Progress 09/01/07 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Significant delays were experienced during the first several years of this project due to the unavailability of media from Telles, Inc. In a very real sense, this Phase II research effort reflects the realities of working in the "real world" where research and design testing can often take very unexpected turns. During the first years of this project, we encountered unanticipated delays due to the unavailability of the PHA media from Telles Inc., a partnership between Metabolix Inc., and Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM). Telles experienced unexpected delays during the construction and start-up of their primary production facility. In addition, they were focusing their initial marketing effort on larger markets, i.e. the biodegradable plastics industry. More than a dozen formulations of PHA were evaluated during this period in several different bioreactor configurations to evaluate different potential formulations of PHA that were in production by Telles, Inc. in significant volumes, but were advised by Telles that there would be some changes in the formulation of the product with the new large scale manufacturing that might affect it performance. It wasn't until 2011, that we were able to receive several product formulations for testing and worked with Telles to establish the optimal formulation and size for the media for the commercial bioreactors. SInce then, multiple bioreactors of various sizes have been constructed operating in either an upflow anaerobic mode or as fluidized-beds. Multiple tests have been conducted by adding Sodium Nitrate to the production tanks and measuring the removal rates of dissolved oxygen and nitrate nitrogen and also monitoring for hydrogen sulfide production. Based on the results of these experimental runs, several commercial size bioreactors have been constructed and are now undergoing field tests. In addition, Through a partnership with a widely recognized home aquarium company, we have launch the DP-9002 formulation as a product for removal of nitrate and phosphorus in coral and other high-end marine aquariums. By applying engineering lessons learned through extensive testing as an aerobic fluidized bed, a set of instructions for use of the media by a consumer with their own supplied reactor was developed. This production launch was supported by a unified marketing campaign with included market potential identification, packaging design and associated marketing activities both through creation of a website (http://www.npactivepearls.com/) and attendance at home aquarium conferences. PARTICIPANTS: Douglas G. Drennan, II, Project Director, Co-PI James M. Ebeling, PhD, Co-PI/Research Engineer Pradyot Deshpande, Research Associate Paul Hightower, Research Engineer Erik Kopache, Research Engineer Todd Guerdat, PhD, Do-PI/Research Engineer Dr. Ronald Malone. LSU, Consultant TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: In a very real sense, this Phase II research effort reflects the realities of working in the "real world" where research and design testing can often take very unexpected turns. During the first years of this project, we encountered unanticipated delays due to the unavailability of the PHA media becuase of unexpected delays during the construction and start-up of their primary production facility. It wasn't until 2011, that we were able to receive several product formulations for testing. As the research project progressed, it was realized that not one system concept, but several were required to meet the different demands of the potential markets. Thus two very distinct bioreactors were developed that utilized the two means of nitrate-nitrogen removal, i.e. assimilation and denitrification. The first was an aerobic fluidized-bed designed for the removal of very low concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen (less than 50 mg-N/L) using nitrate-nitrogen assimilation with minimal potential for the production of hydrogen sulfide for the home marine aquarium industry. The second biofilter design was an anaerobic upflow packed-bed for the removal of moderate (50 to 150 mg-N/L) and high concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen (>500 mg-N/L). The anaerobic upflow packed-bed bioreactors were further subdivided into the aquarium market with low feed rates and BOD levels and the commercial marine aquaculture industry with high feed rates and high BOD levels in the water. In both of these bioreactors, the dissolved oxygen is removed in the first few centimeters of media by aerobic heterotopic bacteria using nitrate-nitrogen as their nitrogen source and the PHA's as their carbon source. At low nitrate-nitrogen concentrations and low flow rates, very little bacterial solids are generated and limited backwashing of the bioreactors are required. But at high nitrate-nitrogen concentrations and flow rates, frequent backwashing by fluidization of the bioreactors are necessary for both solids and gas bubble removal (pulsed-bed bioreactors).
Impacts
As the research project progressed, it was realized that not one system concept, but several were required to meet the different demands of the potential markets. Thus two very distinct bioreactors were developed that utilized the two means of nitrate-nitrogen removal, i.e. assimilation and denitrification. The first was an aerobic fluidized-bed designed for the removal of very low concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen (less than 50 mg-N/L) using nitrate-nitrogen assimilation with minimal potential for the production of hydrogen sulfide for the home marine aquarium industry. The second biofilter design was an anaerobic upflow packed-bed for the removal of moderate (50 to 150 mg-N/L) and high concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen (>500 mg-N/L). The anaerobic upflow packed-bed bioreactors were further subdivided into the aquarium market with low feed rates and BOD levels and the commercial marine aquaculture industry with high feed rates and high BOD levels in the water. In both of these bioreactors, the dissolved oxygen is removed in the first few centimeters of media by aerobic heterotopic bacteria using nitrate-nitrogen as their nitrogen source and the PHA's as their carbon source. At low nitrate-nitrogen concentrations and low flow rates, very little bacterial solids are generated and limited backwashing of the bioreactors are required. But at high nitrate-nitrogen concentrations and flow rates, frequent backwashing by fluidization of the bioreactors are necessary for both solids and gas bubble removal (pulsed-bed bioreactors).
Publications
- Hightower, P.G., Ebeling, J.M., Kopache, E., Drennan II, D.G., 2012. Solid Phase Denitrification (SPD) for marine recirculating systems- Upflow Anoxic, Fluidized Aerobic and Hybrid Bioreactor Designs. Abstract accepted for presentation at the World Aquaculture Society Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, Feb 29-March 2.
