Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1975. / Typescript. Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 200-203).

Thesis (MScIngwet)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Ethanol production wastewater is known to be toxic, and is not easily biodegradable. It also consists of a variety of coloured components adding to the complex composition of this wastewater. Disposal of this wastewater into water courses is not recommended and yet is performed all over the world. Investigation of this wastewater found that there was a high concentration of sulphate which, in the presence of sulphate-reducing prokaryotes can cause sulphide corrosion of cement. The concentration of sulphate in the wastewater was approximately 2770 mg/L. It was also found that the wastewater pH was very low and discharge of the wastewater into the wastewater treatment works caused a negative impact on the overall quality of the final wastewater discharged to sea. It was found using FISH techniques that there were no sulphate-reducing prokaryotes present in the wastewaters but that a sulphate-reducing population existed on the sewer wall. An anaerobic contact process was designed to treat this wastewater targeting sulphate reduction to sulphide, to be converted into elemental sulphur and to increase the wastewater pH. The process did not achieve this aim and only approximately 20-30 % reduction in sulphate from the wastewater was achieved with little to no change in the pH. A 95 % reduction in sulphate concentration was needed in order to reach acceptable discharge limits. Sulphate reduction could not be carried out, even under ideal laboratory conditions. It was found that the barrier causing the digester failure was the high concentration of phenols present in the wastewater (3.3 g/L) together with the production of high concentrations of volatile fatty acids (on average 13 g acetic/L). These two components are known to cause digester failure, especially phenols, and phenols are usually only degraded by fungal species. It was concluded that the wastewater itself was not amenable to this method of biological treatment.

Emerging Technologies Sustainability Assessment (ETSA) is a new technology assessment tool that was developed in order to compare emerging processes or technologies to existing alternatives. It utilizes infoIDlation modules, with the minimum use of resources such as time and money, in order to deteIDline if the process under development is comparatively favourable and should be developed beyond the early conceptual phase. The preliminary ETSA is vital in order to identify the gaps in the existing information and the specific methodologies to be used for data capture and analysis. The use of experimental design tools, such as Design-Expert, can facilitate rapid and efficient collection of necessary data and fits in well with the rationale for the ETSA. Wine distillery effluent (vinasse) is the residue left after alcohol has been distilled from fennented grape juice. It is an acidic, darkly coloured effluent, with a high COD and polyphenol content. The most popular method of disposal of this effluent, land application, is no longer viable due to stricter legislation and pressure on the industry to better manage its wastes. Although the ability of whiterot fungi to degrade a number of pollutants is well-known, fungal treatment of wine distillery effluent is still in the conceptual phase. The perfoIDlance of the fungal remediation system was assessed experimentally in terms of COD removal and laccase production using Design-Expert. Although Pycnoporus sanguine us was found to be most efficient at COD removal (85%) from 30% vinasse, laccase production was low (0.021 U/I). The optimum design for economically viable fungal treatment used Trametespubescens. This fungus was able to remove over 50% of the COD from undiluted vinasse while producing almost 800U/l of the valuable laccase enzyme within three days. Since the effluent from the fungal system did not meet the legal limits for wastewater disposal, a two-stage aerobicanaerobic system is suggested to improve the quality of the effluent prior to disposal. The ETSA was used to assess the fungal technology in relation to the two current methods of vinasse treatment and disposal, namely land application and anaerobic digestion. Based on the ETSA, which considered environmental, social and economic impacts, the fungal system proved to be potentially competitive and further development of the technology is suggested.

