Poster Abstracts
The Atlantic Biorefinery Conference will be showcasing the innovative research findings of academics from across Canada. Posters will be on display at the Atlantic Biorefinery Conference for delegates to view and ask questions. Judges will choose the best student poster for an award to be announced at the end of the event.
Effect of Bionanocoil on Making of Iron Ore Pellets
M. Aghaei Moghadam, K. Zangeneh
How do you think a biopolymer designed from biomass does not fire at 800°C; not even at 1300 °C? That's right; almost every type of biopolymers that you are familiar with will burn, but our Bionanocoil does not. The answer to this question is that we are going to introduce Bionanocoil to steel companies as a binder to make Iron ore pellets today.
Iron ore must be combined with a mineral called bentonite in order to create a usable end-product of iron-pellets. This process has several drawbacks. It dilutes the iron-ore, requires a great amount of energy to produce, and, finally, it creates a great amount of environmental pollution. Iron ore industry loses about 1.5 billion dollars each year because of the traditional bentonite process.
We have a patented a new technology that covers both the BIONanoCoil structure and the process for making it.
Iron ore must be combined with a mineral called bentonite in order to create a usable end-product of iron-pellets. This process has several drawbacks. It dilutes the iron-ore, requires a great amount of energy to produce, and, finally, it creates a great amount of environmental pollution. Iron ore industry loses about 1.5 billion dollars each year because of the traditional bentonite process.
We have a patented a new technology that covers both the BIONanoCoil structure and the process for making it.
The Interface of Green Chemistry and Biomass-related Research
Kenson Ambrose, Memorial University
Green chemistry is a field of research aimed at designing products and processes that reduce the use and generation of hazardous substances. One of the fundamental principles of green chemistry is the use of renewable feedstocks. This poster will describe some of the ongoing research at Memorial University aimed at implementing sustainable chemical technologies in valorizing biomass. In our research, waste biomass and other renewable chemicals including carbon dioxide (CO2) are used as the starting points to produce new polymers, fuels and other potentially valuable materials. A range of approaches is used in this research including microwave chemistry, pyrolysis (small/analytical and pilot scale), in-situ infrared spectroscopy (reaction monitoring), experimental design and catalysis. Of particular interest to us are waste-streams from fishing/aquaculture and forestry industries.1,2 We are also interested in applications of CO2 in this field e.g. extraction of fish-oil using supercritical CO2.
Green processing technologies for the valorization of waste mussel shells.
Jennifer Murphy, Memorial University
Green chemistry has played a key role in the field of renewable feedstocks, an area of research that has been increasing rapidly over the last decade.(1) Each year in Atlantic Canada there is an estimated 418000 t per year of waste from fish plants. Waste mussel shells are currently dumped at sea or sent to landfill, which both add a cost to the food processor due to fees that must be paid. Shells of molluscs including mussels are primarily CaCO3. Calcite and aragonite are the most common forms of CaCO3 and both are typically present in mollusc shells. The CaCO3 rich shells have the potential to become high value, low volume products such as a component in cosmetics or low value, high volume products such as high purity calcium carbonate.
This poster will describe cleaning waste Newfoundland blue mussel shells using environmentally-friendly technologies as well as their characterization using a plethora of analytical techniques.
This poster will describe cleaning waste Newfoundland blue mussel shells using environmentally-friendly technologies as well as their characterization using a plethora of analytical techniques.
The Vital Role Of Indigenous Microalgae For The Sustainability Of An On‐Farm Bioenergy‐Recycling Bioreactor
Farshad Khademi, Alan Fredeen, Dalhousie University
Application of innovation biotechnologies for co‐production of 3rd generation biofuel, additional forage resources and at the same time:
The agricultural environmental impact relates in large part to ruminal enteric methane generation, fossil fuel use and nitrogenous emissions from animal manure. The Canadian dairy industry emits 10 MT CO2 Eq/year, about 9% of the total GHG arising from the agriculture sector, which is estimated at 68 MT CO2 Eq/year. Some studies have demonstrated a relationship between methane reduction in vitro, and microalgal carbohydrate content including DHA and EPA . Little research has been conducted on feeding microalgae, though in our lab we have accumulated in vitro data showing that microalgae and oil extracted algal residue reduce methane production from whole rumen fluid.
To achieve higher yields and lower production costs which ensure the sustainability of the bioprocess, different cultivation technologies and the related downstream processing, using Maritimes’ species of microalgae, will be performed. In addition, to ensure the scaling up feasibility of microalgae‐based production processes, the techniques and strategies for the employment of low‐cost complex culture medium are also evaluated in our study.
- recycling of dairy farm waste (incl. manure)
- reduction of GHG emission
- producing biofertilizers
The agricultural environmental impact relates in large part to ruminal enteric methane generation, fossil fuel use and nitrogenous emissions from animal manure. The Canadian dairy industry emits 10 MT CO2 Eq/year, about 9% of the total GHG arising from the agriculture sector, which is estimated at 68 MT CO2 Eq/year. Some studies have demonstrated a relationship between methane reduction in vitro, and microalgal carbohydrate content including DHA and EPA . Little research has been conducted on feeding microalgae, though in our lab we have accumulated in vitro data showing that microalgae and oil extracted algal residue reduce methane production from whole rumen fluid.
To achieve higher yields and lower production costs which ensure the sustainability of the bioprocess, different cultivation technologies and the related downstream processing, using Maritimes’ species of microalgae, will be performed. In addition, to ensure the scaling up feasibility of microalgae‐based production processes, the techniques and strategies for the employment of low‐cost complex culture medium are also evaluated in our study.
