Transcript Socially and Ecologically Sustainable Bioprocessing and

Technologically Innovative
Organic / Sustainable Farming
Past and Future Research
By Hala Chaoui
OUTLINE
Waste management research driven by the search for
a sustainable form of processed waste, and a paradigm shift
• Past research
– Master’s in Plant and Soil Sc. Earthworm casts
– RA. Disease suppression in earthworm casts
– PhD in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Modeling the effect
of electric fields on earthworms
– Postdoc projects
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Odor setback distance models
Instrumentation and programming (in yield monitors)
Compost biofilters for dairy manure
Effect of mixing on biodigester yield
Ammonia emission modeling
Advising undergraduate thesis
Managing lab
– Outreach and innovation
OUTLINE
Waste management research driven by the search for
a sustainable form of processed waste, and a paradigm shift
• Planned future research
–
–
–
–
–
Goal, develop technologically advanced organic farming
Principles and ideas for future research
Ideas on funding sources
Principles in guiding graduate students
Vision of paradigm shift in organic production
• Conclusion
Past Research
Past Research > Master’s
• Master’s thesis, U Maine
– comparing earthworms casts, compost and
synthetic fertilizer
– soil respiration; BOD, biomass-C
– plant nutrient uptake, mineralization rate, salinity
– slow release, higher yields in earthworm casts
– new topic, cited 13 times, 8th in Soil Biol. and
Biochem., 2003.
–
Chaoui et al. 2003. Effects of earthworm casts and compost on soil microbial activity and plant
nutrient availability. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 35. 295-302
• Research Assistant, OSU
– suppression of damping off diseases in earthworm
casts
–
Chaoui et al. 2002. Suppression of the plant parasitic diseases: Pythium (damping off), Rhizoctonia
(root rot) and Verticillium (wilt) by vermicompost. Proceedings Brighton Crop Protection
Past Research > PhD
• PhD
– Shift to engineering
– Thesis
• goal: more efficient earthworms
separation in vermicomposting
• design model for effectiveness of
electric fields on separating
earthworms from organic media
• in second review in Biosystems
Engineering Journal
– Classes on molecular biology techniques, waste management, FE
certificate, Autocad, microchip programming, ArcGIS
– Biological and Agricultural Engineers work at the interface of science
and engineering
–
Chaoui et al. 2006. Testing a model of the effectiveness of an electric field at repelling earthworms. ASABE Paper No.
–
Chaoui et al. 2005. Modeling the effectiveness of an electric field at repelling earthworms. ASAE Paper No. 054153
067010
Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Theory
Modeling the Effectiveness of an Electric Field at Repelling Earthworms
Advisor Dr. Harold Keener
• V = f(i, D, R, d, s) = f(current, diameter and resistivity, electrode depth
and spacing)
• Dimensional analysis:
– Length unit; cm, i in amps, R in Ohms
V  k  i  R  D 2 /(d  s)
• Electric field efficiency is a function of V:
determined experimentally
• Electric field efficiency is measured as:
f 
n Vw  n 0
nT  n0
Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Methods
Run
Vector of
1’s used
to find C
Experimental design
1
2
3
4
5
1
1
1
1
1
ithreshold
measured at
following i
between
electrodes
low (5 mA)
low (5 mA)
low (5 mA)
high (12 mA)
high (12 mA)
D2R
electrodes
depth
electrodes
spacing
low (E. foetida)
low (E. foetida)
low (E. foetida)
low (E. foetida)
high (E. hortensis)
high (7.5 cm)
high (7.5 cm)
low (5 cm)
high (7.5 cm)
high (7.5 cm)
high (2.8 cm)
Low (1.4 cm)
Low (1.4 cm)
High (2.8 cm)
High (2.8 cm)
Other treatments: 2, 12, 24, 35 mA, e. foetida, 7.5 cm depth, 2.8 cm spacing
In the model…
An electric field
_
+
An electric field
in the soil
_
Electric field diffusion
+
Field repels earthworms
An electric field
in the soil repels earthworms
_
Electric field diffusion
+
Field repels earthworms
Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Methods
E. hortensis
E. foetida
Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Methods
•
Develop model for the electric field’s effectiveness
•
•
Test model (soil porosity, moisture, salinity)
Find t100% , mortality, test AC vs. DC
_
_
2 x prescribed i
+
prescribed i
+
prescribed i
• Experimental set up: soil slabs made of soil and earthworms
• Reproducible systematic method
Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Results
1.0
12mA, E. hortensis,
7.5 cm, 2.8 cm
5mA, E. foetida, 5
cm, 1.4 cm
0.4
5mA, E. foetida, 7.5
cm, 1.4 cm
12mA, E. foetida, 7.5
