Disposable paper (DP) cups, a staple in on-the-go beverage culture, contribute to environmental challenges due to non-biodegradable polyethylene (PE) liners. This research presents an eco-friendly alternative, harnessing fungal mycelium with North American wetland biomass. The study involves the evaluation of three fungal species—Ganoderma lucidum, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Polyporus squamosus to produce mycelium composite materials. These fungi are cultivated on canola straw (Brassica napus L.) and cattail substrates (Typha sp.) Among them, Ganoderma lucidum demonstrates superior mycelial growth and structural integrity when paired with cattail substrate over a 14-day period. The cultivation process involves utilizing Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) for initial growth assessment, with subsequent optimization achieved through Yeast Extract Peptone Dextrose (YEPD) liquid media. The mycelium composite demonstrates several promising attributes, including notable thermal stability exceeding 260 °C, inherent hydrophobic properties surpassing a 100° water contact angle, and biodegradability within 45 to 60 days. Despite advancements in mycelium cup production, challenges related to cup morphology, labor-intensive processes, warranting ongoing research. To address this, alternative methodologies, including mycelium composite sheets, are explored for potential industrial-scale production pathways. However, challenges persist in mycelium composite sheet brittleness and low mechanical properties compared to traditional paper. Results highlight a need for further research and optimization, proposing strategies such as utilizing alkali-treated fibers, incorporating biopolymer as a binder. This research affirms mycelium materials as a sustainable alternative in beverage cup production, showcasing positive results in thermal stability, hydrophobicity, and biodegradability. Addressing mechanical shortcomings is crucial, urging ongoing research for successful integration into mainstream use.

Cattail biomass is an abundant, low-cost source of fiber in the Prairie region. While eco-friendly disposable tableware has been developed using non-wood biomass, no studies have investigated the use of waste fibrous Cattail biomass to produce paper combined with a biodegradable PLA polymer coating to make fully compostable beverage cups. In the current research, fibers were extracted from the leaves of Cattail plants (32% yield) using optimized alkali retting of 2.5% NaOH at 90 °C for 4 hours and used to manufacture paper sheets. The optimal pulping process involved a 1.5% consistency, and a blending time of 3.5 minutes, with beating agitation at 2,300 rpm. The average weight and thickness of the paper sheets produced were 282 g/m2 and 0.70 mm, respectively, and the tensile index, modulus, and bursting index were found to be 14.11 Nm/g, 1.06 GPa, and 0.04 kPa.m2/g. The cattail paper-coated sheets were manufactured by spraying 4 layers of Polylactic acid (PLA) polymer solution (3%, 4%, and 5% w/v in dichloromethane solvent) onto the paper sheets, using compressed air (15 psi), at room temperature. The polymer-coated paper sheets were tested for mechanical (tensile & bursting strength), thermal (thermal conductivity), and hydrodynamic (wettability) properties. Investigation of optimum polymer coating application considering coated paper sheet characterization as well as comparing to available commercial coffee cup-grade paper sheets are currently ongoing. Finally, this study will enable the development of affordable, environmentally friendly paper cups for the food and beverage industry and provide an opportunity to maximize the utilization of local biomass resources.

Canola fiber is a renewable resource for producing structural and non-structural biocomposite materials due to its abundance, low cost, and low density. Canola stalks, typically discarded after harvesting the seeds for oil, were used in this study to produce biobased fiber. Canola fibers were extracted using a mechanized water retting system. The retting parameters were optimized by manipulating the water flow rate (between 50 and 150 ml/min), retting time (25 and 47 h), and temperature (30 and 60°C). The fibers acquired through water retting persist as fiber bundles. Hence, the fibers were further treated with KOH solution at 90°C. The concentration of KOH and the treatment time were varied between 0.5 – 5% and 10 – 180 min, respectively, to investigate the optimal treatment conditions for refining the fibers, which were subsequently used to manufacture the mats. Alkalized canola fibers exhibited ∼51 and 92% reductions in fiber weight and diameter, respectively, compared to control fibers obtained through water retting alone. The removal of lignin and wax from canola fiber during alkalization is believed to have enhanced its refinement, resulting in a decrease in both fiber weight and diameter. The fibers obtained after alkalization were preformed into mat by laying the fibers manually. Canola fiber composites were manufactured using vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) and cured at room temperature for 24 h. Cured canola composites were tested for density and mechanical properties and compared with those of composites with cattail, flax, and hemp to evaluate the suitability of canola fibers in composite applications

