Poster Abstracts
Post-secondary students and researchers at universities, colleges and other research organizations were invited to submit their research projects for consideration for the Atlantic BIOCON Poster Session. The abstracts have been reviewed by the organizing committee and selected participants were contacted and asked to produce a scientific poster for the conference. Posters will be judged by conference members and a cash prize will be granted for winners in the student category.
The Poster Session will take place in the McNally Theatre Auditorium on Tuesday May 28th at 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.; and Wednesday May 29th at 10:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m
You can read all of the abstracts below.
Performance Evaluation of Enhanced HPS and LED Lighting for Greenhouse Plant Growth Systems
Eric Boudreau and Matthew Hill
Acadia University
High pressure sodium (HPS) is currently the most commonly used light source in indoor greenhouse operations. There is an increasing trend of utilizing light emitting diodes (LEDs) in similar operations. Hence, the purpose of our experiments was to gain a perspective on whether this is justified. The experiments were designed to compare the effectiveness of HPS and LED grow lights to grow basil. The parameters used for comparative analysis in these experiments were the number of leaves and height over time, as well as nutrient content. Both lighting sources were also evaluated for their effectiveness for flax seed germination using tissue cultured vials.
The basil plants grown under LEDs had 11% more leaves than those under the HPS lighting. In contrast, the plants grown under HPS lighting were 11% taller than those under the LEDs. The nutrient content in the control plants was substantially higher in most categories when compared to both the LEDs and HPS lighting setup. Additionally, the flax seeds in the LED lighting enclosure grew 33% faster than those in the HPS. This is likely due to how fared light negatively affects germination.
There were advantages and disadvantages to the LED and HPS light sources. The LED lights promoted strong leaf growth and fast germination time, while the HPS lights grew taller and matured more quickly. Recommendations for future work include using cloned basil plants, testing different types of LEDs with supplementary lights, keeping a consistent temperature and humidity, and using plant yield as a growth parameter to monitor.
Design of an Anaerobic Digestion Process to Replace Current Composting Operations in Sydney, Nova Scotia
Emily Chaisson, Nicole Langille, and Rachel Hirtle
Dalhousie University
The main objective for this project is to design a suitable anaerobic digestion process to replace the current composting operations in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The design goal is to successfully process the compost demand required by the municipality for the foreseeable future, while creating a renewable energy source and a marketable digestate.
Valorization of Haskap Leaves Using Aqueous Two-Phase Flotation
Kar Yeen Chong
Dalhousie University
Haskap leaves are an underutilized resource from haskap berry farms. These perennial plants shed their leaves in autumn and leaves are typically pruned annually to encourage productive growth. Studies have shown that berry leaves contain numerous high-value compounds such as polyphenols and iridoids and they exhibit important health-promoting properties such as neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. Our research focuses on the green extraction of high-value biomolecules from haskap leaves by using aqueous two-phase flotation (ATPF). ATPF is a bubble-assisted bioseparation technique which integrates aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) and solvent sublation. This method is simple, scalable, and energy efficient. Specifically, we aim to assess the performance of ethanol/salt ATPF for the separation and extraction of bioactive compounds from haskap leaves by analyzing chlorogenic acid, flavonoids, and total phenolic content (TPC). It is hypothesized that ATPF increases extraction efficiency as compared to conventional solid-liquid extraction methods. Similar to other plant extracts, haskap leaf extracts can potentially be incorporated into dietary supplements, cosmetics formulation, and active packaging materials. Further research will explore the use of sugar-based ATPF as an alternative to salt-based systems.
Lifecycle Assessment of a Corn Ethanol Refinery in Comparison with a Novel Bio-refinery
Daniel Gerrior
Dalhousie University
This study aims to conduct a lifecycle assessment of a dry mill corn ethanol facility based on the IGPC Ethanol plant in Ontario, Canada and to perform a comparison to a novel bio-refinery. The two facilities both produce ethanol, with the traditional facility also producing dry distillers’ grains and solubles (DDGS), Hi-Pro and fiber plus syrup; all utilized as animal feed alternatives. The novel facility will produce distillers’ dried grains, while the solubles will avoid costly evaporation and instead be utilized in a novel anaerobic digester. The effluent from the digester will then be treated for recovery of struvite, which can be applied as fertilizer. The digestate will then be utilized for the cultivation of starch-rich Chlorella sorokiniana. This alga will then be recycled to the front-end of the plant to supplement the corn required for the bio-refinery. The bio-refinery was proposed in order to reduce the corn input, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with ethanol production. The novel facility also includes a heat and power plant, which utilizes the biogas produced within the anaerobic digester. A life cycle assessment is necessary in order to determine the environmental impacts of the two systems and the potential of the new bio-refinery in enhancing the sustainability.