cm, 2.8 cm
5mA, E. foetida, 7.5
cm, 2.8 cm
Effectiveness of electric field
Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Results
Verifying treatment effect (of inputs in model)
c
0.8
b
0.6
b
a
a
0.2
0.0
Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Results
Experimental model
Ef, s=1.4, E. foetida only
Ef, s=2.8, before mortality occurs
Ef, s= 2.8, after mortality occurs, E. foetida only
Ef, s=2.8, before mortality mortality occurs, E. foetida only
Model of Ef, s=2.8, after mortality occurs, for E. foetida only
1.0
Model of Ef, s=2.8, before mortality occurs, for E. foetida only
Model of Ef for s=28, before mortality occurs
0.8
y = 0.3048Ln(x) + 0.2894
R2 = 0.9668
Ef
0.6
0.4
y = 1.4458e-0.3739x
R2 = 1
y = 0.3199Ln(x) + 0.2946
R2 = 0.9174
0.2
0.0
0
2
4
(iRD2/ds) in Volts
6
8
Past Research > PhD > PhD thesis > Results
Relevance of soil properties (test the model)
Ef vs. iRD2/ds using i threshold
Ef vs. i threshold, s=2.8, before mortality occurs
5 mA e. foetida
12 mA e. foetida
5 mA e. hortensis
Log. (Ef vs. i threshold, s=2.8, before mortality occurs)
1.0
y = 0.3048Ln(x) - 0.3383
R2 = 0.9668
0.8
Ef
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
(iRD2/ds) in Volts
40
45
50
55
60
65
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State >
cost / benefit analysis template
Past Research > Postdocs
• OSU, on air quality (3 months)
– Models for setback distance from
animal facilities, review and sensitivity
analysis.
– Study published in ASABE air quality
symposium, Colorado Sept 2007
–
Chaoui & Brugger. 2007. A review and sensitivity analysis of odor
setback distance models. International Symposium on Air Quality and
Waste Management for Agriculture. September 15-19, 2007 in
Broomfield, Colorado
• Univ. of Florida (3 months)
– Algorithm to process GPS and load cells data from a
citrus yield monitor
– Derive spatial yield map from GPS data, using arc GIS
–
Ehsani , R., Chaoui, H., Grejner-Brzezinska, D and Sullivan, M. A method of evaluating the
performance of RTK GPS receivers used in Agriculture. 2006. Proceedings of the World Congress on
Agricultural Engineering, 2006 and Proceedings of the Automation Technology for Off Road Equipment
Conference.
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State
• Postdoc at Penn State University
– Evaluating compost biofilters to mitigate ammonia and greenhouse gases
• ASABE AIM proceedings, June 2007
– Exploratory experiment on the effect of mixing on biogas yield in
biodigesters
• ‘Progress in Biogas’ conference in Stuttgart, September 2007
– Evaluating models for ammonia emissions from animal waste
• In progress – planned, Transactions of ASABE
• Managed bio-processing lab
• Co-developed wiki website online
• Co-advisor in undergraduate thesis
– Effect of biofilters on manure stack temperatures
– Mentored in data collection, processing
– Data analysis, organized writing
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State
• Pooling ideas for technologically advanced organic farming
– organized a conference session on ‘Innovative Technologies for
Organic Farming’, 2005 to 2007, ASABE
– vice-president of ecological engineering committee at ASABE, officer
for past 2 years
– Bio Ag Engineering.net website
Adrian Bowyer
Bath University, UK
Claus Sorensen
Research Centre Bygholm, Denmark
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State
• Outreach through professional website and lab wiki site
–
–
–
–
–
Lit review on vermicomposting
Excel programs for optimized feed mix composition
Excel program for separation of means in statistics
Template for cost / benefit analysis
Excel macro and programs for filtering and processing sensors data
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters
• Postdoc at Penn State University
– Evaluating compost biofilters to mitigate ammonia and greenhouse gases
• ASABE AIM proceedings, June 2007
– Exploratory experiment on the effect of mixing on biogas yield in
biodigesters
• ‘Progress in Biogas’ conference in Stuttgart, September 2007
– Evaluating models for ammonia emissions from animal waste
• In progress – planned, Transactions of ASABE
• Managed bio-processing lab
• Co-developed wiki website online
• Co-advisor in undergraduate thesis
– Effect of biofilters on manure stack temperatures
– Mentored in efficient data processing
– data analysis, organized writing
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters
• Rationale for evaluating the effect of biofilters of gaseous
emissions from stacked dairy manure
– Stacked manure emits NH3 , N2O , CO2, and CH4, H2O
– GWP: methane = 23, nitrous oxide = 296.
