| Collaborative Research: SitS NSF-UKRI: Dynamic coupling of soil structure and gas fluxes measured with distributed sensor systems: implications for carbon modeling | 1020619 | Illangasekare, Tissa | 09/01/2019 | 08/31/2025 | ACTIVE | GOLDEN | gas exchange, greenhouse gas emissions, soil moisture, soil sensors, soil structure, soil monitoring, in-situ soil sensors, fiber optic | Organic carbon content and soil texture/compositions have the greatest effect on soil structure (aggregates and cracks) as well as the greatest impact on soil properties and function. Understanding carbon loading from soil-vegetation systems to the atmosphere is of critical importance to assess climate change drivers. Long-term experiments show that the content of soil organic carbon (SOC) is the result of a balance between the inputs and outputs of organic C. The main C inputs are plant roots and root exudates, above-ground plant residues and manures or other organic by-products . The outputs are the decomposition of organic matter by soil microorganisms and fauna leading to evolution of CO2 to the atmosphere (or CH4 under anaerobic conditions), leaching of soluble organic C compounds and particulate losses through erosion . Decomposition is normally the dominant output process and is controlled by clay content, temperature, moisture content and oxygen availability within the soil. Soils with a higher content of clay-sized particles, or higher cation exchange capacity, normally move towards a higher equilibrium content of organic C than sandy soil due to their greater capacity for stabilizing microbial metabolites . The clay and organic matter content also determine the shrinkage characteristics and hence how soil structure changes during the annual cycles of wetting and drying.An obstacle to progress our understanding of soil is a lack of spatio temporal data measured at high resolutionat field scales.This projectis to address this gap by intergrating spatially-distributed fiber optic sensing technology and in-ground WSN technologyto measure spatio temporal changes in fluxes of gaseous N2O, CO2, CH4 and O2, as well as soil strainwhich will be used to infer soil structural change.Spatially distributed measurement technology, based on the use of buried fiber optics and wireless sensornetwork sensors, have been commonly used in civil engineering. They can be used to measure strain anddepending on the coating over the fiber, water content and the concentrations of various gases includingO2, CO2, N2O and CH4. Such technology has considerable potential for use in agriculture,environmental and other vegetation monitoring, where typically sensors are point based (e.g. soil watercontent) and sampled manually. While gas emissions from soil can be measured at the field scale usingmicrometeorological techniques, the spatial distribution of emissions from the field is not known. Thepurpose of this project is to apply the spatially-distributed sensing technology used by civil engineers toagricultural and the natural environment. | The primary goal of this research is to develop two in-situ sensor systems that measure in-ground gas concentrations and strain/moisture/temperature/suction at relevant scales in the field to provide data on the dynamics of gas flux and soil structure. We propose to develop, deploy and test two distributed sensor systems for multi-scale soil condition monitoring because current approaches to sensing soil properties are point-based and cannot be sensibly used to obtain spatial patterns in the sensed variables. The proposed distributed fiber optic sensor system will provide wide-coverage data of (i) strain, (ii) temperature and (iii) selected gases, whereas the proposed in-ground mesh-based WSN system that utilizes magnetic induction-electromagnetic communication will measure (i) moisture, (ii) suction, (iii) temperature and (iv) selected gases.This project is a collaboration between three institutions: (1) University of California at Berkeley (UCB), (2) Colorado School of Mines (CSM), and (3) Rothamsted Research (RR), UK.The research is organized under six work packages.The project is planned under four broad tasks with specific objectives: (1) design and development of the integrated sensing systems, (2) testing the system under highly controlled conditions in a laboratory test system, (3) field deployment and modeling. The research tasks 1 and 2 that are primarily led by the two collaborating PIs at UCB and RR. The objectives of those two tasks are briefly presented. The USDA component of the funding assigned to the CSM PI primarily supports the second task involving the laboratory testing. More details on purpose, planned achievements, and milestones related to this task are provided. The overlapping activities among these three tasks are presented under methods in a later section.Sensing systemDistributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) is well adapted by the civil, oil and gas industry for strain, temperature, and acoustic monitoring applications, as it is one of the emerging technologies