Tunicate-Inspired Cellulose Nanocomposite Hydrogels
Gabrielle Gray
University of Prince Edward Island
In recent years there has been increasing interest in the use of sustainable and natural material in the preparation of advanced composites. Contrarily, there has been limited success creating conductive hydrogels with outstanding self-healing and mechanical properties. Using plant-based cellulose, hybrid (plant and tunicate cellulose combined), and tunicate-based cellulose, hydrogels are synthesized. The self-healing and mechanical properties of these hydrogels are observed and compared. These hydrogels adhere without inflammatory response or residue and can restore their functionality and structure. An increase in strain sensitivity allows for both large and small motions to be monitored and analyzed.
Bio-based Phase Change Materials for Reliable, Cost-effective Thermal Energy Storage
Samer Kahwaji
Dalhousie University
Thermal energy storage using phase change materials (PCMs) incorporated in building structures can potentially reduce cooling and heating energy requirements. Edible oils and fatty acids derived from vegetable sources are particularly very useful as bio-based PCMs in the built environment due to their high energy storage capacity, non-toxicity, low cost and their origins from renewable resources. In this work, the relevant thermal properties (melting temperature, latent heat [enthalpy of transition], heat capacity and thermal conductivity in the liquid and solid phases) and long-term thermal stabilities of readily available edible oils and fatty acid PCMs will be reported. A “PCM by design” computational tool that can be used to determine mixtures of new bio-based PCMs with specific melting temperatures also will be presented.
Use of the Eurasian Water-Milfoil Algae as Bacterial Growth Factor for E. coli ATCC 25922
Cyntia Linda Guelassi Kamahe
New Brunswick Community College
The Eurasian Water-Milfoil is an aquatic plant with the ability to spread at great speed in water. Its invasive nature reduces biodiversity of aquatic plants, diminishes aquatic activity and changes the level of dissolved oxygen. It was discovered in 1961 in Lake Erie and is now found in the Madawaska River (NB). Despite these inconveniences, nutrients present in this plant could be beneficial.
The hypothesis of this project is that the Eurasia Water-Milfoil can be used as a nutritional basis for bacteria. The objective is to determine is a growth medium composed on Eurasia Water-Milfoil algae can allow for the growth of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 compared to the commercial medium TSA (Tryptone Soya Agar).
Five growth mediums were tested: TSA (positive control); algae + NaCl + agar (substitution medium); algae + agar (effect of the algae); agar (negative control) and agar + NaCl (effect of the NaCl). A count of the bacterial population was completed with the MacFarland method. Results demonstrate that, despite a differing morphology of the bacterial population, the growth medium produced with the Eurasian Water-Milfoil allows for the growth of E. coli at the same level as the TSA medium.
Foam Fractionation for the Valorization of Antioxidants from Red Beet Pomace
Sonia Kumar
Dalhousie University
Red beets (Beta vulgaris L.) are an important vegetable with respect to antioxidant capacity. They contain elevated levels of betalain pigments and are the only commercially accepted crop for use as a natural colorant in food, decorative art, cosmetics and medicinal products. Red beet pomace represents 15-30% of total beet waste biomass, which is non-edible and typically discarded as waste, despite higher levels of betalain and phenolic compounds. Extraction of high value-added compounds is usually performed with toxic organic solvents. However, foam fractionation is a promising environmentally benign alternative for valorization of these high value-added compounds from the red beet pomace. In this study, an approach for using foam fractionation to simultaneously extract and concentrate value-added compounds from red beet pomace will be proposed. This will involve the investigation of factors such as air flow rate, liquid volume, and surfactant concentration, with the total recovery percentage and enrichment ratio analyzed as performance indicators. Once extracted, antioxidants can degrade due to environmental factors (e.g. temperature and light). Therefore, encapsulation is also proposed to enhance the stability the foamate-extracts in potential applications such as cosmetic formulations and novel antimicrobial agents.
