, G., Exposti, D. T. D., Silva, M., Lemos, E. G.
M.,Campanharo, J. C., & Silveira, J. L. M. S. (2012). Caracterizac, do quimica dos
geisproduzidos pelas bacterias diazotr6ficas Rhizobium tropici e Mesorhizobium sp.Quimica
Nova, 35(4), 705-708.
Mota, R., Guimaraes, R., Mittel, Z., Rossi, F., Colica, G., Silva, C. J., Santos, C., Gales, L.,Zille,
A., De Philippis, R., Pereira, S. B., & Tamagnini, P. (2013). Production andcharacterization of
extracellular carbohydrate polymer from Cyanothece sp. CCY0110. Carbohydrate Polymers,
92(2), 1408-1415.
Noel., K. D. (2009). Rhizobia. In M. Schaechter (Ed.), Encyclopedia of microbiology (pp.261-
277). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Pacey J, Augenstein D, Morck R, Reinhart D, Yazdani R. Bioreactive landfill. MSW
Manage 1999;Sept/Oct:53-60
Pohland, F. G.(1975) Sanitary Landfill Stabilisation with Leachate Recycle and Residual
Treatment (Report No. EPA -600/2-75-043). USEPA
Radchenkova, N., Vassilev, S., Panchev, 1., Anzelmo, G., Tomova, I., Nicolaus,B., Kuncheva,
M., Petrov, K., & Kambourova, M. (2013). Production andproperties of two novel
exopolysaccharides synthesized by a thermophilic Bac-terium Aeribacillus pallidus 418.
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 171,31-43.
Schirmer, F., Burgstaller, W., 1989. Extraction of zinc from industrial waste by Penicillium sp.
Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 55,1153-1156
$engor, S. Seving, Timothy R. Ginn, Christopher J. Brugato, and Petros Gikas. (2013) Anaerobic
microbial growth near thermodynamic equilibrium as a function of ATP/ADP cycle: The effect
of maintenance energy requirements. Biochemical Engineering Journal 2013:65-72
12
$engor, S. Seving, Spycher, N. F., Ginn, T. R., Sani, R. K., & Peyton, B. (2007a).
Biogeochemical reactive–diffusive transport of heavy metals in Lake Coeur d'Alene sediments.
Applied Geochemistry, 22(12), 2569-2594.
$engor SS, Spycher NF, Ginn TR, Sani RK, and Peyton B. (2007b). Biogeochemical reactive
diffusive transport of heavy metals in Lake Coeur d'Alene sediments. Appl. Geochem. 22, 2569-
2594.
Sengor, S.S. CJ Brugato, P Gikas, M Fletcher, TR Ginn (2009) A comparison of approaches to
model thermodynamics and maintenance energy requirements of microbial metabolism. -
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta Supplement, Vol. 73, pp. 1196.
Silvi, S., Barghini, P., Aquilanti, A., Juarez -Jimenez, B., & Fenice, M. (2013). Physiologicand
metabolic characterization of a new marine isolate (BM39) of Pantoea sp.producing high levels
of exopolysaccharide. Microbial Cell Factories, 12, 10.
Spycher NF, Issarangkun M, Stewart B, Sengor S, Belding E, Ginn, TM, Peyton BM, and Sani
RK. (2011). On Modeling Biogenic Uraninite Precipitation and Reoxidation by
Iron(III)(hydr)oxides: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Considerations. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta.
75: 4426-4440.
Tateda, M., Ike, M., & Fujita, M. (1998). Comparative evaluation of processes for heavy metal
removal from municipal solid waste incineration fly ash. journal of Environmental Sciences,
10(4), 458-465.
Wingender J, Neu TR, Flemming H -C. What are bacterial extracellular polymeric substances?
In: Wingender J, Neu TR, Flemming H -C, editors. Microbial extracellular polymeric
substances: characterization, structure and function. Berlin: Springer, 1999.
Wu, H. Y., & Ting, Y. P. (2006). Metal extraction from municipal solid waste (MSW)
incinerator fly ash—Chemical leaching and fungal bioleaching. Enzyme and Microbial
Technology, 38(6), 839-847.
US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental
Laboratory (2012). The Use of a Natural Biopolymer as an Agricultural Soil Amendment,
Biopolymer fact sheet.
13