Synthesizing Polyhydroxyalkanoates from Fermented Dairy Manure

1235885（高士）。 这项研究将系统地整合蛋白质组学方法与环境工程原理，以推进一个？废物转化为产品？将有机废物升级循环为可生物降解塑料聚羟基烷酸酯（PHA）的过程。 这一过程不仅将封存原本会作为温室气体排放的碳，而且高价值产品（PHA）将取代石油的使用。 PHA技术为工业提供了机会，可以生产具有经济价值的产品，同时降低废物管理成本。本研究试图回答的首要基础研究问题如下：通过混合微生物聚生体与盛宴/饥饿PHA合成相关的控制代谢/蛋白质是什么，以及如何使用标准生物反应器操作标准在功能上操纵它们以使VFA向PHA的转化最大化？以下研究问题将指导该项目。奶牛营养对挥发性脂肪酸合成的潜在影响是什么？RQ 2：与有氧盛宴/饥饿PHA合成相关的代谢特异性蛋白质是什么？潜在的遗传调节因子是什么？RQ 3：在进行盛宴/饥饿PHA合成的不同微生物物种中，代谢特异性蛋白质和调节剂是否相同或相似？RQ 4：我们如何应用和操作传统的生物反应器操作标准，以最大限度地富集盛宴/饥饿PHA微生物，并诱导必要的代谢，以产生最大的VFA螯合PHA？研究方法概述如下。目标1活动将评估并确定粪便特性对VFA合成的影响。目标2和3活动是本研究的核心重点，将响应RQ 2-4。该研究将整合到执行盛宴/饥饿PHA合成的混合微生物聚生体上的精确宏观/微观结构-功能关系。从目标2和3的结果将确定和解释在分子结构/功能水平的生物反应器的操作标准，以最大限度地提高PHA合成的方式和水平，传统的？黑盒？方法无法定义。这项研究的一个重要成果将是目标4下的中试规模工艺验证研究。 这项研究将推进基础和实践知识，将牛粪生物转化为高经济价值的生物塑料（PHA）。 该项目将教育西班牙裔高中生，并为本科西班牙裔学生提供研究机会。

1235885 (Coats). This research will systematically integrate proteomic methods with environmental engineering principles to advance a ?waste-to-products? process to upcycle organic waste to a biodegradable plastic, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Not only will the process sequester carbon that would otherwise be emitted as a greenhouse gas, the high-value product (PHA) will displace petroleum usage. The PHA technology represents opportunities for industries to generate products of economic value while reducing waste management costs. The overarching fundamental research question this proposed study seeks to answer is as follows: ?What are the controlling metabolisms/proteins associated with feast/famine PHA synthesis by mixed microbial consortia and how can they be functionally manipulated using standard bioreactor operating criteria to maximize conversion of VFAs to PHA?? The following research questions will guide the project. RQ 1: What are the potential effects of dairy cow nutrition on volatile fatty acid synthesis? RQ 2: What are the metabolism-specific proteins associated with aerobic feast/famine PHA synthesis? What are the underlying genetic regulators? RQ 3: Are the metabolism-specific proteins and regulators identical, or similar, across different microbial species performing feast/famine PHA synthesis? RQ 4: How do we apply and manipulate traditional bioreactor operating criteria to maximize enrichment of feast/famine PHA microbes and induce necessary metabolisms to yield maximum VFA sequestration as PHA? An overview of the research approach is as follows. Obj. 1 activities will evaluate and establish the effects of manure characteristics on VFA synthesis. Obj. 2 and 3 activities are the core focus of this research that will respond to RQs 2-4. The research will integrate to exact macro/micro structure-function relationships on mixed microbial consortia performing feast/famine PHA synthesis. Results from Obj. 2 and 3 will identify and explain at a molecular structure/function level the bioreactor operating criteria necessary to maximize PHA synthesis in a manner and at a level that traditional ?black box? methods could not define. An important culmination of this research will be the pilot-scale process validation investigations under Obj. 4. This research will advance both fundamental and practical knowledge to bio-convert dairy manure to high economic value bioplastic (PHA). The project will educate Hispanic high school students and provide research opportunities to undergraduate Hispanic students.