Greenhouse Waste to High Value Products
Ashley McEachern
University of Prince Edward Island
Alternative growing mediums are becoming increasingly popular, specifically in vertical farming operations. Growing mediums such as coconut coir, straw, and mulch are commonly being used in replacement of soil. They allow the roots of the plants to grow and extract nutrients/water without the mess of planting in soil. However, these substrates can become extremely expensive when they have to be continuously replaced after one use. An investigation into rejuvenating used substrate was completed to see if substrate costs could be saved by reusing processed substrate back into the system. Hydrothermal carbonization was used on substrate samples from a vertical farming operation to investigate if hydrochar could be replaced as a growth medium, or if a hydrochar substrate mixture could be used as a suitable medium without inhibiting growth or quality of the plants.
Extending the Life Cycle of Microalgae by Milking Process
Jenna Norma and Kayla Cloute
Nova Scotia Community College
With today’s growing population and the non-sustainable use and depletion of our Earth’s natural resources, it is necessary to explore sustainable and environmentally friendly options to use as a replacement for fossil fuels. Microalgae can offer up to 20 times higher yield than existing biofuel feedstocks. There are tens of thousands of species of algae known, with more consistently being discovered, and it is found nearly everywhere on the planet. Most microalgae grow through the photosynthesis process, whereby sunlight, CO2, and nutrients are utilized then converted into biomass that can then be extracted, and turned into biofuel. Currently, one of the leading methods of lipid extraction requires high energy demand, high production costs, and destroys the microalgal biomass, making it a “one-time use”.
A lipid extraction method called “milking” has become widely popular due to its non-invasive nature, leading to the ability to reuse microalgae cultures up to four times for lipid extraction. By keeping the microalgae cultures alive, it is possible to use the same culture for multiple cycles of growth and harvesting of lipids. Milking involves allowing the microalgae biomass to grow in an environment that mimics its natural environment, and then subjecting it to one of a variety of stressors in order to simulate the same stress that results in the destruction of the biomass but keeps the organisms intact. In our experimental studies, two stressors, namely Hexane and Dodecane were utilized. Flame spectroscopy and dry weight analyses were employed for microalgal health and lipid extraction, respectively. To enhance the performance of lipid extraction, our future research work will involve the use of biocompatible organic solvents such as ionic liquids.
Biochar Assisted Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Nutrient Recycling
Abhishek Pokharel
University of Prince Edward Island
Pyrolysis can be used for energy production from waste biomass of agriculture and forestry. Biochar is the solid by-product of pyrolysis and its cascading use can offset the cost of the process. A wide variety of research on biochar has highlighted its ability to absorb nutrients, metal and complex compounds; filter suspended solids; enhance microorganisms’ growth; retain water and nutrients as well as increase carbon content of soil. In addition, sustainable biochar systems are an attractive approach for carbon sequestration and total waste management cycle. Commercially available biochar from Sigma Aldrich was studied for adsorption of nitrogen from effluent of municipal wastewater treatment plant. Adsorption isotherm and breakthrough curve were determined for the biochar. Similarly, biochar’s effects in aerobic as well as anaerobic bioreactors were also studied. In both cases the biomass was increased in presence of biochar. The amount of gas produced for anaerobic digestion of fruit mix (apple and banana) was similar but the rate of production was significantly faster in biochar fed reactors. The cumulative goal of the study is to use biochar in various wastewater treatment units to optimize utilization and add value before being used as a soil amendment.
Nutrient Recovery from Thin Stillage Digestate and Microalgae Cultivation for Bioproducts Production
Farid Sayedin
Dalhousie University
Thin stillage is a liquid nutrient-rich byproduct of corn-ethanol plants that can be anaerobically digested for methane production and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The resulting digestate, which is rich in nutrient such as nitrogen-ammonia (478±11mg/L) and phosphorus (508±5mg/L) offers great potential to be utilized as a source of nutrients for microalgae cultivation. However, the high concentration of ammonia in the digestate is inhibitory to microalgal growth. In this study, ammonium present in thin stillage was partially recovered in the form of struvite to reduce the ammonia concentration and to improve the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio (N/P) for microalgae cultivation. Three different microalgae species were cultivated in the various dosage of treated and untreated digestate under unsterilized condition, in which, C. sorokiniana in two times dilution of struvite-removed-digestate showed the highest growth rate. Its biomass concentration reached 1.62±0.11g/L and the removal efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus were 95.3±1% and 78.3±1.1% at day 18. The protein, starch and lipid content of biomass were 37.8%±3.4, 17.8±0.8% and 8.9±0.3%, respectively at day 18. The significance of this study is the potential integration of microalgae cultivation into existing corn-ethanol production plant for nutrient recycling and starch-rich microalgae production to partially replace corn as feedstock.
