Master of Science / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Sajid Alavi / Texturized vegetable protein (TVP) based foods offer several advantages compared to animal protein, including lower costs and improved health benefits. Wheat gluten is often processed using extrusion to produce TVP. Processing aids, such as reducing agents (example, cysteine and sodium metabisulfite) and pH modifiers (example, tetra potassium phosphate) aid in texturization. Reduction of sulfhydryl groups, cleavage of disulfide bonds, and reformation of bonds between elongated protein molecules results in protein aggregation and texturization. This study focused on development of a fundamental understanding of these mechanisms for texturization using analytical tools such as the phase transition analyzer (PTA), in combination with lab- and pilot-scale extrusion. The abovementioned three chemicals were added to four varieties of gluten. The control treatment had no additives. PTA was used to understand the operative flow properties of gluten in an environment similar to an extrusion system. Addition of sulfite (0.18%) and cysteine (0.18%) lowered the thermal softening (Ts:36.6-44.1 °C) and thermal flow (Tf:79.6-105.6 °C) temperatures of all varieties of gluten as compared to the controls (Ts:38.8-48.2 °C; Tf:91.7-112.2 °C). Phosphate (3%) did not have the same lowering effect on Ts (40.2-47.0 °C) and Tf (96.2-108.2 °C), indicating a different mechanism. Extrusion studies were conducted to gain an understanding of the reformation of disulfide bonds and texturization. Two of the varieties of gluten, a “superior” one that texturizes well and an “inferior” gluten requiring texturizing aids, were processed on a lab-scale extruder. Pilot scale extrusion was used to process the other two glutens (“superior” varieties) to obtain commercial quality products, which were evaluated for degree of texturization (hydration rate, absorption index and integrity). During lab-scale extrusion, texturization was observed only in the case of phosphate and corresponded with an increase in specific mechanical energy (SME) as compared to the control, indicating disulfide bond reformation. Phosphate also led to significantly (p<0.05) better texturization during pilot-scale extrusion, although SME trends were different due to higher in-barrel moisture and a more ideal extrusion system. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy was used to examine protein structural changes and indicated a loss of α-helix structure in TVP with an increase in β-sheet formation.

Master of Science / Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering / Donghai Wang / Algae proteins have similar amino acid compositions as conventional plant proteins, and are comparatively richer in the essential amino acids. Algae protein has the potential to be used in the development of a wide variety of products, including foods, animal feeds, bioplastics, and adhesives. The utilization of algae protein for value-added products would increase the economic feasibility of algae biodiesel. This research evaluated the adhesion, rheological, morphological, and thermal properties of adhesives made from algae protein extracted from Cladophora sp. and modified with either sodium hydroxide (pH 9, 10, 11) or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, 0.5, 1, and 3%). Both alkali-modified and SDS-modified algae protein adhesives displayed improved dry shear strength compared to unmodified algae protein. However, only 3% SDS-modified algae protein significantly improved the water resistance as shown in wet and soak shear strength tests. Thermal analysis using differential scanning calorimetry showed that SDS modification caused complete denaturation of the algae protein. SDS modification also increased the viscosity of the adhesive and created rougher particle surface texture. These data suggest that SDS modification can effectively increase shear strength and water resistance of algae protein adhesives caused by protein denaturation and protein structure change.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / Ronaldo G. Maghirang / Nanostructured particles possess unique chemical and physical properties, making them excellent candidates for air purification, smoke clearing, and obscuration. This research was conducted to investigate the aerodynamic, charging, and infrared (IR) extinction properties of nanostructured particles. Specific objectives were to: (1) measure the size distribution and concentration of aerosolized nanostructured particles; (2) evaluate their IR extinction properties; (3) determine their relative chargeability; and (4) numerically model their transport in enclosed rooms. The size distribution and concentration of two nanostructured particles (NanoActive® MgO and MgO plus) were measured in an enclosed room. The particles differed in size distribution and concentration; for example, the geometric mean diameters of NanoActive® MgO and MgO plus were 3.12 and 11.1 [Mu]m, respectively. The potential of nanostructured particles as IR obscurants was determined and compared with other particles. Four groups of particles were considered: nanostructured particles (NanoActive® MgO plus, MgO, TiO[subscript2]); nanorods (MgO, TiO[subscript2]); conventional particles (NaHCO[subscript3] and ISO fine test dust); and common obscurants (brass, graphite, carbon black). The extinction coefficients of the nanostructured particles were generally significantly smaller than those of the other particles. Graphite flakes had the greatest mass extinction coefficient (3.22 m[superscript2]/g), followed by carbon black (1.72 m[superscript2]/g), and brass flakes (1.57 m[superscript2]/g). Brass flakes had the greatest volume extinction coefficient (1.64 m[superscript2]/cc), followed by NaHCO[subscript3] (0.93 m[superscript2]/cc), and ISO fine test dust (0.91 m[superscript2]/cc). The relative chargeability of nanostructured particles was also investigated. Selected particles were passed through a Teflon tribocharger and their net charge-to-mass ratios were measured. Tribocharging was able to charge the particles; however, the resulting charge was generally small. NanoActive® TiO[subscript2] gained the highest net charge-to-mass ratio (1.21 mC/kg) followed by NanoActive® MgO (0.81 mC/kg) and ISO fine test dust (0.66 mC/kg). The transport of NanoActive® MgO plus and hollow glass spheres in an enclosed room was simulated by implementing the discrete phase model of FLUENT. In terms of mass concentrations, there was reasonable agreement between predicted and measured values for hollow glass spheres but not for NanoActive® MgO plus. In terms of number concentration, there was large discrepancy between predicted and measured values for both particles.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Jay M. Ham / The potential environmental impact of animal feeding operations on air quality has created the need for accurate air emissions measurements. Of particular concern are ammonia emissions from cattle feedlots, operations that contribute a large portion of the agricultural ammonia emissions inventory. Micrometeorological methods are ideal for emissions measurements from large, open-source areas like feedlot pens; however, theoretical assumptions about the boundary layer must be made, which may not hold true above the heterogeneous, fetch-limited surface of the feedlot. Thus, the first objective of this work was to characterize the surface boundary layer of an open-air cattle feedlot and provide insight into how micrometeorological techniques might be applied to these non-ideal sites. Eddy covariance was used to measure fluxes of momentum, heat, water, and carbon dioxide from a commercial cattle feedlot in central Kansas. Data supported the use of eddy covariance and similar methods (i.e., relaxed eddy accumulation) for flux measurements from both cattle and pen surfaces. The modeled cumulative source area contributing to eddy covariance measurements at a 6 m sample height was dominated by just a few pens near the tower, making the characteristics of those pens especially important when interpreting results. The second objective was to develop a system for measuring ammonia fluxes from feedlots. A new type of relaxed eddy accumulation system was designed, fabricated, and tested that used honeycomb denuders to independently sample ammonia in up-moving and down-moving eddies. Field testing of the relaxed eddy accumulation system at a feedlot near Manhattan, KS showed fluxes of ammonia ranged between 60 and 130 μg m-2 s-1 during the summer of 2007. Even in the high ammonia environment (e.g., 300-600 μg m-3), the honeycomb denuders had enough capacity for the 4-hour sampling duration and could be used to measure other chemical species that the denuders could be configured to capture. Results provide a foundation for emissions measurements of ammonia and other gases at cattle feedlots and help address some of the challenges that micrometeorologists face with any non-ideal source area.

Software as a service (SaaS) is a primary working pattern and a significant application model for next generation Internet application. Web GIS services are the new generation of the Software as a service that can provide the hosted spatial data and GIS functionalities to the practical customized applications. This study focused on developing a webGIS based application, Soil Moisture-Based Irrigation Scheduling Tool (SMIST), for predicting soil moisture in the next seven days using the soil moisture diagnostic equation (SMDE) and the upcoming seven precipitation forecasts made by the National Weather Service (NWS), and ultimately producing an accurate irrigation schedule based on the predicted soil moisture. The SMIST is expected to be capable of improving the irrigation efficiency to protect groundwater resources in the Texas High Plains and reducing the cost of energy for pumping groundwater for irrigation, as an essential public concern in this area. The SMIST comprised an integration of web-based programs, a Hydrometeorological model, GIS, and geodatabase. It integrates two main web systems, the soil moisture estimating web application for irrigation scheduling based on the soil moisture diagnostic equation (SMDE), and an agricultural field delineation webGIS application to prepare input data and the model parameters. The SMIST takes advantage of the latest historical and forecasted precipitation data to predict soil moisture in the user-specified agricultural field(s). In this regard, the next seven days soil moisture versus the soil moisture threshold for normal growth would be presented in the result page of the SMIST to help users to adjust irrigation rate and sequence.