Brassica fibre, also known as canola fibre, has gained attention in recent years due to its natural abundance using waste stream of canola seed. It is being considered for application in textiles and composites, driven by environmental concerns with other fibres, such as cotton and polyester. This fibre requires water retting for separation from the plant stalks. The retting performance of fibres under different water heights and altered water flow rates was studied using a retting chamber fabricated by the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba. The statistical data on fibre surface geometry and fibre yield (%) show that there is no significant difference for water height variation (N=12), as well as water flow rate in the retting chamber. When waterfalls, it experiences a frictional drag that counteracts the downward force of gravity. When gravity and frictional drag are balanced, water drops reach an equilibrium fall speed known as the terminal velocity of the object, which remains relatively consistent along the fall path. The outcome of the research revealed the utilized design of the retting chamber is efficient for variable water height and positioning of fibre stalks in crates on different heights along its body.

Canola fiber is produced from the stalks using water and alkaline retting. However, it is currently impractical to produce canola fiber for commercial usage because it relies on hand-extraction techniques. A separating equipment is fabricated in this study to mechanically decorticate the fibers from canola stalks, which consists of a pair of feed rollers and brushing rollers, control unit, and a storage container. The machine uses retted canola stalks as an input and utilizes a combination of pressure and friction based separation. The stalks are fed into the lower brushing rollers via the upper feed rollers, where the feed rollers apply gripping and compression forces to propel the stalks toward the brushing rollers. The brushing rollers provide an abrasive texture that facilitates the wiping action on the retted stalks, leading to disruption of adhesion between the fibrous component and the woody core. The stalks are then carried through a storage container, where the separated fibers and woody cores are collected. The retting condition (time), roller speed, distance between the rollers determine the separation efficiency and quality. Hence, the experiments for fiber production using this equipment are repeated for moderately and over retted stalks by varying the roller speeds between 16 and 64 rpm, adjusting the relative speeds within the brushing rollers between 1:1 and 1:3, and varying the distances between brushing rollers from -1 to +1 mm to determine optimal process parameters. The decorticated fibers were tested for physical and morphological properties and compared with those obtained from hand-extraction method

This study aims to optimize compression molding parameters for recycled tire rubber to enhance mechanical properties while reducing dependency on binders. In the tire recycling process, tires undergo shredding and granulation to separate the rubber, steel wires, and fibers. While all three components are recyclable, fibers are commonly disposed of in landfills. As recycled tire rubber is typically vulcanized, recycling of Ground Tire Rubber (GTR) commonly involves the use of binders and additives. This research seeks to reduce or eliminate the need for binders and investigate the incorporation of fibers to mitigate the environmental and economic impact. We explore the influence of temperature and pressure on the compaction and sintering of GTR particles with and without binders, fibers, and additives. By varying the molding parameters, we aim to enhance bonding among GTR powder, potentially eliminating or reducing the requirement for binders and additives. This research holds significant implications for waste management in the tire recycling industry, offering potential pathways towards more sustainable and cost-effective practices. The findings provide innovative techniques for utilizing recycled tire rubber in various applications, thereby reducing landfill waste and promoting environmental sustainability.

Disease transmission is a critical issue in the swine industry, and transport trailers are one of the routes of pathogen transmission between farms, significantly impacting animal health and the economy. In this study, electro-nanospray units were installed in an innovative prototype livestock trailer to assess the efficacy of the treatment units in preventing/minimizing the spread of diseases in animals during transport. This technology generates engineered water nanostructures (EWNS), which are responsible for bacterial inactivation through electrospraying and ionization of water. Two electro-nanospray units, each consisting of 16 spray injectors and housed in polycarbonate chambers, were installed inside the animal front compartment of the trailer. One Control and two Treatment sets of tests were performed during transport of pigs within and nearby towns of Saskatoon. The electro-nanospray units were turned on before starting the Treatment trip. Air quality and surface microbial population were monitored during each test/trip. Sampling was performed in the animal compartment at the start (after loading of pigs), in the middle, and at the end of the trip to collect samples. In the middle and end of the trials, average reductions in culturable bacteria were 40+-2% and 16+-6%, respectively. Additionally, a 24+-2% reduction in dust was achieved. Reductions in the microbial population on the metal surfaces of the animal compartment were also observed, with 78+-15% in the middle and 85+-15% at the end of the trial. These results indicate that the environmentally friendly electro-nanospray system can mitigate the transmission of dust and pathogens during the transport of pigs.