Thesis (MScEng (Process Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The thesis reports the investigation of various distillery processes and wastewater streams. The aim was to evaluate the processes and thereafter design interventions for improved wastewater treatment at the respective distilleries. An integrated environmental approach was adopted based on the principle that prevention of pollution is the preferred option and end-of-pipe treatment the least favoured option. As such, feed material to the processes was studied to determine whether some of the components that are not required in the distillation process could in fact be removed prior to entering the system. The results indicate that organic constituents such as phenol and tartaric acid could be removed using physico-chemical and biological treatment methods. The treatment of effluent was studied using an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) set-up to determine the reduction in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in the wastewater. Thereafter the UASB treated effluent was exposed to aeration for further treatment. Summary of conclusions • Pretreatment of wine feed material with calcium hydroxide is effective in removal of 98% tartaric acid, 30% COD and a total phenol content of 57%. • Bio-augmentation results showed that the soil inoculum was the most effective treatment method with reductions of 61% COD at a temperature of 30°C, tartaric acid removal of 98% at the same temperature and 25% reduction in total phenol at 26°C. • UASB was effective with soil inoculum and removed approximately 90% of COD although operational problems were experienced and hindered the operation of the plant. • Aeration of UASB effluent further reduced the COD by a further 60% with a total COD reduction of 96% after both UASB and aeration treatment. • Effective reduction of total phosphorus by 70% and the total phenol content by 80% was achieved by UASB treatment followed by aeration.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Constructed wetlands have been widely used in the treatment of industrial and domestic wastewater to reduce biological and chemical oxygen demand (BOD and COD), to remove nitrate and enteric viruses as well as to generally improve water quality. Distillery wastewater has a complex character due to high concentrations of sugars, lignins, hemicellulose, dextrins, resins, polyphenols and organic acids, leading to a high COD that may exceed 100 000 mg/L. The potential application for the treatment of distillery wastewater by means of constructed wetlands is relatively unexplored. In 1999 a study was initiated at Distell Goudini distillery, Western Cape, South Africa, to explore the possibility of using constructed wetlands to treat distillery wastewater. It was found that constructed wetlands do have the ability to treat distillery wastewater providing that the influent COD does not exceed 15 000 mg/L for extended periods and the correct substrate material is used. The present study expanded on the above-mentioned study and specifically aimed to provide information on the microbiological controls in wetland systems in an applied sense that may contribute to improved treatment efficiency. Furthermore, this project aimed to contribute to our fundamental understanding of the microbial ecology of constructed wetlands used for the treatment of distillery wastewater. This study revealed that a highly dynamic microbial composition exists within wetlands. Furthermore it was found that wetlands can efficiently remove COD even though a low degree of similarity exists between microbial communities in various zones of the same wetland and those between different wetlands, as well as low similarity between communities sampled from the same zone over time. This demonstrates that it will be difficult to define the ‘ideal’ degradative community in terms of microbiological criteria and serves as a reminder that various indicators should be considered for monitoring system health. Furthermore the shifts in microbial community composition illustrate the ability of microbial communities to adapt to changes in the environment without compromising their functional efficacy. When studying the attached microbial communities within wetland systems it was found that different morphotypes are detected at certain stages of biofilm development while some organisms are present at most phases of biofilm formation. Measurement of CO2 production and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal in laboratory scale columns showed that grazing protists had a notable effect on overall microbial