Biowaste to Energy: A Sustainable Approach to Improve Aquatic Life
Ankita Shrestha
University of Prince Edward Island
Eutrophication of seaweed and accumulation of plastics in the water are one of the many reasons that are responsible for the death of aquatic animals. Excessive growth of macro algae like sea lettuce blocks waterways causes anoxic events, harms aquatic life and its decay process creates unpleasant smell. While sea lettuce continues to grow with increase in agricultural activities that leaches the nitrate in the water, an integrated process of hydrothermal carbonization with anaerobic digestion is used to convert the overgrowing sea lettuce population to hydrochar and biogas. Similarly, piles of plastic in ocean create plastic soup, which affect the marine life. Aquatic animals get entangled in plastic and ingest it leading to death. To address this issue, bioplastics has been developed. Most biodegradable plastics after their use end up in organic recycling, where materials are turned into compost and renewable energy (biogas and heat). However, many biodegradable plastics that are claimed to be ‘biodegradable’ are not biodegradable under commercial waste processing conditions. In this research, anaerobic digestion of bioplastics is carried out to study the production of biogas and test the biodegradability of the bioplastics.
Promotion of the invasive green algae species Myriophyllum spicatum found in the Madawaska River
Victoria Simo
New Brunswick Community College
The Eurasian Water-Milfoil is an exotic aquatic plant considered to be invasive given is strong competition with indigenous plants and its reproductive mechanism. It represents a serious risk for the environment by altering the natural ecosystem and disturbing local biodiversity. It can also have an impact on the social and economic fronts, among others, by affecting tourism and limiting recreational activities.
The hypothesis for this project is that carbohydrates found in the Eurasian Water-Milfoil can be the basis for bioethanol production.
The objective is to promote the Eurasian Water-Milfoil by determining its sugar concentration and the quantity of ethanol obtained after fermentation in a algae-based medium. Different methods were used: ethanol-based reflux extraction and exhaustion (80 %), qualitative analyses (a series of specific tests and assays for different subgroups of sugar) and quantitative analyses of total sugars (Dubois et al. method). Fermentation tests were undertaken by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast.
Results have demonstrated that the Eurasia Water-Milfoil is low in sugar and cannot serve as biomass for the production of bioethanol.
The Development and Scale up of a Continuous System for the Processing of Tunicates
Charles Terrio
University of Prince Edward Island
Tunicates are an invasive marine species and they are a concern to the mussel aquaculture industry in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Tunicates are the first aquatic invasive species to challenge the mussel industry in PEI. These tunicates are also the only known source of animal-based cellulose. Research conducted at the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering at the University of Prince Edward Island has produced Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) from Tunicates. This is a high value product, which consists of the nanoscale crystalline region of the cellulose polymer. This project will create a continuous system for the production of NCC and then scale this process up.
Microwave Pyrolysis Biochar Characterization and Modeling of Char Reinforced GFRP Biocomposites
Chase Wallace, Dr. G. Saha, Dr. M. Afzal
University of New Brunswick
This research thesis focused on the manufacturing and characterization of biochar synthesized from microwave pyrolysis, as well as the manufacturing, testing, and modelling of a novel three-part biocomposite through the addition of biochar as a reinforcing filler to the common glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite. Biochar was produced from both softwood and hemp feedstocks utilizing batch sizes of one kilogram of biomass mixed with 10 wt% of microwave absorber, pyrolyzed at a constant residence time of 1 hour. The microwave power levels of 2100, 2400, and 2700 Watts were selected after several preliminary trials. Pyrolysis heating rates for large batch of biomass loading was found ranging from 25-50 oC/min. A number of characterization techniques were employed for the biochars including physiosorption analysis, proximate/ultimate analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and nanoindentation. Overall characteristics were improved through increasing microwave powers during pyrolysis.
Biocomposites were produced in-house through a pultrusion process, by varying the biochar matrix volume percentage by 5, 10, and 20%. Through mechanical testing, the addition of biochar was found to increase the flexural yield strength and modulus of the biocomposites to a maximum of 34 and 6.5% respectively at 20% hemp biochar loading. Tensile testing revealed that the addition of biochar had some influence on tensile properties of the biocomposites, with maximum tensile strength and modulus increases being 12.5 and 2.6% respectively. Rule of mixtures and homogenization micromechanical models were evaluated against the experimental results to determine their validity for these novel three-part biocomposites, with the largest percent difference being 13%. A finite element model was created and analyzed through Abaqus FEA software for homogenization modeling.
