Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Anaerobic Digestion Of Variable, Heterogeneous Organic Wastes Under Changing Operational Conditions And Bioaugmentation: Impacts On Process Performance And Microbiome Dynamics, Victoria Holliday

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Expanding the adoption of anaerobic digestion (AD) is limited by system instabilities caused by feedstock composition and variability. Understanding how changes in feedstock and operational parameters influence microbiome dynamics is essential for developing biology-driven strategies to improve digester stability.

Two semi-continuous reactors, an experimental and a control, operated over 39 weeks across five phases with varying feedstocks and organic loading rates. Substrate-specific enrichment cultures were developed for bioaugmentation and implemented in select phases to assess its impact. Both reactors exhibited similar performance, transitioning through periods of stability, stress, and recovery in response to operational changes. Corresponding shifts in dominant taxa …

From Floodplain To Floodplain: Analyzing Stream And Riparian Restoration Methodologies And Impacts, Noah P. Lane

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Stream restoration is a relatively new scientific field. Currently, there is not a definitive methodology for performing restorations that all professionals in industry and academia can agree upon. This has allowed for multiple ideologies to be developed and altered that vary by geographic location and the professional using them. In addition to the methodologies used, the publicly available design guidance published by state government organizations also varies by regulatory authority, method of analysis, ecoregion, and restoration objectives. In some cases, design guidance is replicated from a different geographical area and may not satisfy local needs or existing site conditions. Since …

Nanopesticide Fate And Transport In Agroecosystems: A Field Study, John C. Stickney

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Nanopesticides are an emerging class of pesticides associated with engineered nanoparticles that provide agricultural and environmental benefits. However, nanopesticide fate, transport, and persistence remain poorly understood. As do their potential impacts on the health of agroecosystems and influence on nutrient release. Therefore, this project investigated the fate, transport, and persistence of two widely available nanopesticides, an insecticide, nano-imidacloprid, and a fungicide, nano-copper hydroxide. The fate and transport in runoff water and soils of these nanopesticides, as well as their impacts on nutrients retention, were assessed through a field plot study over 2 growing seasons. Runoff from rainfall events and soil …

Safety Monitoring & Intelligent Power Distribution Systems For Compact Agricultural Equipment, Mason O. Bradley

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The agricultural industry continues to be one of the most dangerous career fields in the United States of America with compact agricultural equipment being a common source for casualties in the industry. The primary focus of this work is to develop new technology that improves operational safety of compact agricultural equipment through the use of low-cost embedded electronics. This work presents the design of three systems in alignment with this goal.

The first system aims to integrate electrical intelligence and passive safety monitoring into the power distribution system of a small piece of agricultural equipment. The system known as the …

Impacts Of Utilizing Reverse Osmosis Concentrate On Mashing, Fermentation, And Water Use In Bourbon Whiskey Production, Ryan C. Sarhan

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

This thesis addresses the feasibility of reusing reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) in the bourbon whiskey fermentation processes. Initial work compared laboratory-scale mashing and fermentation methods, demonstrating that simultaneous saccharification and fermentation reliably reflects industrial-scale processes, with lower complexity and process time. Building upon this, laboratory and distillery-scale experiments demonstrated that reusing ROC in the mashing and fermentation steps does not negatively impact ethanol yields. ROC produced by systems with a water softener was found to significantly increase mash rheology, suggesting a need for potential process adjustments. Softened ROC also altered the production of flavor-influencing volatile congeners. Under worst case conditions, …

Development Of A Cultivation System For Producing Pure Mycelium Materials From Distillers' Spent Grains, Keya Rani Roy

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Stillage is a byproduct of distilleries which is rich in organic matter, minerals, and acidic components. It is commonly used as animal feed and has high potential for use as an alternative substrate for microorganisms. Filamentous fungi are saprophytes that can utilize stillage solids to grow as threadlike mycelium. The structure and composition of the filamentous mycelium has shown promise to produce pure mycelium materials (PMM), which might have many potential applications, for instance as a leather-like material or alternative protein food ingredient. Basidiomycota fungi (including true mushrooms) species are presently used in industry to produce PMM due to the …