No description available.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / James K. Koelliker / Small reservoirs catch and store water for long periods and they decrease streamflow and increase ground-water recharge. A field monitoring program provided the measured water depth for four years in several reservoirs in the Republican River Basin where there are concerns about their aggregate effects in the basin. The daily water budget operation for one reservoir was developed. Daily seepage rates were estimated by using precipitation, inflow and evaporation which was assumed equal to grass reference evapotranspiration (ET0), that average 120 to 150 cm/yr, along with the measured stage-storage and stage-surface area relationships. Two computer simulation modules, written in FORTRAN 95, were developed to estimate 1) overflow and gross seepage and 2) potential for ground-water recharge underneath the reservoir. Required daily input data are precipitation, ET0, and inflow from the watershed area. Required reservoir site characteristics include stage-storage and stage-surface area relationships, a standard seepage rate (S0) at 14 different levels in the reservoir, soil-water and plant-growth characteristics and a monthly crop-residue factor. The gross seepage module calculates water depth that determines daily overflow, the water-surface area for evaporation and the head of water on the 14 levels to cause seepage losses. If a level is not inundated, seepage is zero. If a level is inundated less than 0.3-m, S0 is used. When the water head (hL) on a level exceeds 0.3 m, the seepage rate (SL) is increased by, SL = S0 * (hL/0.3)0.25. This relationship was chosen after testing several exponent values between 0 and 1. The modules were calibrated on one reservoir and verified on two others in northwestern Kansas. Results showed runoff from the watersheds averaged about 1.2 to 1.6 cm/yr from the average annual precipitation of 46 to 62 cm. The three reservoirs reduced streamflow at the reservoir site by 74 to 97%, but 90 to 95% of the retained runoff was calculated to contribute to ground-water recharge. Several sensitivity analyses for model inputs were done. Results showed that, the ratio of the average annual inflow volume from the watershed area to the reservoir storage volume was the most sensitive input variable tested.

Master of Science / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / Ronaldo G. Maghirang / Large cattle feedlots in Kansas are often considered to be large sources of particulate matter (PM), including PM with equivalent aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometers or less (PM[subscript]10). To control PM emissions from cattle feedlots, water sprinkler systems can be implemented; however, limited data are available on their PM control efficiency. This research was conducted to determine the control efficiency of a water sprinkler system in reducing PM[subscript]10 emission from a cattle feedlot. This was accomplished by monitoring the PM[subscript]10 concentrations, with tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM™) PM[subscript]10 monitors, at the upwind and downwind boundaries of a cattle feedlot (KS1) from January 2006 to July 2009. The feedlot was equipped with a sprinkler system that can apply up to 5 mm of water per day. It had approximately 30,000 head of beef cattle and total pen area of approximately 50 ha. The control efficiency of the sprinkler system was determined by considering the PM[subscript]10 data during sprinkler on/off events, i.e., the sprinkler system was operated (on) for at least one day and either followed or preceded by at least one day of no water sprinkling (off). For each of the selected sprinkler on/off events, the percentage reduction in net PM[subscript]10 concentration was calculated and considered to be a measure of the control efficiency. Net PM[subscript]10 concentration was defined as the difference between downwind and upwind PM[subscript]10 concentrations. The control efficiency for PM[subscript]10 ranged from 32% to 80%, with an overall mean of 53% based on 24-h PM[subscript]10 values for 10 sprinkler on/off events. In general, the effect of the water sprinkler system in reducing net PM[subscript]10 concentration lasted for one day or less. The percentage reduction in net PM[subscript]10 concentration at KS1 due to rainfall events was also determined using a similar approach. In addition, a second cattle feedlot (KS2) that was not equipped with a sprinkler system and with approximately 25,000 head of beef cattle and 68 ha pen area was considered. Percentage reductions in net PM[subscript]10 concentrations due to rainfall events were mostly in the range of 60% to almost 100% for both feedlots, with overall means of 75% for KS1 and 74% for KS2. The effects of rainfall events (with rainfall amounts > 10 mm/day) lasted for three to seven days, depending on rainfall amount and intensity. Limited data are also available on PM[subscript]10 emission rates from cattle feedlots in Kansas. This research quantified PM[subscript]10 emission rates from the two feedlots (KS1 and KS2) and a third cattle feedlot (KS3) in Kansas by using inverse dispersion modeling with the AMS/EPA Regulatory Model (AERMOD), which is the US EPA preferred regulatory atmospheric dispersion model. PM[subscript]10 emission rates were back-calculated using the resulting PM[subscript]10 concentrations modeled by AERMOD, together with measured PM[subscript]10 concentrations (24 months of data for KS1 and KS2, 6 months of data for KS3). Overall mean PM[subscript]10 emission fluxes for the 2-year period were 1.29 g/m[superscript]2-day (range: 0.04 – 4.98 g/m[superscript]2-day) for KS1, 1.03 g/m[superscript]2-day (range: 0.07 – 4.52 g/m[superscript]2-day) for KS2, and 2.48 g/m[superscript]2-day (6-months; range: 0.05 – 5.00 g/m[superscript]2-day) for KS3. The corresponding mean PM[subscript]10 emission factors were 21, 29, and 48 kg/1,000 hd-day for KS1, KS2, and KS3, respectively. The emission factors for KS1 and KS2 were considerably smaller than the published US EPA emission factor for cattle feedlots (i.e., 42 kg/1000 hd-day). The emission factor for KS3 was slightly greater than the US EPA emission factor; however, it was a biased estimate because it was based only on a six-month period.