The Poster Session will take place in the McNally Theatre Auditorium on Tuesday May 28th at 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.; and Wednesday May 29th at 10:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m
You can read all of the abstracts below.
Performance Evaluation of Enhanced HPS and LED Lighting for Greenhouse Plant Growth Systems
Eric Boudreau and Matthew Hill
Acadia University
High pressure sodium (HPS) is currently the most commonly used light source in indoor greenhouse operations. There is an increasing trend of utilizing light emitting diodes (LEDs) in similar operations. Hence, the purpose of our experiments was to gain a perspective on whether this is justified. The experiments were designed to compare the effectiveness of HPS and LED grow lights to grow basil. The parameters used for comparative analysis in these experiments were the number of leaves and height over time, as well as nutrient content. Both lighting sources were also evaluated for their effectiveness for flax seed germination using tissue cultured vials.
The basil plants grown under LEDs had 11% more leaves than those under the HPS lighting. In contrast, the plants grown under HPS lighting were 11% taller than those under the LEDs. The nutrient content in the control plants was substantially higher in most categories when compared to both the LEDs and HPS lighting setup. Additionally, the flax seeds in the LED lighting enclosure grew 33% faster than those in the HPS. This is likely due to how fared light negatively affects germination.
There were advantages and disadvantages to the LED and HPS light sources. The LED lights promoted strong leaf growth and fast germination time, while the HPS lights grew taller and matured more quickly. Recommendations for future work include using cloned basil plants, testing different types of LEDs with supplementary lights, keeping a consistent temperature and humidity, and using plant yield as a growth parameter to monitor.
Design of an Anaerobic Digestion Process to Replace Current Composting Operations in Sydney, Nova Scotia
Emily Chaisson, Nicole Langille, and Rachel Hirtle
Dalhousie University
The main objective for this project is to design a suitable anaerobic digestion process to replace the current composting operations in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The design goal is to successfully process the compost demand required by the municipality for the foreseeable future, while creating a renewable energy source and a marketable digestate.
Valorization of Haskap Leaves Using Aqueous Two-Phase Flotation
Kar Yeen Chong
Dalhousie University
Haskap leaves are an underutilized resource from haskap berry farms. These perennial plants shed their leaves in autumn and leaves are typically pruned annually to encourage productive growth. Studies have shown that berry leaves contain numerous high-value compounds such as polyphenols and iridoids and they exhibit important health-promoting properties such as neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. Our research focuses on the green extraction of high-value biomolecules from haskap leaves by using aqueous two-phase flotation (ATPF). ATPF is a bubble-assisted bioseparation technique which integrates aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) and solvent sublation. This method is simple, scalable, and energy efficient. Specifically, we aim to assess the performance of ethanol/salt ATPF for the separation and extraction of bioactive compounds from haskap leaves by analyzing chlorogenic acid, flavonoids, and total phenolic content (TPC). It is hypothesized that ATPF increases extraction efficiency as compared to conventional solid-liquid extraction methods. Similar to other plant extracts, haskap leaf extracts can potentially be incorporated into dietary supplements, cosmetics formulation, and active packaging materials. Further research will explore the use of sugar-based ATPF as an alternative to salt-based systems.
Lifecycle Assessment of a Corn Ethanol Refinery in Comparison with a Novel Bio-refinery
Daniel Gerrior
Dalhousie University
This study aims to conduct a lifecycle assessment of a dry mill corn ethanol facility based on the IGPC Ethanol plant in Ontario, Canada and to perform a comparison to a novel bio-refinery. The two facilities both produce ethanol, with the traditional facility also producing dry distillers’ grains and solubles (DDGS), Hi-Pro and fiber plus syrup; all utilized as animal feed alternatives. The novel facility will produce distillers’ dried grains, while the solubles will avoid costly evaporation and instead be utilized in a novel anaerobic digester. The effluent from the digester will then be treated for recovery of struvite, which can be applied as fertilizer. The digestate will then be utilized for the cultivation of starch-rich Chlorella sorokiniana. This alga will then be recycled to the front-end of the plant to supplement the corn required for the bio-refinery. The bio-refinery was proposed in order to reduce the corn input, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with ethanol production. The novel facility also includes a heat and power plant, which utilizes the biogas produced within the anaerobic digester. A life cycle assessment is necessary in order to determine the environmental impacts of the two systems and the potential of the new bio-refinery in enhancing the sustainability.