– NH3 causes acidification and eutrophication
–
Chaoui et al. 2007. The effect of compost and earthworms casts biofilters on dairy manure
stack emissions. ASABE Annual International Meeting. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters >
Methods
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters >
Experimental design
Are emission rates of NH3 , N2O , CO2, and CH4, H2O affected by:
Biofilters? Biofilter filling, thickness, moisture content, respiration levels?
By time, ambient and manure temperatures?
Random Complete Blocked Design - Pseudo-replication in time (weekly)
3 seasons
Treatment
Blanket thickness
Irrigation ofblanket
Type of material in blanket
1
2
2.5 cm
5 cm
yes
yes
compost
compost
3
2.5 cm
no
compost
4
5 cm
no
compost
5
2.5 cm
yes
vermicompost
6
7
8
9
10
11
Control
5 cm
2.5 cm
5 cm
yes
vermicompost
no
vermicompost
no
vermicompost
1 layer moistened Curlex
1 layer moistened Bio-Net SC150 (North American Green)
1 layer dry Curlex
no blanket
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters >
Experimental design
Treatment
Blanket thickness
Irrigation ofblanket
Type of material in blanket
1
2
3
4
2.5 cm
5 cm
2.5 cm
5 cm
yes
yes
no
no
compost
compost
compost
compost
5
2.5 cm
yes
vermicompost
6
7
8
9
10
11
Control
5 cm
2.5 cm
5 cm
yes
vermicompost
no
vermicompost
no
vermicompost
1 layer moistened Curlex
1 layer moistened Bio-Net SC150 (North American Green)
1 layer dry Curlex
no blanket
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters >
Experimental design
Weekly NH3, N2O, CH4, CO2, water vapor
Treatment
1
2
3
Blanket thickness
Irrigation ofblanket
Type of material in blanket
2.5 cm
yes
Temperature
at 3 depths
5 cm
yes
Data
recorded
and
logged hourly
2.5 cm
no
compost
compost
compost
4
5 cm
no
compost
5
2.5 cm
yes
vermicompost
6
7
8
9
10
11
Control
Biofilter
respirationyes
levels, BOD assay
5 cm
vermicompost
2.5 cm
vermicompost
Moisture
content ofnobiofilter
5 cm
no
vermicompost
1 layer moistened Curlex
1 layer moistened Bio-Net SC150 (North American Green)
1 layer dry Curlex
no blanket
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters >
Methods
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters >
Methods
Photoacoustic sensor / Flux Chamber
Excel program to extract relevant data
continuous data emissions
Pedersen (2001) equation: to derive gas
flux rates from gas build up rate
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters >
Results
No significant effect of time, a significant effect of treatment (p=0.00) and a
treatment x time effect (p=0.04)
b
0.014
0.012
ab
0.01
ab
ab
0.008
0.006
0.004a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
0.002
et
co
ea
m
rth
po
st
w
or
5
m
cm
ca
st
s
co
5
cm
m
po
st
w
2.
et
5
co
ea
cm
m
rth
po
w
st
or
5
ea
m
cm
rth
ca
w
w
s
ts
or
et
m
5
ea
cm
ca
rth
s
w
ts
or
2.
m
5
ca
cm
s
w
t
s
et
2.
co
5
cm
m
po
st
2.
5
cm
dr
y
C
ur
w
le
et
x
bi
oC
ur
le
x
w
et
C
co
ur
nt
le
ro
x
l(
no
fi l
te
r)
0
w
Mean CH 4 emission in kg / m2 . hr
Mean CH4 emission in kg / m 2 . hr
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters >
Results
NH3 emissions differed significantly due to filler type, p = 0.03
N2O, CH4, CO2, H2O: filler type had no significant effect
NH3 emission rate in kg / hr.m 2
NH3 emission rate in kg / hr.m 2 vs.
compost or casts
0.000016
0.000014
0.000012
0.00001
0.000008
0.000006
0.000004
0.000002
0
-0.000002
earthw orm casts
compost
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Biofilters >
Results
Only N2O (p=0.02) and NH3 (p=0.01) emission rates were
significantly affected by biofilter thickness
2
0.00002
N2O emission rate in kg / hr.m 2 vs.
biofilter thickness
N2O emission rate in kg / hr.m
NH3 emission rate in kg / hr.m 2
NH3 emission rate in kg / hr.m 2 vs.