- Ebeling, J.M., Deshpande, P., Drennan II, D.G., Simms, P.G., 2007. Self-regulating PHA Technology Offers Denitrification for Marine Aquaculture Systems. Global Aquaculture Advocate, May/June, pgs 54-55.
- Ebeling, J.M., Deshpande, P., Drennan II, D.G., 2008. Low Substrate Nitrate Kinetics Utilizing Passive Self-Regulating Denitrification Technology. Proc. 7th International Conference on Recirculating Aquaculture (ICRA), Roanoke, VA. July 25-27.
- Hightower, P.G., Ebeling, J.M., Woods, T.E., Drennan II, D.G., 2010. Passive Denitrification Research/Technology Using Biodegradable Biopolymers (PHA). eds. Rakestraw T.T., Douglas, L.S., Proceedings of the 8th Inte'l Conf. on Recirculating Aquaculture, Roanoke, VA, August 20-22, pgs. 11-13.
- Ebeling, J.M., Drennan II, D.G., Deshpande, P., 2007. Denitrification Technology for Marine Aquaculture Using Biodegradable Biopolymer. Presentation at Third International Sustainable Marine Fish Culture Conference, Harbor Branch, Oceanographic Institute, Oct 15-17, Fort Pierce, Fl.
- Ebeling, J.M., Deshpande, P., Drennan II, D.G., 2007. Passive Self-regulating Denitrification Technology for Aquaculture. American Aquaculture Society Program and Abstract Book Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
- Ebeling, J.M., Deshpande, P., Drennan II, D.G., 2008. Denitrification Technology for Marine Aquaculture Using Biodegradable Biopolymer at Low Nitrate Concentrations. American Aquaculture Society Program and Abstract Book, Annual Meeting, Orlando, Fl., Feb 1-4.
- Drennan II, D.G., Ebeling, J.M., 2009. SBIR Funded Denitrification Research/Technology Using Biodegradable Biopolymer at Low Nitrate Concentrations. Presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Aquarium Life Support Operators, April, 14, Seattle, WA.
- Ebeling, J.M., Hightower, P.G., Drennan II, D.G., 2010. USDA SBIR Funded Denitrification Research/Technology Using Biodegradable Biopolymer (PHA). Abstract presented at the World Aquaculture Society Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 1-5.
- Ebeling, J.M., Hightower, P.G., Drennan II, D.G., 2010. Passive Denitrification Research/ Technology using Biodegradable Biopolymer (PHA). Abstract presentation to the Association of Aquarium Life Support Operators, Galveston, TX May 3-5.
- Ebeling, J.M., Hightower, P.G., Drennan II, D.G., Malone, R.F. 2010. Passive Denitrification Research/Technology Using Biodegradable Biopolymers (PHA). Abstract presented at the European Aquaculture Society, Porto, Portugal, October 5-8.
- Ebeling, J.M., Hightower, P.G., Kopache, E. Drennan II, D.G., 2011. A Commercial Marine Passive Denitrification System Using Biodegradable Biopolymer (PHA). Abstract presented at the World Aquaculture Society Meeting, New Orleans, LA, Feb 28- March 3.
- Ebeling, J.M., Hightower, P.G., Kopache, E., Drennan II, D.G., 2011. A Commercial Marine Passive Denitrification System Using Biodegradable Biopolymer (PHA). Abstract presentation to the Association of Aquarium Life Support Operators, Orlando, FL, May 27-29.
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Progress 09/01/07 to 08/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In order to examine the denitrification kinetics under the low substrate regime, i.e. less than 2 mg/l nitrate-nitrogen, a set of experiments were conducted with the three lab-scale PolyGeyser denitrification bioreactors operated at the optimum backwash frequency and flow. Through a series of batch reaction rate experiments, the kinetic reaction rate parameters were estimated for denitrification using PHAs, i.e. maximum reaction rates and half-saturation constants for the Monod kinetics model. Based on this information, removal rates were determined for the various tropic levels: oligotrophic (severely nutrient limited), mesotrophic (moderate nutrient limitation), or eutrophic (nutrient enriched) with respect to their degree of nitrogen and biodegradable organic carbon levels. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The results of the three bioreactor studies verified the application of this technology to low nitrate substrates and thus a wider field of application including public marine aquariums and zoos as well as commercial marine aquaculture.
Publications
- Ebeling, J.M., Deshpande, P., Drennan II, D.G., 2008. Low Substrate Nitrate Kinetics Utilizing Passive Self-Regulating Denitrification Technology. Proc. 7th International Conference on Recirculating Aquaculture (ICRA), Roanoke, VA.
- Ebeling, J.M., Deshpande, P., Drennan II, D.G., 2007. Concurrent Clarification and Biological Nitrification/Denitrification in a Single Floating Bead Bioclarifier to Simplify Nitrogen Management in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems. American Aquaculture Society Program and Abstract Book Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
- Ebeling, J.M., Deshpande, P., Drennan II, D.G., 2007. Passive Self-Regulating Denitrification Technology for Aquaculture. American Aquaculture Society Program and Abstract Book Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
- Ebeling, J.M., Deshpande, P., Drennan II, D.G., 2008. Denitrification Technology for Marine Aquaculture Using Biodegradable Biopolymer at Low Nitrate Concentrations. American Aquaculture Society Program and Abstract Book Annual Meeting, Orlando, Fl.
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