Tunicate-Inspired Cellulose Nanocomposite Hydrogels
Gabrielle Gray
University of Prince Edward Island
In recent years there has been increasing interest in the use of sustainable and natural material in the preparation of advanced composites. Contrarily, there has been limited success creating conductive hydrogels with outstanding self-healing and mechanical properties. Using plant-based cellulose, hybrid (plant and tunicate cellulose combined), and tunicate-based cellulose, hydrogels are synthesized. The self-healing and mechanical properties of these hydrogels are observed and compared. These hydrogels adhere without inflammatory response or residue and can restore their functionality and structure. An increase in strain sensitivity allows for both large and small motions to be monitored and analyzed.
Bio-based Phase Change Materials for Reliable, Cost-effective Thermal Energy Storage
Samer Kahwaji
Dalhousie University
Thermal energy storage using phase change materials (PCMs) incorporated in building structures can potentially reduce cooling and heating energy requirements. Edible oils and fatty acids derived from vegetable sources are particularly very useful as bio-based PCMs in the built environment due to their high energy storage capacity, non-toxicity, low cost and their origins from renewable resources. In this work, the relevant thermal properties (melting temperature, latent heat [enthalpy of transition], heat capacity and thermal conductivity in the liquid and solid phases) and long-term thermal stabilities of readily available edible oils and fatty acid PCMs will be reported. A “PCM by design” computational tool that can be used to determine mixtures of new bio-based PCMs with specific melting temperatures also will be presented.
Use of the Eurasian Water-Milfoil Algae as Bacterial Growth Factor for E. coli ATCC 25922
Cyntia Linda Guelassi Kamahe
New Brunswick Community College
The Eurasian Water-Milfoil is an aquatic plant with the ability to spread at great speed in water. Its invasive nature reduces biodiversity of aquatic plants, diminishes aquatic activity and changes the level of dissolved oxygen. It was discovered in 1961 in Lake Erie and is now found in the Madawaska River (NB). Despite these inconveniences, nutrients present in this plant could be beneficial.
The hypothesis of this project is that the Eurasia Water-Milfoil can be used as a nutritional basis for bacteria. The objective is to determine is a growth medium composed on Eurasia Water-Milfoil algae can allow for the growth of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 compared to the commercial medium TSA (Tryptone Soya Agar).
Five growth mediums were tested: TSA (positive control); algae + NaCl + agar (substitution medium); algae + agar (effect of the algae); agar (negative control) and agar + NaCl (effect of the NaCl). A count of the bacterial population was completed with the MacFarland method. Results demonstrate that, despite a differing morphology of the bacterial population, the growth medium produced with the Eurasian Water-Milfoil allows for the growth of E. coli at the same level as the TSA medium.
Foam Fractionation for the Valorization of Antioxidants from Red Beet Pomace
Sonia Kumar
Dalhousie University
Red beets (Beta vulgaris L.) are an important vegetable with respect to antioxidant capacity. They contain elevated levels of betalain pigments and are the only commercially accepted crop for use as a natural colorant in food, decorative art, cosmetics and medicinal products. Red beet pomace represents 15-30% of total beet waste biomass, which is non-edible and typically discarded as waste, despite higher levels of betalain and phenolic compounds. Extraction of high value-added compounds is usually performed with toxic organic solvents. However, foam fractionation is a promising environmentally benign alternative for valorization of these high value-added compounds from the red beet pomace. In this study, an approach for using foam fractionation to simultaneously extract and concentrate value-added compounds from red beet pomace will be proposed. This will involve the investigation of factors such as air flow rate, liquid volume, and surfactant concentration, with the total recovery percentage and enrichment ratio analyzed as performance indicators. Once extracted, antioxidants can degrade due to environmental factors (e.g. temperature and light). Therefore, encapsulation is also proposed to enhance the stability the foamate-extracts in potential applications such as cosmetic formulations and novel antimicrobial agents.
Greenhouse Waste to High Value Products
Ashley McEachern
University of Prince Edward Island
Alternative growing mediums are becoming increasingly popular, specifically in vertical farming operations. Growing mediums such as coconut coir, straw, and mulch are commonly being used in replacement of soil. They allow the roots of the plants to grow and extract nutrients/water without the mess of planting in soil. However, these substrates can become extremely expensive when they have to be continuously replaced after one use. An investigation into rejuvenating used substrate was completed to see if substrate costs could be saved by reusing processed substrate back into the system. Hydrothermal carbonization was used on substrate samples from a vertical farming operation to investigate if hydrochar could be replaced as a growth medium, or if a hydrochar substrate mixture could be used as a suitable medium without inhibiting growth or quality of the plants.