that take measurements at the meter-to-kilometer scale. The objective of this research task is to utilize the 15+ year experience on DFOS development at UCB, to develop two novel DFOS systems that measure strain/temperature changes of soil structure and (ii) soil gas concentration, at every 2 cm interval for more than 5 km length of fiber optic cable. To realize the multiscale monitoring concept promoted in this project, the meter-to-kilometer scale DFOS system will be used in combination with an innovative in-ground mesh-based wireless sensor network (WSN) system that provides local point measurements in a spatially distributed manner. Low power sensors to be used by RR will be implemented into the in-ground WSN system currently prototyped at UCB.Laboratory testingThe overall objective of this task is before conducting field validation studies at pilot scales, an approach that uses is proposed to test the developed integrated sensing system an intermediate-scale laboratory system.The intermediate-scale testing will be carried out at the closed-circuit, low-velocity climate-controlled (wind speed, temperature, relative humidity) porous media-wind tunnel operated by theCenter for Experimental Study of Subsurface Environmental Processes(CESEP) at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM). The primary advantage of intermediate-scale experimentation (generally defined as an intermediary between lab column and field scales with a maximum length of 10 m) is the ability for field-scale processes to be mimicked under highly controlled conditions.The objectives, expected results, and the milestones in each of the sub-tasks are summarized.Test method development - 6 monthsIn our past research using this test system, we have studied problems that involve mass and heat flux across the land/atmospheric interphase that couples atmospheric boundary layer to a porous medium.The objective of this research task is to develop testing methods specifically applicable to the soil sensing application.The measurements that need to be made include (1) soil moisture distribution, (2) soil temperature, (3) wind velocity, (4) humidity, and (5) gas concentration.Preliminary proof of concept experiments - 6 monthsThe objective of this task is to conduct a preliminary set of experiments under scenarios that are expected in the field.The experiments will be conducted using two types of test soils. In our past experiments, we have used sands whose hydraulic characteristics such as hydraulic conductivity, soil retention functions, relative permeability, and thermal conductivity have been determined.We propose to use silty soil from a field site in Colorado. As a part of this task, we will determine soil hydraulic and thermal characteristics. The test tank will be filled using the test soils. As at this stage the sensors that are developed at UCB are not available, we will use existing sensors in the test facility to run experiments to simulate expected field scenarios.Distributed sensor installation - 6 monthsAs the distributed sensor development at UCB will be in progress, it will not be possible to install a fully operational system in the test facility.The objective of this task is to complete a step vise installation and testing process of the sensing systems that are under development at UCB. Once the preliminary testing of each of the component of the integrated system is completed, we will work with the UCB collaborators to install the system in a CSM test tank. This testing of different components will be an iterative process as improvements to the design may have to be made based on the individual component testing.Laboratory testing of the integrated sensing system - 18 monthsThe objective of this task is the installation of the fully integrated sensing system in the laboratory testbed and conduct all the necessary tests before field deployment in at the site in the UK. The final experimental plan will depend on the methods, achievable soil-moisture controls, optimal vegetation distributions, and parameter sensitivities determined in WP1. The individual experiments will vary with respect to the following: (1) monolith depth; (2) grass cover at land-atmosphere interfaces; (4) land surfaces with micro-topographic features; (5) precipitation rates; (6) wind speed; and (7) humidity. The duration of the experiments will depend on many factors such as plant growth and soil-moisture control. Determination of the final configuration that will be optimal in the context of reliability, robustness, and accuracy will be a part of the testing strategy.This task will be closely corradiated with the UCB and FF collaborators to identify all issues and problems related to field installation. |