Development Of Non-Destructive Methods For The Detection And Quantification Of Gluten Sources In Foods, Adewale Abiola Oloyede

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Cross-contamination of food with gluten-rich grains such as wheat, barley, and rye remains a significant challenge in gluten-free food production, posing health risks to individuals with gluten-related disorders. Traditional detection methods are often time-consuming and labor-intensive, highlighting the need for rapid and reliable alternatives. This study investigates the use of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques for the detection and quantification of gluten contamination in grain-based foods through three main approaches: (i) classification of gluten source contaminants in gluten-free flour, (ii) quantification of gluten content from wheat, rye, and barley flours, and …

Characterization Of Municipal Solid Waste Using Machine Learning Based Imaging And Chemical Analysis, Enyonam Ahadzi

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023-billion-ton report, the United States generates nearly 300 million tons of municipal solid waste every year. More than 50% of that waste is underutilized and ends up in landfills. This poses serious public health and environmental risks. But beyond the environmental and health implications, this is also a wasted opportunity. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that, for every 100 lbs of waste we throw away, about 85% can be used as fuel or for electricity generation. However, its complex and heterogeneous nature poses challenges for efficient sorting and valorization in waste to …

Valorizing Municipal Solid Waste For Sustainable Aviation Fuel And Polyhydroxyalkanoate Bioplastics: Pyrolysis And Microbial Pathways, Emon Das

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The escalating global burden of municipal solid waste (MSW), projected to reach 3.88 billion tons annually by 2050, calls for innovative valorization strategies to mitigate environmental impacts and promote a circular bioeconomy. This thesis investigates the conversion of MSW into two high-value products: sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics. Chapter one presents comprehensive physicochemical characterization and pyrolysis-GC/MS analysis of MSW feedstocks. The physicochemical results reveal that densification enhances handling and storage properties, while pyrolysis-GC/MS analysis indicates that plastic-rich MSW streams produce bio-oils with favorable hydrocarbon profiles suitable for SAF production, potentially contributing to decarbonization efforts in the aviation …

Development Of Lignin Derived Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents As Sustainable Solvents And Their Applications, Yuxuan Zhang

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The development of green solvents is a pivotal endeavor in achieving the goals of green chemistry. Ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as promising green alternatives to conventional organic solvents due to their low toxicity, potential biodegradability, low volatility, and high tunability. Compared to ILs, DESs have attracted more attention recently as they are easier and less expensive to produce. Hydrophobic DESs (HDESs), a new generation of DESs introduced in 2015, have gained considerable interest for their ability to overcome the instability issues of traditional DESs when exposed to water. This advancement extensively broadens the application …

Implications Of Nanopesticides On Downstream Wetland Ecosystems, Kiley Power

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Nanopesticides are thought to be a promising course of action for reducing agricultural impacts on the environment, however, little is known regarding the fate and transport of nanopesticides, specifically their influence on downstream wetland ecosystems. The objective of this study was to assess the implications of a nano-Cu fungicide (Kocide 3000) and a neonicotinoid insecticide (imidacloprid) on downstream wetland habitats, particularly their effects on wetland nutrient cycling, using fifteen mesocosm wetlands. The complex interactions between nitrogen, Kocide 3000, and imidacloprid were found to increase nitrate removal rates, decrease phosphate removal rates, and inhibit nitrogen uptake in below-ground biomass. Each treatment, …

The Characterization, Assessment, And Shear Strength Of Turfgrass Soil In North American Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Schmitt

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Minimizing catastrophic injuries to racehorses, which also protects the riders, is critical for the future of the Thoroughbred racing industry. While the causes of catastrophic injuries are multifactorial, the condition of the racing surface is one of only a few factors that affects all horses in competition. Horse racing surfaces must retain enough shear strength to support the hoof of a Thoroughbred at a gallop. Turfgrass racing surfaces also require healthy turf to reinforce the footing while also achieving a high infiltration rate to allow races to run on the turf soon after or even during rain. This research is …