Extending the Life Cycle of Microalgae by Milking Process
Jenna Norma and Kayla Cloute
Nova Scotia Community College
With today’s growing population and the non-sustainable use and depletion of our Earth’s natural resources, it is necessary to explore sustainable and environmentally friendly options to use as a replacement for fossil fuels. Microalgae can offer up to 20 times higher yield than existing biofuel feedstocks. There are tens of thousands of species of algae known, with more consistently being discovered, and it is found nearly everywhere on the planet. Most microalgae grow through the photosynthesis process, whereby sunlight, CO2, and nutrients are utilized then converted into biomass that can then be extracted, and turned into biofuel. Currently, one of the leading methods of lipid extraction requires high energy demand, high production costs, and destroys the microalgal biomass, making it a “one-time use”.
A lipid extraction method called “milking” has become widely popular due to its non-invasive nature, leading to the ability to reuse microalgae cultures up to four times for lipid extraction. By keeping the microalgae cultures alive, it is possible to use the same culture for multiple cycles of growth and harvesting of lipids. Milking involves allowing the microalgae biomass to grow in an environment that mimics its natural environment, and then subjecting it to one of a variety of stressors in order to simulate the same stress that results in the destruction of the biomass but keeps the organisms intact. In our experimental studies, two stressors, namely Hexane and Dodecane were utilized. Flame spectroscopy and dry weight analyses were employed for microalgal health and lipid extraction, respectively. To enhance the performance of lipid extraction, our future research work will involve the use of biocompatible organic solvents such as ionic liquids.
Biochar Assisted Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Nutrient Recycling
Abhishek Pokharel
University of Prince Edward Island
Pyrolysis can be used for energy production from waste biomass of agriculture and forestry. Biochar is the solid by-product of pyrolysis and its cascading use can offset the cost of the process. A wide variety of research on biochar has highlighted its ability to absorb nutrients, metal and complex compounds; filter suspended solids; enhance microorganisms’ growth; retain water and nutrients as well as increase carbon content of soil. In addition, sustainable biochar systems are an attractive approach for carbon sequestration and total waste management cycle. Commercially available biochar from Sigma Aldrich was studied for adsorption of nitrogen from effluent of municipal wastewater treatment plant. Adsorption isotherm and breakthrough curve were determined for the biochar. Similarly, biochar’s effects in aerobic as well as anaerobic bioreactors were also studied. In both cases the biomass was increased in presence of biochar. The amount of gas produced for anaerobic digestion of fruit mix (apple and banana) was similar but the rate of production was significantly faster in biochar fed reactors. The cumulative goal of the study is to use biochar in various wastewater treatment units to optimize utilization and add value before being used as a soil amendment.
Nutrient Recovery from Thin Stillage Digestate and Microalgae Cultivation for Bioproducts Production
Farid Sayedin
Dalhousie University
Thin stillage is a liquid nutrient-rich byproduct of corn-ethanol plants that can be anaerobically digested for methane production and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The resulting digestate, which is rich in nutrient such as nitrogen-ammonia (478±11mg/L) and phosphorus (508±5mg/L) offers great potential to be utilized as a source of nutrients for microalgae cultivation. However, the high concentration of ammonia in the digestate is inhibitory to microalgal growth. In this study, ammonium present in thin stillage was partially recovered in the form of struvite to reduce the ammonia concentration and to improve the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio (N/P) for microalgae cultivation. Three different microalgae species were cultivated in the various dosage of treated and untreated digestate under unsterilized condition, in which, C. sorokiniana in two times dilution of struvite-removed-digestate showed the highest growth rate. Its biomass concentration reached 1.62±0.11g/L and the removal efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus were 95.3±1% and 78.3±1.1% at day 18. The protein, starch and lipid content of biomass were 37.8%±3.4, 17.8±0.8% and 8.9±0.3%, respectively at day 18. The significance of this study is the potential integration of microalgae cultivation into existing corn-ethanol production plant for nutrient recycling and starch-rich microalgae production to partially replace corn as feedstock.