Stand-off pads (SOP) are uncovered outdoor yards built with absorbent materials overlying an impermeable lining with drainage pipes discharging into a manure tank, where cattle can be raised to minimize the environmental impact associated with nutrient runoff and gas emissions from manure management. Consequently, they emerge as a prospective alternative to traditional wintering pens, facilitating movement opportunities for dairy cows confined to tie-stalls. The objective of this study was to validate the potential of an improved SOP concept, composed of a filtering mixture aerated with the exhaust air from the adjacent barn, in contrast to a conventional wintering pen (WP), to provide outdoor exercise to dairy cows housed year-round in tie-stalls in the province of Quebec, Canada.

Both SOP and WP (28 m2) housed one Holstein dairy cow during 1.5 h, twice daily (morning and afternoon), throughout two 9-week periods (summer and winter). Results showed that the SOP was more efficient in removing biological oxygen demand, COD, TN, suspended solids, and E. coli (32.9, 194.2, 19.8, and 24.3 mg L−1, and 2.2 CFU 100-1 mL-1, respectively), relative to WP (95.3, 379.5, 54.2, and 43 mg L−1, and 197 CFU 100-1 mL-1, respectively). Aeration did not improve the removal of contaminants in the SOP but resulted in lower methane and nitrous oxide emissions compared to WP. A nitrogen balance was also calculated, obtaining 62% recovery for SOP and 45% in WP. The improved SOP represents a feasible solution for implementing environmentally compliant dairy cow exercise pen.

Animal transportation has proven to play a vital role in disseminating airborne viruses, thus a prototype trailer fitted with air filtration and ventilation systems was developed to protect the animals from airborne transmissible diseases during transport. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the filtered trailer in maintaining a pathogen-free environment inside the trailer loaded with pigs under actual transport conditions. Disease-challenge tests were conducted with the trailer filtration system in operation (Treatment) and without the filtration system (Control). For each test, a group of 10 pigs was loaded in the trailer, transported to a swine influenza A virus (IAV)-positive swine barn, and then the trailer was exposed to the exhaust air from the barn for 14 hours. After exposure, the pigs were observed for any clinical signs and symptoms of IAV infection for 14 days. Nasal swabs and blood samples were collected for serological testing to confirm infection. Results of the five completed disease-challenge tests showed that pigs in the trailer with an air filtration system remained healthy, and all blood and nasal swab samples collected were negative for IAV. However, pigs in the trailer without an air filtration system started to show signs and symptoms of IAV infection on Day 5 after the exposure. In addition, 7 out of 10 pigs were tested positive for IAV on Day 7. This result demonstrates that the air filtration system installed in the prototype trailer was capable of preventing airborne entry of pathogens into the animal compartment.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) persists as a significant threat to our society, with increasing implications for the health and productivity of livestock industry. An integral aspect of antimicrobial stewardship programs involves the efficient monitoring of the transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) from farm animals to manure and subsequently into the broader environment. This underscores the imperative for establishing comprehensive databases of ARGs that are specific to the microbiomes of economically significant species of farm animals. In this project, we conducted whole-genome sequencing of 130 bacteria isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of healthy pigs. The primary objective was to construct a thorough database encompassing prevalent ARGs found in the pig gut. Bioinformatics tools such as the Resistance Gene Identifier (RGI) and Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD) were used to screen genomes for the presence of ARGs, resulting in the identification of 323 ARGs across 117 genomes. Genes predicted to confer resistance against tetracycline, lincosamide, beta-lactams, and fluoroquinolone were the most prevalent across all genomes. Importantly, our analysis extended to screening the adjacent regions of ARGs for the presence of signature genes of mobile genetic elements (MGEs), to assess potential transmissibility to other bacterial species. Of the identified ARGs, 60 were associated with various classes of MGEs, encompassing integrative and conjugative elements (n=36), bacteriophages (n=8), plasmids (n=3), and other potentially conjugative elements. Overall, our findings underscore the widespread presence of ARGs, including those conferring resistance to medically significant antimicrobials, across diverse lineages of the swine gut microbiota.