Wetland Treatment Systems For Municipal Wastewater At A Bourbon Distillery And Potential Value Of Incorporating Stillage For Water Treatment Enhancement, Katherine J. Ristola

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The use of constructed treatment wetlands, as a secondary treatment method for wastewater effluent from package treatment plants and distillery stillage has potential to be an innovative, sustainable method for improving water quality in the Central Kentucky region. However, the use of constructed wetlands to treat stillage and wastewater treatment plant effluent has been limited. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to: 1) quantify constructed wetland removal as a secondary treatment method for distillery’s wastewater; 2) explore the potential to utilize constructed treatment wetlands to remove nutrients from bourbon stillage; and 3) optimize treatment design to meet wastewater effluent …

Utilizing Isotope Tracing To Assess Land Use Implications To Tap And Stream Water Chemistry, Katrina Alexis Mcfadden

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Water quality is an issue that continues to be worsened by extreme flooding, specifically in Eastern Kentucky. The most recent 2022 flooding event in Eastern Kentucky resulted in loss of human life, over $23.3 billion in damaged infrastructure, and impaired human health. Infrastructure failures, such as leaky pipes, are a growing challenge in these regions as rebuilding has occurred. Therefore, the goal of this project was to evaluate water quality in two of the counties most impacted by the 2022 flood in Kentucky, Breathitt and Perry Counties, using sulfur isotopes as a novel tracer to identify potentially failures in distribution …

The Efficacy Of Wetland Treatment Systems Used To Treat Runoff Mixtures From Different Landscapes Across Kentucky, Emily Nottingham

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The overarching goal was to improve our understanding of the cumulative effect of increased use and occurrence of commonly detected contaminants of potential concern (CPCs) on nitrogen (N) transformation processes in wetlands. The central hypothesis was that those various mixtures of nutrients and CPCs entering treatment wetlands impact N removal pathways. The first study assessed the current state of the literature on the implications to N removal in wetlands in the presence of pesticides and antibiotics. 181 primary studies were identified. Removal efficiencies for nitrate varied widely across the studies, with CPCs impacting microbial communities. A knowledge gap remains in …

Valorization Of Bourbon Distilling Waste Using Thermal Conversion Processes For Nutrient-Rich Food Products, Tosin Olayemi Olanrewaju

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The Commonwealth of Kentucky accounts for over 95% of global bourbon production. A primary byproduct of bourbon production is stillage, which has a very high moisture content (91–94%) and high biochemical oxygen demand, making it challenging to manage. The recent expansion of the bourbon industry has heightened environmental concerns regarding the best methods to handle this byproduct. Dewatering and drying of stillage produce distillers' spent grains (DSG-B), which are rich in dietary fiber and protein and could serve as an excellent source of functional fiber in human nutrition.

This study examined the approach for dewatering, drying, inclusion of DSG-B as …

Precision Application Of Water To Equine Racing Surfaces, Sydney Rae Cannon

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

As the horseracing industry has come under more scrutiny as of late, horse and rider safety has become a priority. The best was to keep a rider safe is to keep them on their horse, and the best way to do that is to keep the horse upright. This all comes down to consistency both between tracks and across a single track. The most important method of managing track consistency is through moisture content. This study examined how track design can impact moisture application, how moisture content can impact the surface material, and what design elements can be implemented to …

Development Of Fungal Hydrogels For 3d Bioprinting And Cellular Agriculture, Lauren E. Doyle

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Hydrogel scaffolds are an important component to cellular agriculture. There is a need for a sustainable alternative to the commonly used gelatin-sodium-alginate hydrogels. Specific edible fungus species may provide a suitable alternative. Many fungi possess high protein contents, ease of cultivation, and strong functional properties. However, functional characterizations and application of fungal flour and protein extracts in cellular agriculture are lacking in the literature. Therefore, this study’s objectives were to 1) Develop processes to create functional fungal protein fractions from different fungal strains and evaluate their characteristics, and 2) Quantify the printability of the resulting fungal gels for the creation …

A Process Intensification Approach To Improve Volatile Fatty Acids Production, Extraction, And Valorization, Can Liu

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a widely used biowaste conversion method. Recent studies have explored arrested methanogenesis as an alternative approach to leverage existing AD facilities and produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs) instead of biogas. VFAs have been recognized as precursors for a range of value-added chemicals and bioproducts. Arrested methanogenesis involves inducing acidic fermentation by halting the AD process before methanogenesis. It has been found that higher organic loading and thermophilic conditions enhance VFA accumulation and stabilize the acidic fermentation (AF) system.

