First Advisor

Erik J. Sánchez

Date of Publication

Spring 6-5-2015

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Environmental Sciences and Resources

Department

Environmental Sciences and Resources

Language

English

Subjects

Thin films -- Surfaces -- Analysis, Microbial ecology, Metallic films, Surface chemistry

DOI

10.15760/etd.2303

Physical Description

1 online resource (xiii, 223 pages)

Abstract

The air-water interface is an important natural boundary layer that has been neglected as an area of environmental field research. This study establishes that comparative microscopy can be an effective environmental method, and establishes that the term metallic surface films, is a more accurate descriptor than iron oxide surface films. This research shows that surface films are complex, often with layered structure, serve as habitat for significant biota, and act as a point of mineralization to several transition metal elements including manganese, iron, copper, nickel and zinc. This study demonstrates that surface films form under several conditions and can have diverse morphology. Activity of biota, microbes, particularly diatoms, suggests that bacteria and cyanobacteria integrate into the film often in patches, represented by forms and casts. Analytical imaging is used to document and compare film morphology and structures, using scanning electron microscopy, photoemission electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy with elemental analysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy to confirm the hypothesis. Instrument parameters and strengths are reviewed. Component layers of a copper/zinc film were used to confirm metallic layers and elemental distribution. Bacterial casts were used to confirm film interaction, and to show entrainment and enrichment of the film to incorporate autochthonous and allochthonous materials into the films themselves. Most samples were from Oregon selected sites, with some samples from Maryland and Barbados.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/15472

Download

Share

COinS