A Novel Approach to Use Second Generation Biofuel Crop Plants Printing: (Camelina sativa, Miscanthus giganteus, and Panicum virgatum) to remediate Abandoned Mine Lands in Pennsylvania Edward A. Gerst1, Tyler Bowe2*, Matthew Robinson3*, Alison Shuler1, and Sairam Rudrabhatla1 1Penn State Harrisburg, 777 Harrisburg Pike Middletown, PA 17057, 2Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, 1837 University Circle Cheyney, Pennsylvania 19319. 3Tuskegee University of Alabama, 1200 W. Montgomery Rd, Alabama. *Supported by NSF-REU program. Abstract Methods Discussion • Germination results: • Panicum virgatum specimens were The basis of our investigation is to observe the more successful over time. abilities of three biofuel crops’ (Miscanthus • Camelina sativa specimens started off Customizing the giganteus, Camelina sativa, and Panicum strong but did not grow well. virgatum) to phytoremediate marginal soils • Growth Results Content: affected by coal refuse and/or acid mine • Miscanthus giganteus had best overall drainage. To test this hypothesis we chose soil growth, but had high water demand. from three locations upon the land holdings of • Panicum virgatum had steady growth the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for with lower water demand. Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (EPCAMR) • in Ashley, PA. We believe that each of these Lab Results species of biofuel crop will respectively show • There were instances where favorable removal of heavy metal phytoextraction appeared occur for Al, contamination in each of three experimental As, Ba, Cr, Pb, Hg, and S in each of the soil types. biofuel crops. • There appeared to be instances of hyper-accumulation. Through this experiment we hoped to answer • Mass-Balance Results the following questions: • The theoretical mass-balance was sketchy in the instances where the 1. Which of the three (3) biofuel crops we chemical concentrations were not selected [Camelina sativa, Miscanthus detected. giganteus, or Panicum virgatum] has the • The leachate was not considered in the ability to survive in the marginal soils experimental design. affected by coal mining operations? Results • There were unexpected instances 2. Do any of the aforementioned species thrive where the outgoing soil concentrations were higher than the input soil in such conditions? Camelina sativa growth, Trial 1 Miscanthus giganteus growth, Trial 1 Panicum virgatum growth, Trial 1 90 180 90 80 160 80 concentrations. 3. Do any of these biofuel crops have the ability 70 140 70 60 120 60 50 100 50 • Net zero mass-balance was achieved in to Phytoremediate soils contaminated by 40 80 40 Height, cm Height, 30 cm Height, 30 Height, cm Height, 60 20 40 20 a few situations. heavy metal contaminants? 10 20 10 0 0 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 4. Do any of the aforementioned plant species Time elapsed, Days Time elapsed, Days Time elapsed, Days Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3 Control behave as a hyper-accumulator of any of the Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3 Control Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3 Control Camelina sativa growth, Trial 2 Miscanthus giganteus growth, Trial 2 Panicum virgatum growth, Trial 2 pollutants studied? 70 100 100 Conclusion 60 80 80 50 60 60 40 40 40 5. What is the feasibility of using any of these 30 Height, cm Height, 20 cm Height, Height, cm Height, 20 20 0 1. Miscanthus giganteus and Panicum virgatum appeared 10 0 plant species to phytoremediate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10111213141516171819202122 Time elapsed, Days Time elapsed, Days to be the most able to adapt to the experimental soils. contaminated soils and also as a source of Time elapsed, Days Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3 Control Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3 Control Soil 2 Soil 3 Control Future Studies energy following phytoextraction? 2. Miscanthus giganteus produced the greatest amount Miscanthus giganteus growth, Trial 3 Panicum virgatum growth, Trial 3 of biomass. Camelina sativa growth, Trial 3 120 80 70 80 100 60 60 80 50 3. Each of the species displayed instances of 60 40 40 30 40 Height, cm Height, Height, cm Height, phytoextraction. 20 Height, cm Height, 20 20 10 0 0 0 4. There were instances of hyper-accumulation. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10111213141516171819202122 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Time elapsed, Days Time elapsed, Days Time elapsed, Days 5. Feasibility for the use of these biofuel crops for Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3 Control Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3 Control Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3 Control Acknowledgements phytoextraction must be determined in a case by case Camelina sativa growth, Trial 4 Miscanthus giganteus growth, Trial 4 Panicum virgatum growth, Trial 4 70 100 70 basis depending upon results of a cost benefit analysis. 60 60 80 • National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduate Programs 50 50 40 60 40 30 Penn State Harrisburg 40 30 Height, cm Height, 20 Height, cm Height, Height, cm Height, 20 • Mr. Robert Hughes, Executive Director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for 10 20 10 • Field application studies could be conducted. 0 0 0 Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10111213141516171819202122 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Time elapsed, Days Time elapsed, Days Time elapsed, Days • • *REU students Tyler Bowe and Matt Robinson Possibly repeating the experiment including analysis of • Staff and students of the Central PA Laboratory for Biofuels at Penn State Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3 Control Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3 Control Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3 Control the leachate and mass measurements. Harrisburg • Continue research with different species and/or • Analytical Laboratory Service (ALS), Middletown, PA • Microbac Laboratories, Harrisburg, PA Bibliography varieties of biofuel crops. • US Department of Agriculture • Apply transgenic crop experimentation to aid with • Mr. Gregory Shuler, P.G., PA Department of Environmental Protection • The full bibliography can be attained upon request. [email protected]. • Cynthia Gerst and children (Son Kameron, Daughter Korynn and Son Korben) • All photographic images were taken by Edward A. Gerst, 2012 with the exception of the greenhouse external image tolerances to harsh environments. • This research is dedicated in memory of Mrs. Diana Hudler and Mrs. Pamela Gerst (http://harrisburg.psu.edu/places/central-pennsylvania-research-and-teaching-laboratory-biofuels) and • Combustion tests with stack testing for air quality *NSF REU student interns http://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/sites/www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/files/imagecache/220w/logos/EPCAMR- logo.png for the EPCAMR logo. toxicity determination..