Brewer's spent grain (BSG), a significant by-product of the brewing industry, was employed as the feedstock for VFA …

Nanopesticide Influence On Nitrogen Cycling In Soils, Jacob Richardson

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Nanotechnology has several applications in the agricultural industry, as the small size of nanoparticles and high reactivity enables targeted delivery of pesticides and fertilizers to the intended crop. Copper-based nanopesticides such as Kocide, are proposed as a more efficient method for targeted pest control. Despite the potential benefits of nanopesticides, little is known regarding the transport and implications of nanopesticides under long-term inundation conditions often found in downstream wetlands. Specifically, the impact of nanopesticides on microbial nitrogen processes in wetland environments remains unknown. Therefore, this thesis explores the impact of nanopesticides, specifically Kocide, on microbial nitrogen cycles in agricultural and …

Densification Of Hemp Floral Biomass Pre And Post-Extraction: Determination Of Pellet Physical Characteristics, Gary Lopez

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The production of cannabidiol (CBD) from the floral material of Cannabis sativa L.is of great interest to the hemp industry. The low bulk density oh hemp floral material presents challenges in terms of storage and handling. To improve handling and storage characteristics, both intact (pre-extraction) and supercritical CO₂ extracted hemp floral materials were pelletized. Intact floral material (BaOx) was passed through a hammer mill with a 5 mm screen; while, extracted floral material (Hawaiian Haze) was ball milled through a 60 mesh (250 microns) prior to extraction. Pelletization was conducted using a 3.7 kW pilot scale flat ring …

Impact Of Physicochemical Characteristics And Distillation Parameters On The Biomethane Potential Of Bourbon Stillage, Danielle Hockensmith

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Bourbon, or whiskey, production in Kentucky has been estimated to double within the next five years and an increase in the main by-product from bourbon distillation, stillage. Stillage is composed mostly of water along with the fermented grains after distillation. Stillage is expensive to dispose of and difficult to store due to the high biodegradability, posing a risk to the environment given the low pH and high chemical oxygen demand (COD). Anaerobic digestion has been identified as a potential solution for stillage valorization, but little research has been performed. Stillage from different mash bills has varying physicochemical properties, total solids …

Fate And Transport Of Emerging Contaminants Entering, Leaving, And Flowing Past Wastewater Treatment Plants In Central Kentucky, Kyra Sigler

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and neonicotinoid insecticides are two classes of emerging contaminants that have been recently detected in many environmental compartments. Both have been associated with negative impacts on humans and the environment. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as likely hotspots for introduction of these contaminants into the environment. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of PFAS and neonicotinoids in two WWTPs in Central Kentucky. Polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) were deployed in WWTP influent and effluent and placed upstream and downstream of the effluent mixing zone (EMZ) for two …

Microalgae Immobilization With Filamentous Fungi: Process Development For Sustainable Food Systems, Suvro Talukdar

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Demand for sustainable food sources has increased because of the rapid growth of the world's population.  In this study, microalgae cells of Haematococcus pluvialis were immobilized using the edible fungal strain Aspergillus awamori for potential food applications. The study investigated the impact of fungal loading, pellet geometry, and initial microalgae cell concentration on the immobilization performance and product characteristics. It was found that higher fungal loading and larger fungal pellets contributed to increased immobilization performance while increased initial microalgae concentration inhibited the process. Larger fungal pellets had decreased biomass density, which led to decreased surface concentration of immobilized microalgae but …