In cold-climate regions such as Saskatchewan, pigs are typically raised in fully enclosed and insulated barns which are heated using fossil fuels to keep the animals under optimal conditions for growth. However, with increasing electricity costs across the country, keeping the thermal demand in every barn brings setbacks to pig farmer’s financial income. Aside from that, existing environmental temperature recommendations for raising pigs were developed decades ago, and modern pigs nowadays are significantly different in terms of physiology and genetics, and housing systems have also evolved considerably compared to decades ago. Previous studies have shown that pigs prefer environmental temperatures significantly lower than the current industry setpoints. However, there is still critical need to evaluate the impact of raising sows at their preferred temperature on their long-term reproductive performance and welfare. The main goal of this study is to determine the optimum environmental temperature requirements of sows to reduce energy costs and environmental footprint while maintaining their overall productivity and performance. A series of experiments was conducted in two identical sow rooms at the Prairie Swine Centre barn facility, configured for group housing system. One room was designated as Control with the temperature maintained at current conventional setpoint of 16.5 °C, while another room designated as Treatment had temperature maintained at 8 °C, which was determined from a previous related study. The impact of this optimized temperature management approach on long-term reproductive performance and welfare of sows as well as on energy consumption and environmental carbon footprint will be presented.

The production and emission of particulate matter and greenhouse gases during egg production in layer facilities is connected with environmental pollution which consequently affects the public health and bird welfare. Ammonia (NH3) and airborne particulate matter (PM) are identified as the two major pollutants emitted from layer facilities. While nitrogenous compounds present in the poultry litter are the potential sources of NH3 production; airborne PM originates from the bird’s feather, skin, dander, excreta, bedding material, and existing microorganisms. Particulate matter in the PM10 and PM2.5 fraction are of particular interest primarily due to their capability of entering the respiratory system. The emitted ammonia can further react with acidic gases to produce secondary aerosols (SA). These aerosols are typically in the very fine size fraction and contribute to the formation of finer particulate matter (PM2.5). Furthermore, the emitted ammonia may be converted to nitrous oxide (N2O), which is a potent greenhouse gas. Due to animal welfare considerations, the egg production industry is transitioning from conventional battery cage system towards alternative systems (enriched cage, free-run (single-tier, and aviary), and free-range). Recent research indicates that alternative systems demonstrate higher emission rates, therefore it is vital to adopt efficient emission control strategies. Several management and control strategies are being developed which can be divided into four main categories: end-of-pipe treatment of the ventilation air, oil and water spraying, litter and manure amendments, and dietary manipulation. The current review aims to present the state of the science air pollution management strategies of poultry layer facilities.

Animal manures are a hotspot for the transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance bacteria (ARB). This study aimed to determine the microbial groups associated with ARGs and Mobile Genetic Elements (MGEs) in bovine manures. Forty manure samples were collected, comprising 12 untreated and 28 subjected to various treatments: mesophilic anaerobic digestion (MAD, n = 15), thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TAD, n = 7), aerobic storage (n = 2), and the solids (n = 2) and liquids (n = 2) from a bedding recovery unit (BRU). DNA extraction and sequencing were conducted using an Illumina Miseq 250PE platform. Metagenomic reads were analyzed using diverse bioinformatic tools to determine microbial communities and ARG and MGE profiles. Spearman correlation and a co-occurrence model were employed to identify potential microbial groups linked with ARGs and MGEs. Results revealed that the phyla Bacillota and Pseudomonadota exhibited the highest number of microbial genera significantly and positively correlated with ARGs and MGEs, while Bacillota and Euryarchaeota showed negative correlations. Machine Learning techniques were employed to fit metagenomic data to simple regression models. The results indicated that total MGE levels served as a robust predictor of total ARG levels (R2 = 0.71). Furthermore, the relative abundance of Bacillota, Pseudomonadota, and Bacteroidota emerged as strong predictors (R2 = 0.66) for total ARG levels. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into microbial groups potentially harboring ARGs and MGEs, offering a foundation for developing targeted interventions to manage and mitigate Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in animal manures.