biofilter thickness
0.000015
0.00001
0.000005
0
-0.000005
2.5 cm
5 cm
0.000045
0.00004
0.000035
0.00003
0.000025
0.00002
0.000015
0.00001
0.000005
0
2.5 cm
5 cm
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State >
Biodigestion
• Postdoc at Penn State University
– Evaluating compost biofilters to mitigate ammonia and greenhouse gases
• ASABE AIM proceedings, June 2007
– Exploratory experiment on the effect of mixing on biogas yield in
biodigesters
• ‘Progress in Biogas’ conference in Stuttgart, September 2007
– Evaluating models for ammonia emissions from animal waste
• In progress – planned, Transactions of ASABE
• Managed bio-processing lab
• Co-developed wiki website online
• Co-advisor in undergraduate thesis
– Effect of biofilters on manure stack temperatures
– Mentored in data collection, processing
– Data analysis, organized writing
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State >
Biodigestion
• Rationale for evaluating the effect of mixing on
biodigesters
– Less frequent mixing to prevent de-anchoring
anaerobic bacteria (Aldrich, 1993)
– Less operational costs
– Mixing: distribute microorganisms and heat, reduces
particle size, help release biogas
– Is it optimal at intermediate (Smith et al, 1996) or
minimal levels (Stroot et al., 2001)
– Does it have no effect (Karim et al., 2005)
– A positive effect (model by Banister (1998))
– A negative one (Stroot et al. (2001)
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State >
Biodigestion > Methods
• Experiment for evaluating the effect of mixing on biodigesters
–
–
–
–
–
3 replicates mixed for 1, 2, 3 minutes / day, 17 days, at 30oC
Stir bar, peripheral stirring plate, 1.04 m/s velocity
Pressure sensors measure gas build up
Gas composition (GC)
Stabilization: volatile solids and BOD
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State >
Biodigestion > Results
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State >
Biodigestion > Results
Chaoui & Richard. 2007. Effect of mixing frequency
on biogas yield in biodigesters. International conference
on progress in biogas. September 19, 2007 in
Stuttgart, Germany.
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State
• Postdoc at Penn State University
– Evaluating compost biofilters to mitigate ammonia and greenhouse gases
• ASABE AIM proceedings, June 2007
– Exploratory experiment on the effect of mixing on biogas yield in
biodigesters
• ‘Progress in Biogas’ conference in Stuttgart, September 2007
– Evaluating models for ammonia emissions from animal waste
• In progress – planned, Transactions of ASABE
• Managed bio-processing lab
• Co-developed wiki website online
• Co-advisor in undergraduate thesis
– Effect of biofilters on manure stack temperatures
– Mentored in data collection processing
– Data analysis, organized writing
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Evaluating
ammonia emission models
•
•
•
•
Models predict ammonia speciation and volatilization
Estimating pollution form animal facilities
Rationale: empirically evaluate models, verify missing inputs
Models for dissociation fraction of ammonia(l) from ammonium(l)
– Elzing and Monteny, 1997, Hashimoto, 1972.
• Henry’s law predict ammonia(g) based on ammonia(l)
– Henry’s constant = P(ammonia gas) / [ammonia(l)]
[ammonia(g)] / [ammonia(l)]
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Evaluating
ammonia emission models
• f x H = [ammonia(l) / ammonium(l)] x [ammonia(g) / ammonia(l)]
= [ammonia(g)] / [ammonium(l)]
Jar 1, 50 ml of 5 g NH4-N/ l, maximum build up = 33.54
mg/m3
40
35
mg N / m3
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
3/12/2007
14:31
3/12/2007
14:38
3/12/2007
14:45
3/12/2007
14:52
time
3/12/2007
15:00
3/12/2007
15:07
Incubate samples at prescribed temperature
for 1 hour, measure for 10 minutes
Past Research > Postdocs > Penn State > Evaluating
ammonia emission models
• Evaluating mass transfer models, with wind velocity as an input
Run 2: NH3 emission rate in kg / hr.m2 vs. fan velocity
in m/s
NH3 emission rate in kg / hr.m2
0.00016
0.00014
y = 0.0001x
R2 = 0.3269
0.00012
0.0001
0.00008
0.00006
y = 9E-05x + 2E-05
R2 = 0.3663
0.00004
0.00002
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
fan velocity in m/s
0.8
1
1.2
Future Research
Future Research > Develop technologically
advanced organic / sustainable farming
• Background:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Trained in precision ag
Teaching assistant for precision ag class
ArcGIS work as a graduate assistant, analyzing spatial data
Developing program to filter data from citrus yield monitor data logger
Literature review on Zigbee routers for wireless signals
Workshop on using sensors in the Zigbee system
Develop online networking tool (2005) for innovative technologyie on
organic farming
• Using background for future research:
– Draw on network to co-author proposal for wireless sensing / precision
ag use in organic animal production
– Develop online database for exchange of weeding robots protocols
