Replacement Ion Chromatograph to Monitor Bioreactor Performance and Optimization in the Biological Solutions Laboratory

该提案要求提供资金购买离子色谱(IC)系统，以支持旨在开发用于处理工业水和废水的生物系统的研究。所要求的设备对于生物解决方案实验室的两个关键研究优先事项至关重要：农业废物的废物转化能源系统和从矿山排水中去除砷。*我们研究废物转化能源系统的目的是开发一种废物处理系统，其成本低于典型的好氧处理系统，同时产生能源和处理废物的效率与现有系统一样高。微生物燃料电池(MFC)是一个很有前途的研究领域，但并未持续应用于农业环境。MFC在有机强度高的废物中效果最好，类似于卑诗省农业产生的废物。这项技术的发展可以将垃圾掩埋或填埋，并在向用户提供电力的同时进行处理。农业废弃物将从负担变为造福社会。*BSL还在开发一种被动处理系统，可以从矿山排水中去除砷。一种厌氧生物系统已经开发出来，它能产生硫化物，从水中沉淀砷，并将其困在有机基质中。这一过程将为采矿业节省数百万美元的处理成本，同时保持良好的环境保护。此外，这也是关闭矿井的一种可行的治疗选择。*这两个研究项目都需要一个功能正常的IC。建议书中要求的IC被要求测量处理葡萄酒废水的MFC中残留的小有机酸，如醋酸盐、丙酸盐、丁酸盐、戊酸盐和酒石酸盐。这些小酸的积聚会扰乱pH或对培养物产生直接毒性影响，因此它们的测量是检验操作参数对生物反应器性能影响的实验所必需的。它还需要测量矿井排水中无机离子、氯化物、硝酸盐、硫酸盐和砷的存在，以便我们可以对离子及其转化产物进行质量平衡。Thermo Fisher已经停止支持该仪器，零件很难获得。该仪器正在经历大量的停机时间，这对学生培训和研究成果产生了非常负面的影响。*

This proposal requests funds to purchase an ion chromatography (IC) system to support research designed to develop biological systems for the treatment of industrial water and wastewater. The requested equipment is critical for the two key research priorities of the Biological Solutions Laboratory (BSL): waste-to-energy systems for agricultural wastes, and removing arsenic from mine drainage water. ***The aim of our research on waste-to-energy systems is to develop a waste treatment system that costs less than typical aerobic treatment systems, while producing energy and treating waste as efficiently as existing systems. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising area of research that have not been consistently applied to agricultural settings. MFCs work best in wastes with high organic strength similar to the wastes from the BC agricultural industry. The development of this technology can take waste that would be buried or landfilled and treat it while providing electricity to the user. Agricultural waste will change from being a burden to a benefit to society. ***The BSL is also developing a passive treatment system that removes arsenic from mine drainage. An anaerobic biological system has been developed that produces sulfide which precipitates arsenic from the water trapping it in the organic matrix. This process will save the mining industry millions of dollars in treatment costs while maintaining excellent protection of the environment. Furthermore, it is a viable treatment option for mine closure. ***A properly functioning IC is necessary for both of these research programs. The IC requested in the proposal is required to measure residual small organic acids such as acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, and tartrate in MFCs treating winery wastewater. The buildup pf these small acids can upset the pH or have a direct toxic effect on the cultures and so their measurement is a must for experiments that examine the effects of operating parameters on bioreactor performance. It is also required to measure the presence of the inorganic ions, chloride, nitrate, sulphate, and arsenate in the mine drainage water so we can perform mass balances on the ions and their conversion products. Thermo Fisher has stopped supporting the instrument and parts are very hard to acquire. The instrument is experiencing a significant amount of down time which is having a very negative affect on student training and research output.*****