activity and that organic loading influenced these predator-prey interactions. Interestingly, increased clogging of pores occurred in the presence of protists, resulting in reduced flow through the porous matrix. Terminalrestriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of biofilms on gravel in experimental wetlands indicated that the presence of protists and algae had an effect on the microbial community composition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the presence of algae also had an influence on biofilm structure suggesting that the algae provided labile nutrients that were utilized by the bacterial and yeast members of the community. Finally, augmentation with a commercial mixture or microbial populations isolated from distillery effluent demonstrated that the concentration at which supplements are applied influence degradative efficiency. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kunsmatige vleilande word wêreldwyd gebruik in die behandeling van indusriële en huishoudelike afvalwater om biologiese en chemiese suurstof aanvraag (BSA en CSA) te verminder, om nitrate en ingewandsvirusse te verwyder asook om waterkwaliteit in die algemeen te verbeter. Distilleerafvalwater het komplekse eienskappe as gevolg van hoë konsentrasies suiker, lignien, hemisellulose, dekstrien, harpuis, polifenole en organiese sure, wat lei tot ‘n hoë CSA wat 100 000 mg/L kan oorskry. Daar is tot op hede relatief min studies gedoen oor die potensiële gebruik van kunsmatige vleilande vir die behandeling van distilleerafvalwater. In 1999 is ‘n studie by Distell Goudini distilleeraanleg in die Wes Kaap van Suid Afrika onderneem om die moontlikheid van kunsmatige vleilande vir die behandeling van distilleerafvalwater te bestudeer. Daar was bevind dat kunsmatige vleilande die vermoë het om distilleerafvalwater te behandel gegewe dat die invloeiende CSA nie 15 000 mg/L oorskry nie en dat die regte substraat materiaal gebruik word. Die huidige studie het by die bogenoemde studie aangesluit met die doel om informasie oor die mikrobiologiese kontroles in vleilandsisteme op ‘n toegepaste wyse te voorsien, wat tot verbeterde behandeling doeltreffendheid kan lei. Hierdie studie het verder beoog om by te dra tot ons fundementele kennis van die mikrobiese ekologie van kunsmatige vleilande wat gebruik word vir die behandeling van distilleerafvalwater. Dié studie het bevind dat daar ‘n hoogs dinamiese mikrobiese samestelling binne vleilande bestaan. Daar was verder bevind dat CSA steeds effektief deur vleilande verwyder kan word alhoewel daar ‘n lae graad van ooreenstemming is tussen mikrobiese gemeenskappe in verskeie sones van dieselfde vleiland en verskillende vleilande, asook ‘n lae graad van ooreenstemming tussen gemeenskappe wat in dieselfde sone oor tyd gemonster is. Dit demonstreer dat dit moeilik sal wees om die ‘ideale’ degraderende gemeenskap te vind in terme van mikrobiologiese kriteria en dien as ‘n herinnering dat verkeie indikatore in ag geneem moet word om die welstand van ‘n ekologiese sisteem te monitor. Die verskuiwings in mikrobiese gemeenskapsamestelling illustreer verder die vermoë van natuurlike sisteme om aan te pas by veranderinge in die omgewing sonder om funksionele doeltreffendheid te verminder. Die studie van aangehegte mikobiese gemeenskappe het aangedui dat veskillende morfotipes bespeur kan word tydens sekere fases van biofilm formasie terwyl sekere organismes tydens meeste van die fases teenwoordig is. Die bepaling van CO2 produksie en die verwydering van opgeloste organiese koolstof in laboratoriumskaal kolomme het geïlustreer dat voedende protiste ‘n waarneembare effek gehad op die algehele mikrobiese aktiwiteit en dat die organiese lading hierdie predator-prooi interaksie beïnvloed het. Dit was interessant om te vind dat die teenwoordigheid van protiste die verstopping van porieë aangehelp het en dus tot verlaagde vloei deur die poreuse matriks gelei het. Terminale-restriksie fragment lengte polimorfisme (T-RFLP) analiese van biolfilm op klipgruis in eksperimentele vleilande het aangedui dat die teenwoordigheid van protiste en alge ‘n effek gehad het op die mikrobiese gemeenskapsamestelling. Skandeerelektronmikroskopie (SEM) het bewys dat die teenwoordigheid van alge ook ‘n invloed op biofilm struktuur gehad het wat daarop dui dat alge maklik afbreekbare voedingstowwe aan die bakterieë en giste van die mikrobiese gemeenskap beskikbaar gestel het. Laastens was bewys dat die konsentrasie van toevoeging van ‘n kommersiële mikrobiese mengsel of mikrobiese populasies wat uit afvoer geïsoleer was, die effektiwiteit van degradering kan beïnvloed.