Current and Future Technologies Used in Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Treatment
François Chabot, Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick
Growing populations and the arrival of aqueducts in Roman cities changed the treatment of domestic wastewater. Since then, many technologies have been developed in order to treat domestic and industrial wastewater to make them less damaging to the environment. Among these technologies, several are used today and allow municipalities and organizations to reach objectives imposed by increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Many organizations reduce their treatment costs and several may even increase their profits thanks to value-added products. This poster presents the most popular technologies in domestic wastewater treatment, but also future avenues for domestic and industrial wastewater treatment. Many of these technologies are still being developed, but reusing the waste might represent a distinct advantage over the competition.
Laboratory Techniques – Biotechnology Co-op Program
Nancy Landry-Morin, Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick
The Laboratory techniques – biotechnology coop program is a two-year applied sciences program, offered at CCNB’s Edmundston campus. It seeks to prepare students for employment in biology, chemistry and biotechnology. Basic sciences are taught during the first year of the program; in the second year, students specialize in biotechnology. They familiarize themselves with molecular biology, organic chemistry, wet chemistry, biomass reclamation, histology, instrumental analyses, biofermentation, immunology and applied biotechnology.
Biotechnology laboratory technicians are qualified to work in biofermentation, molecular biology, as well as ensure analysis and quality control. The diversified training in biology and chemistry ensures versatility that will allow graduates to work in research, development and production in various sectors of biotechnology. New technologies in this field are used in health, agri-food, fermentation, aquaculture, forestry, the pharmaceutical industry, the environment as well as other sectors related to biomass exploitation.
Biotechnology laboratory technicians are qualified to work in biofermentation, molecular biology, as well as ensure analysis and quality control. The diversified training in biology and chemistry ensures versatility that will allow graduates to work in research, development and production in various sectors of biotechnology. New technologies in this field are used in health, agri-food, fermentation, aquaculture, forestry, the pharmaceutical industry, the environment as well as other sectors related to biomass exploitation.
Effects of NaCl and Different Inorganic Carbon Sources on the Growth, Morphology and Accumulation of Lipid in Neochloris Oleoabundans
Sébastien Levesque, La Cité
Interest for the optimization of biofuel production from microalgae is constantly growing throughout the global scientific community. The dry weight of Neochloris oleoabundans can contain up to 54% lipid that can be used in biodiesel synthesis (Gopalakrishnan & Ramamurthy, 2014). Results obtained from the addition of various ratios of NaHCO3/KHCO3 in the culture indicate that the biomass production and the lipid were superior in a brackish environment (16g/L of NaCl) when the NaHCO3 was the only source of inorganic carbon. Microscopic observations indicate that the cellular volumes are three times larger with the presence of NaCl. As for the 5% CO2-enriched air stream (v/v), results have shown that it would be preferable to cultivate Neochloris oleoabundans in an environment containing 8 g/L of NaCl to optimize production of biomass and lipids.
Capsaicin extraction: verification of its effect on REH cells
Véronik Martin, Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick
Capsaicin, also known as 8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide, is a molecule of the alkaloid family found in hot peppers such as jalapeño, cayenne and habanero, which were part of my project. Often used as a food additive, it is also known for its spicy properties, its inflammatory effect on human muscles and its inhibition of cancer cells. In fact, according to my research, these regress when in contact with capsaicin because it has the property of inhibiting cell development, and in this case, of killing them. In another research project, many researchers have demonstrated that capsaicin also has an effect on prostate cancer cells. This research project demonstrates that capsaicin has a direct effect on REH cells, therefore on their growth curve. Many methods have been used in order to obtain capsaicin from actual habanero peppers. To do this, an ethanol extraction, the filtration of ground material and an ethanol evaporation will be used. The goal is to verify the effect of the capsaicin obtained on acute lymphoblastic leukemia type B cancer cells (REH).
Wild yeast isolation on berries and verification of ethanol production by fermentation
Patrick Dionne, Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick
Wild yeast is present in all daily environments. It propagates from one area to the other by simple air movement and lands on many surfaces. It consists of microorganisms able to degrade organic matter such as simple sugars through metabolic pathways. The project consists in the isolation of wild yeast on berries to then isolate those who produce ethanol by fermentation. The fruit used to isolate the yeast in this experiment are: strawberries, grapes, and kiwi. The goal of isolating yeast on these fruit was to find yeast that would allow us to produce the fermentation. During this project, we were able to isolate a total of 16 types of wild yeast. Only two of these yeast were tested by fermentation and ethanol detection tests to determine if their metabolism would allow them to produce alcoholic fermentation.
Does Woody Biomass Electricity Benefit Local Communities?: A Case Study from the Atikokan, Ontario.
Cassia Sanzida Baten, Northern Hardwoods Research Institute
To tackle
climate change, reduce air pollution and promote development of renewable
energy, in 2014 the Ontario government converted the coal-based Atikokan Power
Generating Station (APGS) to woody biomass feedstock. This research offers one
of the first looks at the perspectives of different individuals and groups on
converting woody biomass to electricity. Research findings indicate that there
is wide support for biomass utilization at the APGS by local people, especially
since the project would create sustainable employment. The connection of woody
biomass-based energy generation and rural community development provides
opportunities and challenges for Atikokan’s economic development. Respondents
identified economic, environmental and social barriers to biomass utilization,
and emphasized trust and transparency as key elements in the successful
implementation of the APGS project. In
Atikokan much of the project’s social acceptability is directly linked to woody
biomass providing job creation and community stability. Given this, it will be
important to design policies and projects from a community development
perspective to ensure long term community support. Information provided by this
research creates a base for discussions as forest biomass energy becomes a
vital issue in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, and other regions of the world.