Panama, a country located in Central America, has made significant efforts in terms of transitioning from fossil fuels towards renewable sources of energy. However, the country still faces the challenge of having a diversified and balanced energy mix. This study assesses the availability and shows the spatial distribution of biomass derived from agricultural residues throughout the country at the municipal level. To assess the amounts of residues available for bioenergy purposes, statistical data on crop production, residues-to-product ratios and correction factors were used. The correction factors refer to the fractions of residues that must be disregarded due to soil conservation and sustainability purposes, animal feeding, and handling losses. Geographical Information System (GIS) based maps were also developed to show the distribution of residues available throughout the country at the municipal level. It was identified that the main producers of residues are sugarcane, corn, rice, red kidney bean and vigna bean, generating a total of 400 k dry t of residues annually. Chiriquí, Veraguas, Coclé, Los Santos and Herrera, are the provinces of Panama with the greatest potential, accounting for 93% of the total available residues of the country. Based on the findings of this study, agricultural residues represent an important opportunity for Panama to increase the accessibility and diversification of renewable sources of energy in the country. The developed framework can be used for assessment of residues in different jurisdictions globally.

Pulse starch side streams have become abundantly available due to the increased demand for pulse proteins in the context of sustainable food production and sustainable diets. These pulse starches are of low value. Generating high-value bioproducts from them will create new market opportunities while addressing a circular economy and sustainable model for the total utilization of agri-food feedstocks in western Canada. Therefore, this project aimed to use side-stream pea starch to produce biobutanol. Upon enzymatic saccharification of the pea starch to release glucose, anaerobic bacterial strains, Clostridium acetobutylicum and C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum, were used to produce butanol. Initially, percentage ranges of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% (w/v) pea starch were tested to determine the optimal conditions for saccharification and maximum release of glucose. A 50% (w/v) saccharified pea starch released sufficient glucose (158.0 ± 0.7 g/L) to grow the bacterial strains in ten fermentative processes over 24 hours for biobutanol production. From 500 mL working volumes in anaerobic bottles, we tested a 5 L working volume of the diluted saccharified starch in a 10 L fermenter. Compared to the 500 mL, higher levels of butanol were produced in the 10 L fermenter. The Clostridial fermentative process also generates acetone, ethanol, and butanol through the well-established Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE) pathway. The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) results showed butanol concentrations ranged from 4.4 – 5.67 g/L. These preliminary results will be improved with further optimization and removal of toxicity effects of accumulated butanol.

This research presents the findings of an experimental study to assess H2 production from Canadian agricultural and forest biomass residues. The investigation utilized a 2 kg hr-1 lab-scale unit that includes an intermediate pyrolysis and thermo-reforming reactor, known as TCR. The aim is to evaluate the process performance by conducting feedstock and parametric experiments. While there has been extensive research on biomass gasification for H2 production, pyrolysis remains relatively unexplored. The study focused on understanding the impact of various pelletized feedstocks and operating conditions on the yield of H2-rich syngas. The tests were conducted across various temperatures, spanning from 400 to 550 °C for the reactor and from 500 to 700 °C for the reformer. The results indicate that the synthesis gas output fluctuates between approximately 45% and 70%. Among the diverse experimental conditions investigated, the H2 yield potential was found to be most responsive to changes in the temperature of the reactor-reformer, exhibiting variations from 24% to 35%. Furthermore, the method could generate economically valuable high-quality bio-oil (HHV: 30.92 to 37.28 MJ kg-1) and biochar (HHV: 33.73 to 30.50 MJ kg-1). TCR bio-oil, designed for higher quality (O/C: 0.07 to 0.16) compared to fast pyrolysis bio-oil, demands less pretreatment in subsequent processing within conventional refineries. This study's outcomes provide valuable insights for future research, particularly in the economic assessment and implementation of this technology on industrial and pilot plant scales. This underscores the significance of pyrolysis, filling a research gap compared to the well-studied area of biomass gasification.

In response to the global imperative for sustainable energy solutions, biofuels have emerged as renewable and potentially carbon-neutral alternatives to fossil fuels. Microbial lipids from oleaginous yeasts offer promising pathways for sustainable biofuel production. One such oleaginous yeast, Rhodosporidium toruloides, an oleaginous yeast, distinguished by its lipid accumulation capacity and ability to metabolize diverse substrates and tolerate toxic compounds. However, R. toruloides implementation is limited due to its lower C5 consumption ability of xylose, which is the second most abundant sugar in lignocellulosic biomass-based hydrolysates. This study focused on enhancing the xylose uptake efficiency of R. toruloides-1588 through adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) to improve its bioconversion capabilities. R. toruloides was evolved in minimal media with 10 g/L xylose over 13 generations. The evolved strain showed 80% increase in the xylose consumption rate, with complete xylose assimilation and about 30% increase in biomass within 16 h compared to the native strain. This advancement not only demonstrated the potential of ALE in optimizing microbial strains for biofuel production but also set a precedent for the efficient use of lignocellulosic biomass, contributing to the development of more sustainable and cost-effective biofuel production processes. Further research into the genetic modifications in Rhodosporidium toruloides using genome sequencing and proteomics will help in understanding how these changes improve xylose utilization This will offer strategic targets for future bioengineering endeavours in the biofuel industry.