A crescente escassez dos combustíveis fósseis tem indicado a necessidade de diversificação da matriz energética mundial. Nesse contexto, a produção de biocombustíveis figura entre as alternativas energéticas. No entanto, tal alternativa não é suscetível de uma só interpretação, havendo divergências acerca de suas consequências. Em meio ao debate, movimentos sociais do campo têm realizado experiências que buscam aliar a produção de biocombustíveis ao incremento da renda de pequenos agricultores. O tema central do presente estudo foi a produção de etanol em microdestilarias pelo Movimento dos Pequenos Agricultores através de uma de suas cooperativas, localizada no Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul. O objetivo da pesquisa foi examinar o desempenho e o potencial agroeconômico do sistema de produção proposto pela COOPERBIO nas unidades familiares de produção agrícola (UPAs) a ela vinculadas. O estudo referenciou-se na Teoria dos Sistemas aplicada à investigação de realidades agrárias complexas e nas ferramentas metodológicas disponibilizadas pela mesma, apoiando-se ainda na ideia desenvolvida por Ploeg acerca da condição camponesa e do modo camponês de fazer agricultura. Realizou-se também uma revisão de literatura acerca da problemática dos biocombustíveis e da importância de modelos energéticos alternativos. Os procedimentos metodológicos consistiram em pesquisa documental, observação direta e entrevistas semiestruturadas a agricultores e técnicos da COOPERBIO, analisando exaustivamente duas microdestilarias e quatro unidades de produção representativas da cooperativa. Do ponto de vista socioeconômico, constatou-se que a baixa disponibilidade de terra e o elevado valor agregado bruto decorrente da intensificação baseada no trabalho constituem as principais características comuns entre as UPAs analisadas, assim como uma renda agrícola média anual em torno de R$ 1500,00 por hectare, a despeito da variação dos sistemas de produção encontrados. Em relação à produção em microdestilarias, verificou-se que a proposta da COOPERBIO está tecnicamente adequada à realidade das UPAs. Do ponto de vista econômico, os subsistemas produtivos ligados às microdestilarias tem sido mais vantajosos que a maioria dos demais subsistemas encontrados nas UPAs. No entanto, constatou-se que as microdestilarias têm sido subutilizadas pelos agricultores. O motivo principal parece residir na inconclusão da implantação do arranjo produtivo proposto e nas consequentes dificuldades de comercialização do etanol, que por sua vez têm acarretado na falta de capital de giro do empreendimento e de agilidade na remuneração dos agricultores. Sanados os desafios, a produção de etanol em microdestilarias conforme a proposta da COOPERBIO parece ter potencial para incrementar a renda, fortalecer a campesinidade de pequenas UPAs e contribuir na diversificação da matriz energética brasileira. / The growing scarcity of fossil fuels has indicated the need to diversify sources of energy worldwide. In this context, production of biofuels emerges as an alternative energy. However, this alternative is not susceptible of only one interpretation, with disagreement about its consequences. Amid the debate, rural social movements have conducted experiments that seek the production of biofuels combined to income increase of small farmers. The focus of this study was the production of ethanol micro distilleries by the Movement of Small Farmers through their cooperatives, located in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul. The objective of the research was to examine the agrieconomic performance and potential of the production system proposed by COOPERBIO in family farming units (UPAs) linked to it. The study referenced in the Systems Theory applied to the investigation of complex agrarian realities and the methodological tools available for the same, also leaning on the idea developed by Ploeg about the condition of the peasant and peasant way of doing agriculture. It also presents a literature review on the issue of biofuels and the importance of alternative energy models. The methodological procedures consisted of desk research, direct observation and semistructured interviews with farmers and COOPERBIO cooperative technicians, deeply analyzing two micro distilleries and four representative production units of the cooperative. Socioeconomically, it was found that the low availability of land