The Institute of Clean Energy Technology (ICET) at Mississippi State University was awarded a contract by the DOE to design, fabricate, assemble, and characterize a research grade test stand to assist in the development of ASME AG-1 Section FI Metal Media Filters. The major barriers to completing the code section is development of a test stand for collecting data necessary to specify performance requirements for use and for filter qualification. Currently there is not a test stand capable of performing this testing. Performance criteria for the FI test stand were developed by the Section FI project team and ICET. These performance criteria were used to create a test stand to collect the data necessary to get Section FI balloted and approved.

Orientador: Paulo Cezar Ceresini / Resumo: O controle biológico é um dos métodos do manejo integrado de doenças de plantas, sendo uma das únicas alternativas viáveis para minimizar o impacto da queima-das-folhas e morte súbita das pastagens do gênero Urochloa (anteriormente Brachiaria). A queima-das-folhas e morte de pastagens é causada pelo fungo basidiomiceto Rhizoctonia solani grupo de anastomose AG-1 IA. Em nosso estudo determinamos se isolados de espécies de Pseudomonas fluorescentes obtidos de solos supressivos do bioma Amazônico possuem potencial como agentes de biocontrole de R. solani AG-1 IA. Especificamente objetivamos: i. Efetuar o screening de isolados de Pseudomonas quanto ao potencial de biocontrole in vitro; ii. Realizar a identificação molecular dos isolados de Pseudomonas fluorescentes selecionados como potenciais agentes de biocontrole e iii. Determinar se as bactérias selecionadas in vitro mantém, in vivo, o potencial de biocontrole da queima-das-folhas e morte da braquiária. Três isolados foram selecionados como potenciais agentes biocontroladores nos testes de antagonismo in vitro (Amana, Poti e Yara), pois diminuíram significativamente tanto o crescimento micelial quanto a germinação de escleródios do patógeno. Com base em análises filogenéticas, os isolados Amana e Yara foram agrupados ao clado de Pseudomonas putida enquanto o isolado Poti foi agrupado em clado distinto de todos os demais, e possivelmente se constitui numa nova espécie. Nos testes in vivo, a inoculação via sementes não resultou... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Biological control is one of the methods of the integrated management of plant diseases, which is one of the only viable alternative to minimizes foliar blight impact and sudden death of pastures from genus Urochloa (previously known as Brachiaria). Foliar blight and death of pastures are caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani AG-1 IA. In our study, it was determined whether isolates from florescent Pseudomonas obtained from suppressive soils on the Amazon biome had potential as biocontrol agents of Rhizoctonia solani AG-1 IA. Specifically, we aim to: i. Carry out a screening of isolates from Pseudomonas to evaluate their potential as in vitro biocontroler; ii. Perform molecular identification of selected fluorescent Pseudomonas isolates as potential biocontrol agents; and iii. Determine whether in vitro selected bacterial strains maintain the biocontrol ability in vivo of foliar blight and sudden death of braquiária. Three isolates were selected as potential biocontoller agents in vitro antagonism tests (Amana, Poti e Yara), which reduced significantly mycelial growth and sclerotia germination of pathogen. Based on phylogenetic analyzes, Amana and Yara isolates were grouped to the clade belonging to Pseudomonas putida and Poti isolated was grouped in a distinct clade, and should to constitute a new species. For in vivo tests, seed inoculation did not resulted in R. solani AG-1 IA control. On the other hand, in foliar application of biocontrol agent, Amana isolated was the m... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The design and performance evaluation of in-duct, isokinetic samplers capable of testing flat sheet, nuclear-grade High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters simultaneously with a radial filter testing system is discussed in this study. Evaluations within this study utilize challenge aerosols of varying particle diameters and masses such as hydrated alumina, Arizona test dust, and flame-generated acetylene soot. Accumulated mass and pressure drop for each in-duct sampler is correlated to the full-scale radial filter accumulated mass from initial to 10 in w. c. of loading. SEM imaging of samples at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% loading verifies particle sizes with instrumentation used, revealing filter clogging resulting from particle impaction and interception. The U.S Department of Energy requires prototype nuclear-grade HEPA filters to be qualified under ASME AG-1 standards. The data obtained can be used to determine baseline performance characteristics on pleated radial filter medium for increased loading integrity and lifecycle endurance.