Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-98).

Thesis (M.Phil.) - University of Queensland, 2004. / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (MS)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2009. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Robin Gerlach. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-93).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliography.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin, 1967. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-62). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-120). Also available in electronic version.

The subjection of soils to degradation directly and indirectly from rising world food demand and resultant intensified agricultural production, population growth, and climate change, demand that soils are better protected. The role of AD in addressing this challenge is examined using a pragmatic research paradigm and the questions: How can we raise awareness of AD in the UK? What factors motivate and hinder farmers towards adopting improved technology and sustainable agricultural practises? What is the perception of farmers about soils? To what extent does sustainable agriculture incorporate soil conservation in theory and practice? What role can legislation and policies play in AD adoption in the UK? The research was in two phases; qualitative and quantitative. The qualitative phase involved interviews with 21 AD stakeholder in the UK using electronic mail. The stakeholders who were divided into groups according to their expertise, were interviewed to explore their views on the areas of focus in the UK strategy and action plan regarding raising awareness of the technology, soil conservation, sustainable agriculture and sustainable development. Thematic analysis of interview data was carried out using MAXQDA 11 statistical software. The quantitative phase involved an online survey of 283 UK farmers aided by Yellow Pages directory for UK, Natural England directory, Twitter and electronic mail. Using SPSS 22.0 statistical software, the Chi square test was used to check for relationships between the variables measured at 95% confidence level (p < .05). Relationship strength was measured by means of Cramer’s V and Phi values. Answers to the 1st research question showed that: aligning AD with sustainable development goals, community AD and localism, small AD plants, provision of an available market for AD products, building UK skills and diversifying biogas use from AD are positive options for raising awareness of AD. Response to 2nd research question revealed: significant relationships between interests in agricultural technology and gender, level of education, and farm size; between knowledge of what AD is and gender, level of education and farm size; between interest in AD and age; between willingness to invest in AD if it improved soil properties and farm ownership; and between organic farming practice and age, farm type and farm size. Responding to the third research question, farmers’ describe soils in abstract, scientific, physical attribute and functional terms; awareness of soil benefits other than crop production was significantly related to age, and farm ownership; educational level was significantly related to familiarity with soil conservation, and opinion on whether soil should be protected like other natural resources. Findings regarding the 4th and 5th research questions showed: limited understanding of soil matters as a key challenge that has restricted the priority given to soil conservation, while level of education, knowledge of soil conservation and sustainable development and understanding of sustainable agriculture were also identified as influencing factors; digestate from AD is the main benefit viewed to contribute to soil conservation; finance, policy and legislation, low awareness and understanding, lack of feedstock and market, land use conflict and inefficiency of AD plants were identified as barriers to AD in the UK; promoting AD, providing finance, minimizing bureaucracy and simplification of AD systems are options for promoting AD adoption. This thesis also documents the implications of these findings for knowledge, policy and practice, and based on these recommendations are made, some of which are: better engagement of farmers in policy development for AD and soil management; use of small AD plants, demonstration, networking and training for AD adoption; promote soil conservation in theory and practice; and provision of enhanced support for owners, potential investors and farmers through incentives, simplified planning approval process, and available market for AD product.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2002-03Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:41:58Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 namiuchi_nn_dr_botfca.pdf: 349934 bytes, checksum: b7b6c0bff68cbd06fbb7a639b73e9f53 (MD5) / Foram avaliadas as características quantitativas, qualitativas e o potencial e distribuição da produção de biogás, da cama de frangos de corte.Os estudos foram realizados em galpões experimentais, laboratórios e biodigestores. O experimento foi analisado como inteiramente casualisado, adotando-se esquema fatorial 4x3x2 considerando quatro quantidades de cama (0,4, 0,5, 0,6 e 0,7 kg MS.ave-1), três materiais de cobertura dos galpões AMC (telha de fibrocimento), AMB ( fibrocimento com pintura) e ALU (alumínio ondulada) e dois lotes de criação de aves em camas com uma utilização e reutilização em Dourados – MS. O ambiente dos galpões, proporcionado pelos diferentes tipos de cobertura foi caracterizado a partir de índices de temperatura do bulbo seco, umidade relativa e velocidade do vento. Para avaliar o desempenho animal foram observados: o peso vivo, consumo de ração e mortalidade e para a quantificação da cama, foram estudados peso da cama produzida, teor de matéria seca, coeficiente de resíduo, umidade, proteína bruta, potencial de emissão de amônia, temperatura da superfície e do interior da cama de frango e produção de biogás... / Quantitative, qualitative characteristics and potential and biogas distribution from poultry litter were evaluated.. The experiment was analyzed as a completely randomized, using a 4x3x2 factorial scheme established by four quantities of litter (0.4; 0.5; 0.6 and 0.7 kgMS.bird-1), three covering materials of aviaries: AMC (asbestos cement tile), AMB (asbestos cement tile with painting) and ALU (wavy aluminum tile) and two lots of breeding in Dourados – MS. Aviary environment, which was promoted by different kinds of covering, was characterized descriptively considering dried bulb temperature index, humidity index and wind velocity. In order to evaluate broiler performance, it was observed: live weight, ration consumption, mortality and for poultry litter quantification: produced litter weight, dry matter content, residue coefficient, dampness, crude protein, ammonia emission potential, surface, and inside temperature of poultry litter and biogas production were studied...(Complete abstract, click electronic access below)