| Role of roast and storage conditions on chemical and biological characteristics of cold brew coffee | 1018488 | Rao, Niny | 02/15/2019 | 02/14/2023 | COMPLETE | PHILADELPHIA | chemistry, coffee, food safety, storage, cold brew | Cold brew coffee is a popular new brewing trend with a market growth of 580% from 2011 to 2016. Cold brew coffee is made through a low-temperature, long-contact brewing method where grinds are soaked with room temperature water (~25C) for 8 to 24 hours. Despite its growing popularity, very little research has been published on cold brew coffee chemistry.A range of online health and lifestyle blogs have published recipes and specific health claims for cold brew coffee without scientific basis. Further, nitro-cold brew coffee is a boutique cold brew beverage that is infused with nitrogen and has a mouthfeel similar to some craft beers. However, the introduction of nitrogen creates an anaerobic environment conducive to botulin toxin development. This research aims to establish a foundational understanding of some key chemical metrics of both traditional and nitro infused cold brew coffees. Total acidity, pH, 3-chlorogenic acid and caffeine concentrations, antioxidant capacity, and flavor will be measured for cold brew coffee extracts using three type of roasts. The presences and survivability of spoilage microorganisms will be analyzed during and after the brewing process in both traditional and nitro cold brew coffee. The immediate output of this project is to expand the understanding of cold brew coffee chemistry, including the survivability of spoilage microorganisms. The outcomes for this project are to educate coffee consumer about the cold brew coffee and to aid health officials in developing food safety inspection protocols. The ultimate goal is to Improve the best practice standards in cold brew coffee industry to provide better and safer experience to all consumers. | This proposed work will yield important chemical and biological information about traditional and nitro-infused coffee that will be pertinent to home-brewers, retail vendors, RTD producers, and perhaps most importantly, coffee consumers. Given the significant growth in the cold brew coffee market, the potential importance of coffee's bioactive compounds on human health, and the potential food safety concerns in both the United States and Canada, this proposal seeks to investigate CGA and caffeine concentrations, pH and total acidity, total antioxidant activity, and presence/detection of botulinum in both traditional cold brew and nitro infused cold brew coffee brewed from a single-source coffee bean. This research will monitor these key characteristics for three different roasts over a three week storage period.This project is congruent with the AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program area of food safety, nutrition, and health. Specifically, the project will address the program area priority of improving food quality. The knowledge gained in this project will provide consumers with scientifically based information about cold brew coffee so they can make informed decisions about their consumption habits. The project will also provide critical information for brewers and food safety specialist to facilitate new production and inspection standards to ensure the safety of the product.Aim 1a:The project will investigate how degree of roast affects the key chemical attributes of cold brewed coffee including concentration of CGA, concentration of caffeine, total acidity, pH,total antioxidant activity, and flavor profile by analyzing single-source beans processed at three different roasting temperatures: light (180°C - 205°C), medium (210°C - 220°C), and dark (240°C - 250°C).Aim 1b:The project will investigate changes in key chemical attributes that may occur during storage. The analyses in Aim 1 will be repeated after coffees have been stored in either ambient conditions or under pressurized nitrogen for three weeks.Aim 2:The project will investigate the presence, survival, and growth of spoilage microorganisms, specifically Cl. botulinum in both traditional and nitro-infused cold brew coffee during the brewing process and throughout the three week storage period. |
| Improvement of Soil Management Practices and Manure Treatment/Handling Systems of the Southern Coastal Plain | 0431207 | SZOGI A A | 07/27/2016 | 07/05/2021 | ACTIVE | FLORENCE | ANIMAL, AMMONIA, NITROGEN, PLANTS, PYROLYSIS, FERTILIZER, WATER, COVER, CROP, REDUCED, TILLAGE, NITRIFICATION, TREATMENT, ANAMMOX, EMISSIONS, SOIL, MANAGEMENT, DISCARDED, SOILS, SUSTAINABLE, PRODUCTION, PHOSPHORUS, REMOVAL, WASTE, SOLIDS, CARBON, GENES, GAS, PAHTOGEN, MANURE, QUALITY, RESIDUE, BIOCHAR, AMENDMENT, NITROUS, OXIDE | Not applicable | 1. Develop and test improved tillage and biomass management practices to enhance soil health and long-term agricultural productivity in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. 