Industrial biotechnology can change how we manufacture many products (i.e., biofuels, biopolymers and other chemical building blocks) toward a renewable and more sustainable future. These processes usually rely on heterotrophic metabolism, in which an organic carbon molecule (glucose, glycerol, plant-based oils) is converted to other products through the pathways of specific microbes. In the current economic climate, these bio-based alternatives are expected to compete with low-priced petroleum, and sources of organic carbon account for 40-50% of the process costs, yet as much as 50% of the carbon is lost as CO2 under aerobic conditions. Further, this practice links the ecological footprint of supposedly ‘green’ products to that of the agriculture sector while also competing for productive acres that could otherwise be used to feed an increasing world population. It is therefore important to look to waste materials to produce high-volume, lower-value chemical commodities. Carbon dioxide is arguably the largest and most problematic source of anthropogenic waste, that can be captured by certain species of chemolithoautotrophic bacteria called hydrogen oxidizing bacteria (HOB). This talk will explore the potential, challenges, and limitations of HOBs to be used as a carbon capture and valorization to biofuels, polymers, and other products of interest. This is pursued with the motivation of developing CO2-based biorefinery that could reduce pressure on agricultural lands for production of high-volume chemical commodities This vision can contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals pertaining to climate, clean energy, hunger, as well as responsible production.

Butyric acid is a valuable platform chemical with a market value of upto 2500 USD/t and a broad range of applications in the pharmaceutical, food, polymer, and perfume industry. It’s production has been previously studied using various substrates and specific bacterial species. However, the fermentation of food waste offers a more sustainable and economical alternative. This study compares the acidogenic fermentation for volatile fatty acid (VFA) production at psychrophilic temperature against mesophilic temperature as it requires lesser energy input, especially in colder countries. The experiment, conducted at 37°C, 27°C, and 17°C, revealed distinct pH trend and VFA profiles. While the pH decreases rapidly to more acidic levels under mesophilic conditions, it is slower at 17°C, indicating delayed acidogenesis at lower temperatures. This maintenance of pH around 6 at 17°C, however, supported specific microbial activity, influencing VFA composition. Propionic acid concentration decreased at 17°C, which is in contrast with digestion studies performed at psychrophilic temperature. Notably, butyric acid became undetectible at 37°C, while sustaining longer at 17°C with 7-8 fold concentration of 500 mg/L, likely due to favourable pH conditions and lesser competition from competing microbial species. This prolonged presence of butyric acid at lower temperatures offers opportunities for enhanced production and prevention of its conversion to other compounds. The findings suggest potential strategies for optimizing VFA production at psychrophilic temperatures, including pretreatment, pH control, and extended retention times to promote butyric acid accumulation. Further exploration of microbial diversity could highlight metabolic pathways contributing to sustained butyric acid at low temperatures.

The evolution of sustainability has heightened the importance of circular business models, particularly in the food industry. Thus, stakeholders in the food system are increasingly focused on finding ways to valorize co/byproducts throughout the value chain, aiming to reduce global waste, enhance resource efficiency, and bolster sustainability. However, challenges persist in the form of a lack of a comprehensive framework guiding agro-industrial practices and difficulties in assessing the sustainability implications of circular pathways before implementation. Stakeholder engagement, particularly on the consumer side, is identified as a significant gap, introducing uncertainties about public interest and the commercial success of circular interventions. To address these challenges and foster a sustainable circular bioeconomy, a holistic accounting framework is proposed. This framework integrates stakeholder engagement, value chain analysis, sustainability assessment, and multicriteria decision analysis. It intends to provide an adaptable guideline to enable the co-creation of optimal, sustainable, and high-value upcycling solutions for a given system, especially while the concept gradually peaks and transitions to the commercial niche. The framework utilizes life cycle assessment and costing for environmental and economic analysis, introducing a novel employment index as a social metric. The sustainability metrics are modeled into a multivariable index, the circular bioeconomy index (CBI), to facilitate efficient communication of circular bioeconomy performance to non-technical stakeholders. Additionally, a multicriteria decision analysis approach, BWM-CoCoSo, is deployed as a robust approach for multiobjective trade-off analysis to facilitate policy and business actions toward identifying optimal circular bioeconomy decisions that align with predefined sustainability decision contexts.