Biowaste to Energy: A Sustainable Approach to Improve Aquatic Life
Ankita Shrestha
University of Prince Edward Island
Eutrophication of seaweed and accumulation of plastics in the water are one of the many reasons that are responsible for the death of aquatic animals. Excessive growth of macro algae like sea lettuce blocks waterways causes anoxic events, harms aquatic life and its decay process creates unpleasant smell. While sea lettuce continues to grow with increase in agricultural activities that leaches the nitrate in the water, an integrated process of hydrothermal carbonization with anaerobic digestion is used to convert the overgrowing sea lettuce population to hydrochar and biogas. Similarly, piles of plastic in ocean create plastic soup, which affect the marine life. Aquatic animals get entangled in plastic and ingest it leading to death. To address this issue, bioplastics has been developed. Most biodegradable plastics after their use end up in organic recycling, where materials are turned into compost and renewable energy (biogas and heat). However, many biodegradable plastics that are claimed to be ‘biodegradable’ are not biodegradable under commercial waste processing conditions. In this research, anaerobic digestion of bioplastics is carried out to study the production of biogas and test the biodegradability of the bioplastics.
Promotion of the invasive green algae species Myriophyllum spicatum found in the Madawaska River
Victoria Simo
New Brunswick Community College
The Eurasian Water-Milfoil is an exotic aquatic plant considered to be invasive given is strong competition with indigenous plants and its reproductive mechanism. It represents a serious risk for the environment by altering the natural ecosystem and disturbing local biodiversity. It can also have an impact on the social and economic fronts, among others, by affecting tourism and limiting recreational activities.
The hypothesis for this project is that carbohydrates found in the Eurasian Water-Milfoil can be the basis for bioethanol production.
The objective is to promote the Eurasian Water-Milfoil by determining its sugar concentration and the quantity of ethanol obtained after fermentation in a algae-based medium. Different methods were used: ethanol-based reflux extraction and exhaustion (80 %), qualitative analyses (a series of specific tests and assays for different subgroups of sugar) and quantitative analyses of total sugars (Dubois et al. method). Fermentation tests were undertaken by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast.
Results have demonstrated that the Eurasia Water-Milfoil is low in sugar and cannot serve as biomass for the production of bioethanol.
The Development and Scale up of a Continuous System for the Processing of Tunicates
Charles Terrio
University of Prince Edward Island
Tunicates are an invasive marine species and they are a concern to the mussel aquaculture industry in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Tunicates are the first aquatic invasive species to challenge the mussel industry in PEI. These tunicates are also the only known source of animal-based cellulose. Research conducted at the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering at the University of Prince Edward Island has produced Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) from Tunicates. This is a high value product, which consists of the nanoscale crystalline region of the cellulose polymer. This project will create a continuous system for the production of NCC and then scale this process up.
Microwave Pyrolysis Biochar Characterization and Modeling of Char Reinforced GFRP Biocomposites
Chase Wallace, Dr. G. Saha, Dr. M. Afzal
University of New Brunswick
This research thesis focused on the manufacturing and characterization of biochar synthesized from microwave pyrolysis, as well as the manufacturing, testing, and modelling of a novel three-part biocomposite through the addition of biochar as a reinforcing filler to the common glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite. Biochar was produced from both softwood and hemp feedstocks utilizing batch sizes of one kilogram of biomass mixed with 10 wt% of microwave absorber, pyrolyzed at a constant residence time of 1 hour. The microwave power levels of 2100, 2400, and 2700 Watts were selected after several preliminary trials. Pyrolysis heating rates for large batch of biomass loading was found ranging from 25-50 oC/min. A number of characterization techniques were employed for the biochars including physiosorption analysis, proximate/ultimate analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and nanoindentation. Overall characteristics were improved through increasing microwave powers during pyrolysis.
Biocomposites were produced in-house through a pultrusion process, by varying the biochar matrix volume percentage by 5, 10, and 20%. Through mechanical testing, the addition of biochar was found to increase the flexural yield strength and modulus of the biocomposites to a maximum of 34 and 6.5% respectively at 20% hemp biochar loading. Tensile testing revealed that the addition of biochar had some influence on tensile properties of the biocomposites, with maximum tensile strength and modulus increases being 12.5 and 2.6% respectively. Rule of mixtures and homogenization micromechanical models were evaluated against the experimental results to determine their validity for these novel three-part biocomposites, with the largest percent difference being 13%. A finite element model was created and analyzed through Abaqus FEA software for homogenization modeling.