2. Develop manure treatment and handling systems that improve soil health and water quality while minimizing the emissions of greenhouse gases, odors and ammonia and the transport of phosphorus and pathogens. Subobjective 2a. Develop improved treatment systems and methods for ammonia and phosphorus recovery from liquid and solid wastes using gas-permeable membrane technology. Subobjective 2b. Develop improved biological treatment systems for liquid effluents and soils based on deammonification reaction using ARS patented bacterial anammox and high performance nitrifying sludge cultures. Subobjective 2c. Improve the ARS patented â¿¿Quick Washâ¿? process for phosphorus recovery. Subobjective 2d. Assess treatment methods for their ability to reduce or eliminate pathogens and cell-free, microbially-derived DNA from agricultural waste streams. Subobjective 2e. Improved manure treatment and handling systems, and management strategies for minimizing emissions. Subobjective 2f. Assess the impact of manure treatment and handling systems on agricultural ecosystem services for soil, water, and air quality conservation and protection. 3. Develop beneficial uses of agricultural, industrial, and municipal byproducts, including manure. Subobjective 3a. Evaluate application of designer biochars to soils to increase crop yields while improving soil health, increasing carbon sequestration, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Subobjective 3b. Develop methods and guidelines to remediate mine soils using designer biochars. Subobjective 3c. Evaluate the agronomic value of byproducts produced from emerging manure and municipal waste treatment technologies. |
| Enable New Marketable, Value-added Coproducts to Improve Biorefining Profitability | 0427684 | MOREAU R A | 09/08/2014 | 09/07/2019 | ACTIVE | WYNDMOOR | COPRODUCTS, BIOFUELS, ETHANOL, SORGHUM, BIODIESEL, CELLULOSE, HEMICELLULOSE, BRAN, GUMS | Not applicable | 1. Develop processes to fractionate sorghum and corn/sorghum oils into new commercially-viable coproducts. 2. Develop processes to fractionate grain-derived brans into new commercially-viable coproducts. 2a: Develop processes to fractionate grain-derived brans into new commercially-viable coproducts such as lipid-based coproducts and for other industrial uses such as extrusion or producing energy or fuel. 2b: Develop commercially-viable, value-added carbohydrate based co-products from sorghum brans and the brans derived from other grains during their biorefinery process. 3. Develop processes to fractionate biorefinery-derived celluloses and hemicelluloses into new commercially-viable coproducts. 3a: Develop commercially-viable, value-added hemicellulose based co-products from sorghum biomass, sorghum bagasse and other agricultural based biomasses produced during their biorefining. 3b: Develop commercially-viable, value-added cellulose based co-products from sorghum biomass, sorghum bagasse and other agricultural based biomasses produced during their biorefining. 4. Develop technologies that enhance biodiesel quality so as to enable greater market supply and demand for biodiesel fuels and >B5 blends in particular. 4a: Improve the low temperature operability of biodiesel by chemical modification of the branched-chain fatty acids. 4b: Develop technologies that significantly reduce quality-related limitations to market growth of biodiesel produced from trap and float greases. 4c: Further develop direct (in situ) biodiesel production so as to enable its commercial deployment. 5. Develop technologies that enable the commercial production of new products and coproducts at lipid-based biorefineries. 5a: Enable the commercial production of alkyl-branched from agricultural products and food-wastes. 5b: Enable the commercial production of aryl-branched fatty acids produced from a combination of lipids and natural antimicrobials possessing phenol functionalities. |
| Developing Technologies that Enable Growth and Profitability in the Commercial Conversion of Sugarcane, Sweet Sorghum, and Energy Beets into Sugar, Advanced Biofuels, and Bioproducts | 0426599 | KLASSON K T | 09/22/2014 | 09/02/2019 | ACTIVE | New Orleans | SUGARCANE, SWEET, SORGHUM, ENERGY, BEET, SUGAR, PRODUCTION, BIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS | Not applicable | The overall objective of this project is to enhance the value of sugarcane, sweet sorghum, and energy beets, and their major commercial products sugar, biofuel and bioproducts, by improving postharvest quality and processing. Specific objectives are: 1. Develop commercially-viable technologies that reduce or eliminate undesirable effects of starch and color on sugar processing/refining efficiency and end-product quality. 2. Develop commercially-viable technologies that reduce or eliminate undesirable effects of high viscosity on sugar processing/refining efficiency and end-product quality. 3. Develop commercially-viable technologies to increase the stability and lengthen storage of sugar feedstocks for the manufacture of sugars, advanced biofuels, and bioproducts. 4. Develop commercially-viable technologies for the biorefining of sugar crop feedstocks into advanced biofuels and bioproducts. 5. Identify and characterize field sugar crop quality traits that affect sugar crop refining/biorefining efficiency and end-product quality, and collaborate with plant breeders in the development of new cultivars/hybrids to optimize desirable quality traits. 6. Develop, in collaboration with commercial partners, technologies to improve the efficiency and profitability of U.S. sugar manufacturing and enable the commercial production of marketable products from residues (e.g. , bagasse, trash) and by-product streams (e.g., low purity juices) associated with postharvest sugar crop processing. Please see Project Plan for all listed Sub-objectives. |