Farms and agro-industrial processes generate wastewater that may exceed discharge quality criteria bringing risks to the environment. In maple syrup production, wastewater from equipment washing is strongly alkaline or acidic due to the characteristics of the soaps. To limit the impacts associated to wastewater management, it is necessary to assess treatment strategies that are simple, efficient, cost-effective, and adaptable to the sector. This study aimed to validate the manual neutralization as a strategy for treating wastewater from the reverse osmosis machine washing processes in maple industry. A wastewater characterization was conducted in 2022-2023 covering 56 alkaline washes and 14 acidic washes. Parameters such as pH, conductivity, phosphorus, suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, and total nitrogen were monitored at 5-minute intervals up to 20 minutes or the end of each wash. Three neutralizing agents were proposed for neutralization citric acid, sodium hydroxide and sodium bicarbonate. A calculation tool was developed to determine the required neutralizing agent quantity based on soap type, amount, and solution volume used in the washes. For alkaline washes, the critical volume accumulation time for neutralization occurs within the first 15 minutes, while for acidic washes, it extends beyond 25 minutes. A subset of characterization samples was used to validate the tool's accuracy, achieving a pH range of 6 to 9.5 (regulation limits) after neutralization process. The validation of the tool will continue throughout 2024 in 4 maples facilities, with results to be presented subsequently.

Bacterial resistance in human and animal waste streams has been identified as a major concern for the environment and human health. While it is commonly understood that the presence of antibiotics (above minimum selective concentrations) drive selection of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (ARBs) and Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs), increasing evidence suggests that environmental conditions may also significantly effect the selection and proliferation of resistance genes. In the present study shotgun metagenomic Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and open source bioinformatic tools, in tandem with High Performance Computing (HPC), were used to investigate the water chemistry effects of three different biological treatments (macrophyte engineered floating wetland, duckweed, and algae) on corresponding microbial diversity and resistance in wastewater. Mesocosms (in triplicate per treatment) were studied over a 100 day growth period. TP, pH, DO, COD, and heavy metals were measured throughout the study. The results showed significant ( p < 0.05) treatment effect on water chemistry and nutrients (TP, pH, DO, COD, and heavy metals), as well as, microbial taxonomy, ARGs, Mobile Genetic Elements (MGEs), and Metal Resistant Genes (MRGs). Strong correlation (r > 0.7, p < 0.05) was found to exist between key water parameters and microbial diversity (and resistance). The results suggest that water chemistry parameters play a critical role in microbial diversity and genetic selection. The results support further investigation into the implementation of engineered biological treatment systems to alter microbial water column microbial resistance.

In Canada, the extremely high concentrations of dissolved organic and inorganic material in surface waters make potable water production very challenging. Unfortunately, nanofiltration (NF) membranes, widely utilized to purify these sources, experience serious fouling, increasing the associated cost. A comprehensive investigation of NF fouling is necessary to prevent or mitigate this phenomenon and increase access to NF technology, especially for small and remote communities. We conducted analytical, spectroscopic, and chromatographic experiments on water and fouled NF membrane samples from a water treatment pilot plant supplied by a challenging water source (Assiniboine River) at Brandon, MB. NF hydrogel-like foulant was ~97% organic. The mechanically removed foulant (MRF) comprised similar fractions of low molecular weight & building blocks (<1 kDa; 28.3%), humic substances (1–20 kDa; 38.7%), and biopolymers (>20 kDa; 33.1%). However, part of the foulant, mostly hydrophobic and 95.4% low molecular weight & building blocks, remained strongly attached to the NF membrane surface and pores, implying this would be difficult to clean. Also, calcium and magnesium (water hardness) bridge the organic substances, promoting NF fouling. Likely, the higher biopolymer fraction in the MRF caused most of the fouling. Researchers have associated some of those biopolymers with a microbiological origin. Thus, the microbes found in water and NF foulant may be contributing significantly to the fouling development by producing or shedding the polymers. We are currently performing deep-amplicon sequencing and Nanopore metagenomics on microbial DNA to identify the microbial community composition and its possible influence on the NF foulant formation.