Fate And Transport Of Nanopesticides In Agricultural Field Plots In Central Kentucky, William D. Rud

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Due to a growing world population, pesticide applications are necessary part to increasing agricultural production on the same arable land, but this has created environmental contamination, human toxicity, and endangerment to non-target species (i.e, honeybees, monarch butterflies) from bulk pesticide application. Nanoengineered particles or ENP are a potential solution with increased efficiency, longer duration, and enhanced stability of pesticides due to their unique formulations at smaller sizes. However, the potential long-term impact to agroecosystems is still unknown. Therefore, the goal of this project was to evaluate the fate, transport, impact, and persistence of two commercially available nanopesticides (copper hydroxide and …

Applying Hermetic Storage And Multiple Abiotic-Stressed Germinations To Actuate Desirable Effects In Wheat Phytochemistry, Food, And Biological Functionalities, Bababode Kehinde

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Wheat is one of the most widely consumed staple foods in the world, supplying both nutritional and caloric requirements for billions of people. The rising global population and increased food demand behooves all stakeholders across the wheat supply chain to significantly increase their output and efficiency. Beyond the target for increased farm yields, dietary, nutritional, and health requirements along with their continuous supply must be satisfied with improved storage and processing schemes. Post-harvest changes in wheat can result in a significant reduction in its quality. Such losses could be qualitative and/or quantitative, impacting its physical, physiological, organoleptic, and nutritional attributes. …

Improving Indoor Arenas For The Equine Industry, Staci Mcgill

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Equine indoor arenas are a unique infrastructure investment found at equine farms and facilities. They are semi-indoor structures for exercising horses, exhibiting skills during competitive events, and other equine related activities. These spaces do not always include mechanical ventilation or stirring fans and occupancy by horses and humans can be sporadic and inconsistent, which creates a challenging space for understanding and predicting airflow. Typically, indoor arenas have a sand-based footing over which the horse travels. The impact of the hooves can cause dust to become a concern within the facilities. Environmental concerns within these facilities (temperature, respirable dust, moisture, and …

Unmanned Aircraft Systems For Precision Meteorology: An Analysis Of Gnss Position Measurement Error And Embedded Sensor Development, Karla S. Ladino

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The overarching objective of this research was to enhance our comprehension of the three-dimensional precision of meteorological measurements obtained using small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Two complimentary experiments were conducted to achieve this objective.

The first experiment entailed the development and implementation of a system to determine the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) position accuracy on a UAS platform. This system was utilized to assess the static and dynamic accuracy of L1 and L1/L2 GNSS receivers in real-time kinematic (RTK) and non-RTK fix modes. Adjusted two-sample t-tests revealed significant differences in horizontal and vertical error between RTK and non-RTK receivers …

Life Cycle Assessment Of Air Classification As A Sulfur Mitigation Technology In Pine Residue Feedstocks, Ashlee Edmonson

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Sulfur accumulation during biofuel production is pollutive, toxic to conversion catalysts, and causes the premature breakdown of processing equipment. Air classification is an effective preprocessing technology for ash and sulfur removal from biomass feedstocks. A life cycle assessment (LCA) sought to understand the environmental impacts of implementing air classification as a sulfur-mitigation technique for pine residues. Energy demand and material balance for preprocessing were simulated using SimaPro and the Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET model, specifically focusing on comparing the global warming potential (GWP) of grid electricity versus bioelectricity scenarios. Overall, the grid electricity scenario had a GWP impact over 7 …

The Response Of Beef Cattle To Disturbances From Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Uavs), Gabriel Abdulai

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly becoming common in animal agriculture. However, research regarding the impact of UAV disturbance on animal wellbeing is lacking or limited. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of UAV flights on beef cattle by measuring cattle heart and movement rate when introduced to single or multiple UAV flights. A total of 16 -18 crossbred beef heifers were introduced to different flights patterns at between 5 and 9 m above ground level (AGL) at approximately 1 to 2 m/s horizontal velocity for 4 weeks with flights repeated 3 days per week. Results …