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Can microbes help control rust in coffee?

4/29/2015

 
Coffee plants in many locations are having problems with the fungal infection caused by Hemileia vastatrix. Present in all major coffee growing regions, the fungus spores infect the leaves of plants causing a loss of productivity. Control measures include planting wind breaks to prevent airborne spores from reaching coffee plants, using fungicides, switching to more rust resistant coffee plants (a difficult, long run solution), and quarantines of infected farms. One option to add into the low cost options could be the use of natural microbials with antifungal properties.

Bacillus are well studied, mostly benign, soil microbes that produce multiple compounds that prevent fungal spores from germinating and can even directly prevent fungal growth. In the soil environment this allows the bacilli to utilize precious nutrients needed for growth and gives them a competitive advantage over other organisms.

When it comes to the coffee plants, we are dealing with a fungus that lives on leaves rather than soils. The challenge is getting the spores and associated biochemicals on the leaf. Can the Bacillus be cultured in a liquid broth at the farm level to encourage biosurfactant (strong antifungal compound) and then sprayed frequently on the coffee leaves following rain (spores require high moisture levels to infect the plant). Also, could a binding agent be added with the bacteria to help them remain on the leaf for longer term protection.

While breeders are working on more rust-resistant plants and using quarantines, I think investigation natural microbial solutions can help minimize damage from rust and other fungal cultures.


SV30 & SVI ~ While the single number is great.... other things can be learned during the test!

4/10/2015

 
Many people run either the SV30 or SVI (just a MLVSS adjusted SV30) and generate a single number that helps operators make decisions on recycle rates, wasting rates, and polymer usage. Today, I am going to introduce other qualitative and quantitative measures that can be taken while running the SV30 test.
  • Sludge color - darker sludge usually indicates "older" or lower F/M ration sludge. Other factors that can change color include iron sulfides, dyes, etc.
  • Sludge density - do the solids have a "fluffy" appearance? Look like gelatin while settling? The way solids form, settle, and compact gives information on filamentous and non-filamentous bulking.
  • Settling rates - for a quantitative number, operators read sludge volume every 5 minutes and plat the settling rate. This is important in that rapidly settling sludge (old biomass and low F/M) can settle too quickly leaving "fines" and excess material in the water column.
  • Floating solids on top - is it ashy? (old sludge), float up after sitting for a few hours? (denitrification), or have a scum layer (often high fats, oils & grease).
  • Supernatant turbidity/color - water turbidity can be a very good indicator of early upset or aging sludge before effluent TSS changes.
Again - these tests are best when performed on a frequent basis to obtain standard operating data. Once a system is well known in response to various loadings and environmental changes.


Controlling grease in a problem lift-station - current trial

4/6/2015

 
Lift-Station with a flow of 80,000 gallons per day. Problem with solid grease buildup on equipment and walls. They were able to control using a combination of high strength degreasers, but it was expensive and pushed grease downstream to the wastewater treatment plant.

The city could not add aeration or other mixing devices to the lift-station which is often successful when combined with added grease degrading microbes. Given the short-residence time and high levels of grease entering the station from upstream lines, we decided to combine several technologies to prevent grease buildup in the station and to not simply push large amounts of grease downstream to the wastewater treatment plant as is done by adding most d-limonene or other sewer line degreasers.

The final formulation we developed for the application contained a concentrated blend of microbial spores associated with grease degradation and biosurfactant production (which is required for efficient insoluble grease biodegradation). To enhance the speed of biodegradation, we added extra biosurfactants, enzymes, micronutrients, and a low percentage of biodegradable detergents (to help maintain a homogenous product and help increase the grease/water interface where bacteria grow).

The goal was for initial activity from the enzymes and surfactants to provide ideal conditions for most rapid bacterial growth of the added grease degrading microbes. The result would keep the grease from solidifying on the lift-station walls and equipment. The microbes would begin beta oxidation of the insoluble fatty acids (grease) that cause problems downstream at the wastewater treatment plant. As the number of carbon atoms decrease, the fatty acids become more available to microbes and convert from FOG to easily degradable soluble BOD.

For the past 60 days, we have stopped using degreasers with manual cleaning and only used the new formulated microbial product. With dosing being done via a metering pump and spray nozzle above the water line, the entire lift station is being treated. During the trial solid grease buildup has been eliminated and the lift station is operated as designed. No problems have been noted in the downstream wastewater treatment plant

    Author

    Erik Rumbaugh has been involved in biological waste treatment for over 20 years. He has worked with industrial and municipal wastewater  facilities to ensure optimal performance of their treatment systems. He is a founder of Aster Bio (www.asterbio.com) specializing in biological waste treatment.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

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