and the high gross added value resulting from the intensification based on the work are the main common features between the analyzed UPAs, as well as an average annual agricultural income of around R$ 1500,00 per hectare, despite the production systems variation found. In relation to the production of micro distilleries, it was found that COOPERBIO proposition is technically appropriate to the realities of UPAs. From an economic standpoint, the subsystems related to productive micro-distilleries have been more advantageous than most other subsystems found in the UPAs. However, it was found that the micro-distilleries have been underutilized by farmers. The main reason seems to lie in the incompleteness of the implantation of the whole production arrangement and consequent difficulties on selling the ethanol, which have entailed the lack of working capital of the enterprise and agility in paying farmers. Solved challenges, ethanol production in accordance with the COOPERBIO proposition of micro distilleries seems to have the potential to increase income, strengthen rural communities and small UPAs and contribute in diversifying the Brazilian energy matrix.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (MSc Food Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The large volumes of effluent water generated by distillery industries is an issue of great concern as it contains pollutants that must be treated according to environmental legislation. It has been reported that grain distillery wastewater (GDWW) is high in fats, oils and greases (FOG) that can be reduced by treating with suitable microorganisms. The objective of this study was to investigate the biodegradability of FOG in GDWW. This was done by isolating lipolytic bacteria from soil, which was situated close to the GDWW treatment plant at a distillery in Wellington, South Africa. These isolates were screened for lipolytic activity on various fat substrates. Secondly, the most desirable isolates were subjected to batch biodegradation trials using GDWW as substrate and tested for their ability to biodegrade FOG. Each of the four isolates, Pseudomonas fluorescens (1), Pseudomonas luteola (2), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (3) and Bacillus licheniformis (4) were screened on three types of media: DifcoTM Spirit Blue Agar with Tributyrin (SBA-Tri); Victoria Blue B Agar with Cotton Seed Oil (VBB-CSO); and Victoria Blue B Agar with GDWW (VBB-GDWW) at different temperatures (25°C, 30°C, 37°C and 50°C) to determine optimal enzyme activity for lipolysis. Lipolysis was taken as positive when growth of dark blue colonies was formed or by the formation of a clear zone around the colony. Lipolysis was observed at all the aforementioned temperatures for P. fluorescens, P. luteola and S. maltophilia. Bacillus licheniformis failed to show any lipolytic activity at 50°C on the SBA-Tri. A decrease in lipolytic (clear) zone was observed at an increase in temperature from 25°C to 37°C for P. fluorescens. When VBB-GDWW was used as lipid substrate, isolates failed to indicate any clear zone of lipolysis, however, growth was present for all isolates in the form of a dark blue zone around colonies, which were also positive for lipolytic activity. Three lipolytic bacteria (P. luteola, S. maltophilia, and B. licheniformis) isolated from the above study were subjected to GDWW of various FOG concentrations (70 – 211 mg.L-1). These isolates were allowed to acclimatise to GDWW during a batch biodegradation period (18 – 21 d) at 37°C. Bacillus licheniformis showed the highest FOG reduction of 83% after 18 d exposure. All the strains showed that an initial acclimatisation phase improved the biodegradation of the FOG. A fatty acid profile was obtained for each batch biodegradation trial after the acclimatisation phase. It was found that these strains either biodegraded the fatty acids (FAs) or, as in the case of P. luteola, formed myristic and pentadecyclic acids from free FAs. The formation of FAs may have occurred through a process of inter-esterification. It was also found that certain precursors such as palmitoleic acid might be formed under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. In this study it was shown that biodegradation of FOG can be improved by an initial acclimatisation period. Single cultures with the desirable properties can be used to lower the FOG in GDWW and need not be used in