A vinhaça, água residuária do processo, apresenta em sua composição DQO de 20 a 100 g DQO.L-1 e um ótimo potencial de produção de biogás por meio da digestão anaeróbia. Para avaliar a capacidade de produção de biogás, foram realizados experimentos sob o efeito gradual da carga orgânica volumétrica (COV) e da relação A/M, avaliando a etapa metanogênica. Como no processo de fabricação do etanol é adicionado ácido sulfúrico para evitar a contaminação bacteriana, foi avaliado a interferência da adição de diferentes concentrações de sulfetos no processo em valore de pH 7,0 e 7,5. O fermentador foi alimentado com Na2S.9H2O, variando a concentração do íon S2- de 0 a 1000 mg.L-1. Para obter uma boa eficiência na produção de metano, a etapa acidogênica também foi avaliada. Para isso, se manteve as mesmas concentrações de biomassa e substrato, porém, ajustando os valores de pH em 5,0, 5,5, 6,0 e 6,5. Na etapa metanogênica uma satisfatória redução da elevada carga orgânica presente na vinhaça foi alcançada, com eficiência de remoção entre 82,0% e 90,3% em processo mesofílico. Um ajuste polinomial foi realizado para avaliar a produção específica de metano, que variou de 379 mL CH4.h-1 a 872 mL CH4.h-1 e atividade metanogênica de 0,33 mmol CH4.gSVT-1 h-1 a 0,77 mmol CH4.gSVT-1 h-1. Para a etapa da sulfetogênese, o pH afetou consideravelmente o desempenho das arqueas metanogênicas, ocorrendo inibição mais acentuada para o pH 7,5. Na concentração mais baixa testada, de 50 mg S2-.L-1, foi observada inibição de 31,85% para pH 7,0 e de 67% para pH 7,5 e para a concentração mais elevada de 1000 mg S2-.L-1 a inibição foi de 59,75% e de 94,07% respectivamente. Na última etapa da acidogênese, maiores concentrações de ácido propiônico e acético foram alcançadas em pH 5,0 e 5,5, com 1374,66 e 1477,23 mg C3H6O2.L-1 e 993,05 e 767,80 mg CH3COOH.L-1. Maiores taxas de produção de AGV ocorreram em pH 6,5, alcançando para o ácido propiônico 8,82 mmol.d-1 gSVT-1 e 7,99 mmol.d-1 gSVT-1 para ácido acético. A produção acumulada de metano nas primeiras 60 horas atingiu 2210 mL, 5300 mL, 7210 mL e 7620 mL CH4, respectivamente para pH 5,0, 5,5, 6,0 e / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2017-07-12T18:44:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Vanessa Verona Peruzzo.pdf: 3017795 bytes, checksum: 5aad4de95a823b85afe45b94c6cd1fc0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-12T18:44:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Vanessa Verona Peruzzo.pdf: 3017795 bytes, checksum: 5aad4de95a823b85afe45b94c6cd1fc0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-12 / Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Leopoldo Américo Miguêz de Mello, CENPES. / The vinasse, wastewater of the process, presents in its composition a COD of 20 to 100 g COD.L-1 and an excellent biogas production potential through anaerobic digestion. To evaluate the biogas production capacity, experiments were carried out under the gradual effect of organic volumetric load (OVL) and A/M ratio, evaluating the methanogenic step. Considering that sulfuric acid is added to the ethanol production process to prevent bacterial contamination, the interference of the addition of different sulfide concentrations in the process at pH 7.0 and 7.5 was evaluated. The fermenter was fed with Na2S.9H2O, varying the concentration of the S2- ion from 0 to 1000 mg.L-1. In order to obtain good efficiency in the production of methane, the acidogenic step was also evaluated. For this, the same concentrations of biomass and substrate were maintained, however, the pH to was adjusted 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5. In the methanogenic stage a satisfactory reduction of the organic load present in the vinasse was achieved, with removal efficiency in the range of 82.0% and 90.3% for mesophilic process. A polynomial fit was performed to evaluate the specific production of methane, ranging from 379 mL CH4.h-1 to 872 mL CH4.h-1 and a methanogenic activity of 0.33 mmol CH4.gSVT-1 h-1 at 0.77 mmol CH4.g SVT-1 h-1. For the sulfetogenic stage, the pH considerably affected the performance of the methanogenic archaea, with a more pronounced inhibition at pH 7.5. The lowest concentration tested, 50 mg S2-.L-1, resulted in an inhibition of 31.85% inhibition pH 7.0 and 67% at pH 7.5. The highest concentration, 1000 mg S2-.L-1, the inhibition was 59.75% and 94.07% respectively. Higher concentrations of propionic and acetic acid were reached at pH 5.0 and 5.5, with 1374.66 and 1477.23 mg C3H6O2.L-1 and 993.05 and 767.80 mg CH3COOH.L-1. Higher rates of VFA production occurred at pH 6.5, yielding 8.82 mmol.d-1 gSVT-1 and 7.99 mmol.d-1 gSVT-1 for acetic acid for propionic acid. Cumulative methane production in the first 60 hours increased 2210 mL, 5300 mL, 7210 mL and 7620 mL CH4, respectively to pH 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5.