| On-farm Biomass Processing: Towards an Integrated High Solids Transporting/Storing/Processing System (UKRF Subaward No. 3048109826-13-061) | 0423960 | FLYTHE M D | 07/01/2012 | 06/30/2016 | ACTIVE | LEXINGTON | BIOMASS, SWITCHGRASS, DOE, BIO-ENERGY | Not applicable | 1. Demonstrate and test a universal bio-energy crop single-pass harvesting system applicable to agricultural residues (corn stover, wheat straw), switchgrass, and miscanthus with bale densities at or above 210 kg/m3 with appropriate best management practices for sustainable biomass harvest. 2. Demonstrate the technical feasibility of on-farm storage and processing of high density bio-energy crops to enhance biomass conversion to value added products using a solid substrate fungal cultivation followed by a percolating anaerobic fermentation with recycle. 3. Develop and validate integrated geographic information system (GIS)-based economic and life cycle analysis models for the proposed on-farm processing system, and use these models to evaluate different landscape-scale management scenarios on food and energy production and the environment. Determine the incentives required to increase carbon sequestration and bioenergy production when they conflict with maximum farm profitability. |
| CONTROL OF HUMAN PATHOGENS ASSOCIATED WITH ACIDIFIED PRODUCE FOODS | 0420825 | BREIDT F | 12/02/2010 | 10/27/2015 | COMPLETE | RALEIGH | ESCHERICHIA, COLI, O157:H7, SALMONELLA, ACID, FOOD, CUCUMBER, ORGANIC, ACID, CUCUMIS, SATIVUS, BENZOIC, ACID, ACETIC, ACID, MALIC, ACID, ANAEROBIC, ACID, RESISTANCE, LISTERIA, MONOCYTOGENES, PICKLED, VEGETABLE, ACIDIFIED, FOOD, PEPPER, CAPSICUM, ANNUM, PRESERVATIVE, SORBIC, ACID, LACTIC, ACID, OXYGEN, AEROBIC, ACID-TOLERANT, PATHOGEN | Not applicable | 1. To define conditions to assure a 5 log reduction of acid tolerant pathogens in refrigerated or bulk stored acidified vegetables. 2. To determine how the metabolism of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (internal pH, membrane potential, ion concentrations, and cell metabolites) are affected as cells are exposed to organic acid and salt conditions typical of acidified foods. 3. To determine the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in commercial fermentation brines, with and without competing microflora, and under a variety of extrinsic and intrinsic conditions. |
| Innovative Bioresource Management Technologies for Enhanced Environmental Quality and Value Optimization | 0420348 | SZOGI A A | 10/01/2010 | 09/30/2015 | COMPLETE | FLORENCE | ANIMAL, WATER, PHOSPHORUS, TRACE, AMMONIA, DENITRIFICATION, REMOVAL, REDOX, OXYGEN, WETLAND, WASTE, QUALITY, NITROGEN, NITRIFICATION, SOLIDS, POTENTIAL, PLANTS, TREATMENT, CARBON, BIOCHAR, PYROLYSIS, ANAMMOX, GENES, AMENDMENT, FERTILIZER, EMISSIONS, GAS, NITROUS, OXIDE | Not applicable | 1. Develop improved treatment technologies to better manage manure from swine, poultry and dairy operations to reduce releases to the environment of odors, pathogens, ammonia, and greenhouse gases as well as to maximize nutrient recovery. 2. Develop renewable energy via thermochemical technologies and practices for improved conversion of manure into heat, power, biofuels, and biochars. 3. Develop guidelines to minimize nitrous oxide emissions from poultry and swine manure-impacted riparian buffers and treatment wetlands. 4. Develop beneficial uses of manure treatment technology byproducts. |
| METABOLIC VARIABLES AFFECTING THE EFFICACY, SAFETY, AND FATE OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS | 0410345 | SMITH D J | 02/03/2006 | 02/02/2011 | COMPLETE | FARGO | RESIDUE, CHEMICAL, FOOD, ANIMAL, DETECTION, METABOLISM, PATHOGEN, SOIL, MANURE, COMPOST, WATER | Not applicable | Objective 1: Determine metabolic variables (rates of absorption, tissue and microbial biotransformation, excretion) that positively or negatively influence the practical use of novel pre-harvest food safety chemicals in food animals. Objective 2: Determine the fate of endogenous animal hormones, novel pre-harvest food safety compounds, and antibiotics in animal wastes, including their transport through soil and water, and develop intervention strategies that reduce their environmental impact. Objective 3: Develop sensitive and accurate analytical tools to rapidly detect and quantify agriculturally important chemicals studied under objectives 1 and 2. |
| VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS FROM FORAGES AND BIOMASS ENERGY CROPS | 0408533 | WEIMER P J | 06/04/2004 | 06/03/2009 | COMPLETE | MADISON | ENZYMES, FRACTIONATION, FERMENTATION, ADHESIVES, GLYCOCALYX, HARVESTING, ALFALFA, GERMPLASM, RESIDUES, BIOENERGY, COMPOSITES, VALUE-ADDED, SWITCHGRASS | Not applicable | 1. Develop harvesting, fractionation and storage processes for forages and bioenergy crops that are economical, and that retain product quality. 2. Identify specific varieties of energy crops that display maximum fermentability when grown at specific locations under defined environmental conditions. 3. Develop switchgrass germplasm having broad adaptation to the northern USA and improved fermentability for conversion to value-added products. 4. Develop and improve fermentations for direct bioconversion of cellulosic biomass to value-added products (viz., ethanol, chemical feedstocks and novel bioadhesive components). |
| VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS FROM PLANT MATERIALS | 0402375 | WEIMER P J | 10/01/1999 | 06/02/2004 | COMPLETE | MADISON | manures, alfalfa, value added, agricultural engineering, non food commodities, forage legumes, plant enzymes, transgenic plants, fractionation, fermentation, adhesives, energy sources, composites, glycocalyx, filtration, product development, product evaluation, industrial uses, construction materials, phytases, plant fibers, saccharification | Not applicable | 1. Develop methods for harvesting forages and other cellulosic materials that retain feedstock qualtiy. 2. Develop methods to assess the energy feedstock quality of herbaceous biomass crops. 3. Develop low-cost, user-friendly assessment and processing technologies for biomass producers and processors. 4. Develop varieties of switchgrass adapted to the northern USA. 5. Develop technologies for processing and converting biomass materials to value-added products, including fuels, industrial chemicals, and enzymes. |
| A Scientific Partnership in Research and Education to Enhance Student Learning and Promote Development of Low-cost Renewable Energy | 0214191 | Kpomblekou-A, Kokoasse | 09/01/2008 | 08/31/2011 | COMPLETE | Tuskegee Institute | Bioenergy, anaerobic digestor, faculty and student exchange, technology transfer | Increases in fuel prices during the past several years have prompted the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and created an environment where research and development activities in renewable energy sources are flourishing. At the present time, agricultural crops such as grains, oilseeds, and sugars serve as sources for bioenergy production. However, research is increasingly focusing on the use of cellulosic sources of biomass (forest and agricultural crops, animal wastes, aquatic plants, and municipal and industrial wastes) that will expand the range of potential feedstocks. These feedstocks could be used to produce biofuels (conversion biomass into liquid fuels for transportation), biopower (burning biomass directly, or converting it into gaseous or liquid fuels to generate electricity), or bioproducts (converting biomass into chemicals for making plastics and other products typically made from petroleum). There exist on the market today several technologies toproduce bioenergy; one of the most attractive that offers opportunities for adding value to agriculture, creating economic development alternatives for rural communities in Alabama and throughout the United States, and creating a viable option for a sustainable management of poultry waste is anaerobic digestion. Advanced technologies have been developed during the past several years in the United States to convert animal wastes into renewable energy that could reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. However, these emerging technologies are out of reach of limited resources farmers. India has made considerable advances in development of innovative bioenergy technologies appropriate for limited resource farmers. With rising crude oil prices, we propose to collaborate with scientists from India to explore how small farmers in both economies might benefit from these technologies. | The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance environmental and international contents of curricula and the capacities of the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Tuskegee University and that of the Poultry Science at the Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University to conduct collaborative research in environmental waste management. The objectives are to: 1) Infuse environmental waste management technologies into curricula, 2) Conduct an inventory of low-cost renewable energy technologies for adoption by limited resources farmers (chicken growers), 3) Use findings of the inventory to improve, evaluate, test, and adapt the proposed Indian low-cost renewable energy technology to conditions of limited resource farmers in the United States, and 4) investigate the economic feasibility of such a technological package adapted. Bioenergy produced from poultry litter will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, add value to agriculture, and provide economicdevelopment opportunities for rural communities the United States. It will promote international research partnerships, enhance the use of foreign technologies and strengthen Tuskegee University role in maintaining U.S. competitiveness in the world. |
