BIORESOURCE ENGINEERING SENIOR SEMINAR
BIORESOURCE ENGINEERING SENIOR SEMINAR
Item 1: Peter Adewale
Methanol and Waste Oils for Biodiesel Production
Skyrocketing crude oil prices, global shortage of fossil fuels and
increased environmental concerns have resulted in the rapid growth
in biodiesel production. Likewise, the leverage on global food
security of biofuels production has been a great concern.
Alternative oil source has been an important way to sustain
biodiesel production without interference with global food
security. This research study is aimed at enhancing biodiesel
production from waste oils. Hydrodynamics of methanol-waste oils in
a stirred vessel would be modeled to investigate the miscibility of
the two partially immiscible liquids. Different impeller types,
impeller position on the stirrer shaft and more than one impeller
on the stirrer shaft would be used to model the drop size and drop
size distribution of methanol into waste oils for the production of
biodiesel.
Peter Adewale is a PhD student in the Department of Bioresource
Engineering, 9I制作厂免费 under the supervision of Dr. M.O.
Ngadi. He has a B. Eng in Agricultural Engineering from the
University of Ilorin and M.Sc in Agricultural and Environmental
Engineering from the University of Ibadan, both in Nigeria. Peter
comes from south- west region of Nigerian. Currently working on
hydrodynamics of methanol 鈥搘aste oils for the production of
biodiesel in Dr. Ngadi鈥檚 laboratory
Item 2: Justina Amissah
Antioxidants and Oxidants: A Necessary Balance
Research on the effects of antioxidants has revealed a strong
relationship between the diets of people and the development of
chronic diseases like coronary heart disease, diabetes and
atherosclerosis. A diet rich in vegetables and fruits is suggested
to minimize the risk of chronic diseases possibly due to the
presence of antioxidant compounds. However, antioxidants may be
regarded as a potentially dangerous tool when they exceed a certain
limit and rather promote oxidation which may result in health
problems in the long run. Thus the key to the effectiveness of
antioxidants within the body in minimizing the negative effect of
oxidative stress is suggested to be due to a balance between
antioxidants and oxidants.
Justina Amissah is an MSc Thesis student in the Bioresource
Engineering Department and is supervised by Dr. Shiv Prasher and
Dr. Benjamin Simpson (Food Science Department). She completed her
undergrad studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology where she studied Biochemistry. She is currently working
on bioactive peptides from Agricultural wastes.
Item 3: Michel Duteau
Phosphorus Removal in a Constructed Wetland
Constructed wetlands can be used to remove pollutants conveyed by
agricultural sub-surface drainage wastewaters before they reach
natural ecosystems, where they could contribute to the acceleration
of freshwater ecosystems eutrophication. A study was conducted to
determine if a supplementary phosphorus treatment was needed, when
using a sub-surface vertical upflow constructed wetland made up of
a coarse sandy loam and planted with willows (salix myabeanna).
Preliminary results show that the outlet concentrations can be
brought down to the 0.03 mgTPL-1 eutrophication threshold. We will
discuss the fate of Phosphorus within a constructed wetland.
Michel is a freshwater ecosystems biologist, specialized in
restoration in the agriculture sector. He is currently leading a
MSc research effort on Constructed wetlands for the treatment of
agricultural sub-surface drainage wastewaters, under the
supervision of Drs Grant Clark & Shiv O. Prasher.
Item 4: Julie Gagn茅
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
Land-based, closed Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) combine
the culture of fish with soilless hydroponic plant production,
efficiently recycling fish wastewater as plant nutrient solution.
Where in traditional fish aquaculture wastewater treatment was an
economic burden on producers, in aquaponic polycultures nutrient
removal by plants generates additional revenue from produce sales,
providing 67% of annual returns in one rainbow trout, lettuce and
basil RAS system. This is a prime example of the type of
鈥榗losed-loop鈥� ecosystem approach which will increasingly become
paramount as global populations boom within a flailing and resource
limited natural world. Quite an efficient waste treatment scheme,
and with global fish stocks collapsing as 鈥榮ushi鈥� lovers become
legion, it could offer an alternative, sustainable, local source of
fish to quell those appetites and give Oceans a break.聽聽
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Montreal born and raised, Julie obtained her B.Sc Ag.Env.Sc. in
Microbiology here at Mac, before working on a fascinating
agricultural soil microbiology research project in Sorel, Qc, for a
few years. After a subsequent聽 2-year GLP stint closer to home
working in Pharmacogenomics for Genome Quebec, she has returned to
academia to re-focus her career on environmental topics. Julie is
now conducting her M.Sc. thesis degree under the supervision of Dr.
Mark Lefsrud of the Biomass Lab, studying the effects of wavelength
on plant growth.
Item 5: Shrikalaa Kannan
Microbial Safety of Eggs
Eggs are one of nature鈥檚 most nutritious food but are safe only
when they are cooked properly. But most people love to eat raw egg
recipes like mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce, egg nog, Caesar salad
and many more. Several Salmonellosis outbreaks in the recent past
have been traced back to consumption of contaminated eggs. Eggs
serve as good nutrition source for the growth of microbes too.
Despite the presence of egg鈥檚 own defense mechanisms, certain
microbes like Salmonella enteritidis[SE] have managed to render the
egg鈥檚 defense ineffective. This presentation is to bring to light
the microbial profile of eggs, routes of entry and the FDA
recommendations for producers and consumers to make eggs safer for
human consumption.
Shrikalaa Kannan was born in India where she received her B. Tech
Biotechnology from the PSG College of Technology in Tamil Nadu.
Shrikalaa is currently in her first year as an MSc candidate in the
Bioresource Engineering Department under the supervision of Dr.
Raghavan.