mixed cultures that could produce inhibitory components that would otherwise upset the biodegradation activity of isolates present. Bacillus licheniformis could be used as a FOG-degrading isolate during the treatment of wastewaters high in FOG. However, future studies should focus on bioaugmenting the FOG degrading bacteria from this study with other strains to monitor its activity and ensure survival and activity in larger scale studies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die groot volumes afloopwater wat opgelewer word deur die distilleer-industrie is ‘n kwessie wat groot kommer wek aangesien dit groot hoeveelhede besoedelende stowwe bevat. Daarom moet dit, volgens omgewingsverwante wetgewing, behandel word. Daar is voorheen gerapporteer dat graandistillerings-afloopwater (GDAW) hoog is in vette, olies en ghries (VOG) en dat hierdie VOG verminder kan word deur die GDAW te behandel met toepaslike mikroörganismes. Die oorhoofse doelstelling van hierdie studie was om die bioafbreekbaarheid van die VOG in GDAW te ondersoek. Dit is eerstens gedoen deur lipolitiese bakterieë uit grond wat naby ‘n graandistillerings-aanleg (Wellington, SuidAfrika) geleë is, te isoleer. Verskeie vetsubstrate is gebruik om hierdie isolate vir lipolitiese aktiwiteit te toets. Tweedens is die verkose isolate getoets vir lipolitiese aktiwiteit deur gebruik te maak van lot-bio-afbreekbaarheidsmetode. Tydens hierdie metode is GDAW as substraat gebruik en die verskillende bakterieë se vermoë om VOG af te breek is getoets. Om die optimale ensiemaktiwiteit vir lipolise van elk van die vier isolate nl. Pseudomonas fluorescens (1), Pseudomonas luteola (2), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (3) en Bacillus licheniformis (4), vas te stel, is elk getoets op drie verkillende media: “DifcoTM Spirit Blue Agar” met Tributirien (SBA-Tri); “Victoria Blue B Agar” met Katoensaadolie (VBB-KSO); en “Victoria Blue B Agar” met GDAW (VBB-GDAW) teen verskillende temperature (25°C, 30°C, 37°C en 50°C). Indien donker-blou kolonies gevorm is of ‘n deursigbare sone rondom ‘n kolonie waargeneem is, is lipolise as “positief” beskou. Lipolise is waargeneem teen alle voorafgenoemde temperature vir P. fluorescens, P. luteola en S. maltophilia. Bacillus licheniformis het nie lipolitiese aktiwiteit getoon teen 50°C op SBA-Tri. ‘n Afname in die deursigbare sone is waargeneem teenoor ‘n toename in temperatuur vanaf 25°C tot 37°C vir P. fluorescens. In die geval van VBB-GDAW as lipiedsubstraat, het isolate geen deursigbare sone vir lipolise getoon nie. Daar was egter ‘n donker-blou sone rondom kolonies teenwoordig, wat ook positief is vir lipolitiese aktiwiteit. Drie lipolitiese bakterieë (P. luteola, S. maltophilia, and B. licheniformis) is geïsoleer uit bogenoemde studie en is aan inkubasie in GDAW teen verksillende VOGkonsentrasies (70 – 211 mg.L-1) blootgestel. Hierdie isolate is toegelaat om te akklimatiseer tot die GDAW tydens ‘n lot-bio-afbreekbaarheidstydperk (18 – 21 d) teen 37°C. Bacillus licheniformis het die hoogste VOG-afname van 83% na 18 d blootstelling getoon. Alle bakterieë het getoon dat ‘n aanvanklike akklimatiserings-tydperk die bioafbreekbaarheid van die VOG verbeter. ‘n Vetsuur-profiel is verkry vir elk van die lot-bio afbreekbaarheidstoetse na die akklimatiserings-fase. Daar is bevind dat hierdie bakterieë óf die vetsure afgebreek het óf, soos in die geval van P. luteola, miristiese en pentadesikliese sure, vanaf vry-vetsure, gevorm het. Die vorming van vetsure is moontlik as gevolg van die proses van inter-esterifikasie. Dit is verder bevind dat sekere voorlopers, soos palmitoë-oleïensuur, gevorm kan word onder aërobies of anaërobiese toestande. In hierdie studie is getoon dan die bio-afbreekbaarheid van VOG verbeter kan word deur ‘n aanvanklike akklimatiserings-tydperk toe te pas. Enkel-kulture met die verkose eienskappe kan gebruik word om die VOG in GDAW te verminder. Gemengde kulture, wat inhiberende komponente produseer wat moontlik die bio-afbreekbaarheids proses negatief kan beïnvloed, hoef dus nie gebruik te word nie. Bacillus licheniformis kan gebruik word as ‘n VOG-afbrekende isolaat tydens die behandeling van afloopwater wat hoog in VOG is. Verdere studies moet egter fokus op die samevoeging van VOGafbrekende bakterieë vanuit hierdie studie asook ander bakterieë om die aktiwiteit daarvan te monitor en sodoende oorlewing en aktiwteit op ‘n groter skaal te verseker.