| Bacterial Methylation of Mine-Derived Inorganic Mercury in Lake and Estuarine Sediments | 0201896 | Nelson, D | 10/01/2009 | 09/30/2014 | COMPLETE | DAVIS | anaerobic bacteria, anaerobic incubations, bag incubations, clear lake, homogenized sediments, iron reducers, mercury biomagnification, mercury mines, methylmercury production, molybdate inhibition, natural populations, pachygrapsus crassipes, sulfate reducers, walker marsh | California's legacy of inorganic mercury pollution from abandoned mines is of concern due to its potential conversion to methylmercury. Bacteria living in oxygen-depleted sediments produce this especially toxic form of mercury, which is readily biomagnified in predatory fish and birds near the apex of aquatic food webs. We have recently shown that a group called "iron-reducing bacteria" are as active at producing methylmercury as other bacteria, called "sulfate-reducers", which were previously believed to perform the bulk of these transformations in marine and freshwater sediments. The current proposal will continue to refine experiments based on natural sediments to determine the general importance of iron-reducers as mercury methylators throughout the sediments of a lake and an estuary impacted by typical mine-derived mercury. Pure cultures of abundant iron-reducing bacteria will also be isolated from mine-impacted marine sediments and assayed for their ability to produce methylmercury from the divalent inorganic form. A variety of stakeholder groups have been interested in our basic research findings on these and related topics to date. The PI will continue to keep these groups informed of our new findings and any possible implications for remediation actions. | The research objectives for this project are as follows: (1) For mine-impacted sediments of Clear Lake, determine the relative contribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria to methylation of mercury while altering native sediment properties and inorganic mercury levels as little as possible. (2) For mine-impacted sediments of Clear Lake that are first manipulated to biologically deplete sulfate and oxidized iron, determine the relative rates of mercury methylation upon supplementation with each biological oxidant separately and both together. (3) For mine-impacted sediments of Walker Creek Estuary and a control site, determine the proportional contribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria to methylation of mercury while altering native sediment properties and inorganic mercury levels as little as possible. (4) For a spectrum of sediment types from Walker Creek Estuary, isolate pure cultures of marine iron-oxidizing bacteria and test the per-cell rates of production of methylmercury for representative cultures. (5) Use bioaccumulation of methylmercury in the muscle tissue of the lined shore crab, PACHYGRAPSUS CRASSIPES, to determine the extent and magnitude of the impact of mercury from Walker Creek on biota around Tomales Bay; a site showing minimal impact will be selected as control sediment for the third objective. . Under the earlier version of this project the PI presented new basic research findings that have implications for mercury management policy to the following stakeholder groups: Delta Tributaries Mercury Council, San Francisco Estuary Institute, San Francisco Bay Water Board. These presentations, made in person or via dissemination of unpublished research findings, were in response to requests from these groups, and we will continue to disseminate our findings in this manner as they become available. Additionally, our report on our Walker Creek Estuary studies, which has been posted on the UC Office of the President Coastal Environmental Quality Initiative website (http://repositories.cdlib.org/ucmarine/ceqi/040), had 742 full-text downloads in the first 30 months of posting (2006-12-13) and continues to be downloaded at a steady pace. We will continue to present our findings at scientific meetings and in research journal articles. A recent peer-review of an earlier version of our pending manuscript on the Walker Creek Estuary studies characterized our 2006 publication (Fleming et al., 2006, Mercury methylation from unexpected sources: molybdate-inhibited freshwater sediments and an iron-reducing bacterium. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72:457-464) as follows: "In this reviewer's opinion, that finding was one of the most significant advances in Hg biogeochemistry in recent years, because for over 20 years prior to the 2006 paper, SRB [sulfate-reducing bacteria] were the focus of all research on Hg methylation." Thus, we believe that our current basic research emphasis on establishing the generality of those earlier findings continues to have strong implications for environmental policy and remediation of contaminated sites. |