Future Research > Principles and ideas
• Build on existing advances in precision ag and wireless
sensing
– Wireless animal guidance in free range pastures
• Creativity
– “ The best way to never have a good idea, is to never have a bad idea”
– Incremental innovations to transformative ideas
– Sustainability: ecological, social and economic
• cost / benefit analysis ･creative design can reduce cost of technology
• Teams
– Research specialists, students, faculty, for diverse perspectives
– Focus-groups to better select research
• Communication
– put results in accessible terms, stakeholder
– combine producers with academic inputs (ASABE session)
Future Research > Principles and ideas
• Combine biological and agricultural engineering
– Strong collaborations
– Grow into that area
– Training: protein and enzymatic assays, SDS-Page method
• Engineering design
– Designing a system, not single process
• vermicomposting system
– Optimize a combination existing processes
•
•
•
•
co-processes
multi-waste streams
excel program for optimized feedstock
result: complex but easy to operate system
• Organization in experiments
–
–
–
–
Experimental design, hypothesis
Streamlining data collection and processing
Industry-like efficiency in labs
Enhances career of graduates, increases credibility of lab
Future Research > Principles and ideas >
designing systems
Vision of what’s next: free range fitted with technology
Tools: waste bioprocessing techniques, instrumentation, electrical engineering, precision ag and programming
A free-range fitted with engineering designs to process waste
Goal: - social acceptability, no odor
- pro-pig environment
- ecologically sound, lucrative
- not at the expense of increased labor
Vision of what’s next: free range fitted with technology
Tools: waste bioprocessing techniques, instrumentation, electrical engineering, precision ag and programming
GPS or LPS receivers, RF modules and
and Remote controlled-locomotion will
be used to input / ouput locations
Mobile barn, guided by
wireless input from control
station
Solar powered Feeder Ant An autonomous mobile unit
feeding outdoor pigs
(Jorgensen et al. 2007).
Position output by control
station
GPS and RF module fitted pig collars.
Control station: computerized, feedback
loops based on wireless communication,
prevents long work hours
Wireless soil sensors indicate
when soil reaches its capacity in P
nitrate
Porous soil inoculated with
earthworms processes some
of the pre-decomposed waste
Automated mobile “lids” detect
gaseous emissions from, and
cover waste. They’re fitted with
waste degrading technologies, and
powered by renewable energy.
They collect waste as well, into a
central waste processing station.
Paradigm shift in animal husbandry
Article by L. Hamilton in The New Farm, Jan 2003 on
organic dairy milk. A mobile milking parlor follows the
cows as they rotate in the pasture.
Organic Pastures Dairy Company, Fresno CA
Eggmobile, such as used in Perry Winkle Farms Debbie Roos, North Carolina Cooperative extension,
Chatham county
Future Research > Funding Sources
• Ideas on funding source, grant proposals
– NRI and agstar at USDA
– Industry
– Co-authored grant proposal in PhD; received 86%
approval rate
– Patent and royalties
– Cater to mainstream in R&D, technologically advanced
and convenient micro-gardens
– Envisioned grant proposal: design model for optimizing
a multi process / multi waste stream bio-processing
system
Future Research > Graduate Students
• Principles in guiding graduate students
– Make room for creative thinking
– Identify a problem, be inspired, envision a solution, test it
using scientific method
– Literature reviews and planning; 80% of effort. Organized
data collection and recording
– Demystify statistical analysis and experimental design
– Meticulous lab methods, not micro-manage
– Streamline data processing, replace tedious tasks with
programs (for data filtering), leaves time for intelligent
work
– Practical engineering skills. Autocad, machine shops.
Design and print parts with a 3D printer
Future Research > Future Vision
• Paradigm shift in organic productions
– from inert technologies, to dynamic ones on which we can
‘download’ new protocols (like weed recognition for a machine
vision system)
– use of wireless sensors, feedback loops
– becoming more socially, ecologically sound
– more humane environment for animals, and less labor-dependent
for plants and animal production
• Increased efficiency of small scale - organic swine
productions
– modular technologies,
– the UN FAO report: Organic Agriculture and Food Security (2007):
organic agriculture can address local and global food security
challenges.
Conclusion
• Goal
– Transform organic plant and animal production
– Integrate innovative technologies in existing systems
• How I will work with others
– Communicate with stakeholders
– Collaborate with agricultural and biological engineers
• Tools
– Science + engineering background
– Easily take on new subjects
Thank You