| Milk Parlor Wastewater Treatment/Reuse - A Pilot Study for the Tropical Island Application | 0196774 | Yang, P. Y. | 10/01/2003 | 09/30/2006 | COMPLETE | HONOLULU | biological treatment, dairies, waste water, water treatment, pilot studies, hawaii, tropical areas, water reuse, waste disposal, water use efficiency, dairy cattle, water resources, agricultural engineering, environmental quality, anaerobic conditions, organic matter, performance evaluation, production systems, livestock production, water quality, biogas, fertilizers, waste utilization | Centrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) needs to obtain a permit in the year of 2006 to discharge their wastewater. Milk parlor wastewater requires to update the current treatment and reuse technology. This project will provide a pilot study to obtain necessary treatment and reuse information. This project will eliminate the odor problem, improve water quality for reuse, and reuse biogas and fertilizer. | The main objective of this project is to install and investigate a pilot plant study of a simple two-stage of anaerobic bio-nest reactor and a one stage of entrapped mixed microbial cell reactor to be integrated with the existing milk parlor wastewater treatment and reuse systems in order to improve the environmental quality of an animal feeding operation system. Specific objectives for this study are included as follows: 1) To evaluate the process performance of each bioreactor regarding organic and nutrient removal. 2) To develop a set of design and operation criteria for potential integration of existing wastewater treatment/reuse systems to meet the regulatory requirement and promote the friendly agricultural production system. |
| REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE POULTRY INDUSTRY THROUGH EFFICIENT WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES | 0196704 | Collins, A. R. | 10/01/2003 | 09/30/2009 | COMPLETE | MORGANTOWN | pathogens, best management practices, environmental impact, poultry, poultry industry, waste management, poultry litter, sequestrants, carbon dioxide, pollution control, watershed management, water pollution, human health, waste disposal, social impact, economic impact, land application, anaerobic conditions, transport, fuel sources, fertilizers, pelleting, livestock, feed, public health, surface waters, water quality | Poultry industry waste in West Virginia presents opportunities for productive resource use or environmental degradation. This project examines the environmental, economic, and social implications of various poultry litter and production waste management strategies. | The objectives of this research project are: 1. Examine the environmental, economic, and social implications of various poultry litter and production waste management strategies. These strategies may include land application within the five-county region of West Virginia, transport for land application outside of the region, composting, anaerobic digestion, combustion as a fuel, livestock feeding and pelletization for fertilizer production. 2. Establish linkages between poultry litter use on agricultural land and environmental impacts in West Virginia. Potential impacts to be examined include surface water quality, human health pathogens, and soil carbon sequestration potentials. 3. Develop models to explain why farmers (both poultry growers and non-growers) utilize or fail to utilize best management practices (BMPS) in the storage, handling, and application of poultry litter on agricultural land. |
| Determination of Operational Parameters for a Full-Scale Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor (ASBR)Used to Treat Swine Waste | 0189888 | Lalman, J. A. | 10/01/2001 | 09/30/2005 | COMPLETE | STILLWATER | odor, swine, animal waste, anaerobic conditions, waste management, parameters, waste disposal systems, systems development, cell biology, solid waste, liquid waste, sludge, optimization, data collection, temperature, mathematical models, production systems, biomass, kinetics, statistical analysis, sensitivity analysis, biogas, educational materials, information dissemination, new technology | Waste generated from animal farming can be treated biologically to reduce the amount of pathogens and carbonaceous compounds while recovering nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients. Biological treatment includes an anaerobic reactor followed by a facultative reactor. This process configuration is expected to reduce odorous compounds while recovering valuable nutrients. This project examines the treatment of swine waste using an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor. | (1) Characterize solids and liquids fractions of raw waste; (2) determine laboratory scale ASBR operational parameters for optimum gas production and sludge settlability; (3)determine optimum operating cycle to reach target operating parameters while minimizing overall cycle time for the lab scale ASBR; (4) optimize operational parameters of full-scale ASBR using data gathered from laboratory scale studies; (5) determine operational parameters under different temperature conditions; and (6) integrate the ASBR technology into agricultural systems using a mathematical model. |