@masterthesis{Szewczyk, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Szewczyk, Mateusz}, title = {A Novel Multiphase Slug Flow Tubular Photobioreactor for the Cultivation of Unicellular Photosynthetic Organisms}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-2488}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {70}, abstract = {Microalgae cultivation offers a sustainable alternative to another production organisms that are used in biotechnological industry - since they are able to remove carbon dioxide from atmosphere and various nutrients from wastewater, converting them into various products. However, due to lack of efficient and cost-effective cultivation methods, the development of this branch of biotechnology is not as rapid as anticipated. This thesis introduces a novel multiphase slug flow tubular photobioreactor as a potential solution to some of the aforementioned problems. The novel photobioreactor combines the advantages of slug flow regime and tubular photobioreactors: enhanced mass transfer and mixing rates as well as enlarged illumination area. The main goal of this thesis was the construction and implementation of this novel photobioreactor design. In order to achieve this, various experiments have been conducted, including toxicity assessment of organic solvents and hydrodynamics tests of the three-phase slug flow into long microchannels. The toxicity assessment revealed that n-decane and sunflower oil are the most biocompatible of the tested solvents. It was also found that all the examined alkanes allow fairly stable slug flow generation in a 1mm ID capillary as opposed to sunflower oil, which was found not suitable for that capillary diameter, as it caused its blockage. The results of the final experiment reveal that there is still a lot of room for improvement in the novel photobioreactor concept, as it was found that the biomass concentration decreases over time of cultivation. It was hypothesized that the reason for the cell number decrease is the improved mixing and mass transfer rate that enhanced toxicity of the organic solvent.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Zlati, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Zlati, Felicia}, title = {Production and detection of polyhydroxybutyrate by Azohydromonas lata}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-3905}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {76}, abstract = {The aim of the project was to produce, identify and quantify PHB. The bacterial strain Azohydromonas lata was cultured in multiple batch processes and the accumulation of biopolymer was observed. The following results were obtained after 50 hours of a 3L batch fermentation: a dry cell weight of 3.197 g/L, a PHB concentration of 1.939 g/L and a PHB content of 60.65\%. Subsequently, the same set-up was extrapolated to an 8L batch fermentation, which yielded in a dry cell weight, PHB concentration and PHB content of 2.964 g/L, 1.090 g/L and 36.79\%, respectively. The synthesized biopolymer was recovered from the bacterial cells in two ways, namely by SDS digestion and by chloroform Soxhlet extraction. Afterwards, three analytical methods were tested for detecting and quantifying the produced PHB. Fermentation samples stained with the Nile Red dye were analysed with both fluorescence microscopy and spectrofluorometry, and the presence of PHB granules could be confirmed. Both methods showed promising results, but further optimization is still necessary. Finally, the chloroform extracted PHB samples were successfully analysed using HPLC. The HPLC method proved to reliably identify and to relatively accurately quantify the recovered PHB.}, language = {en} } @misc{KC, type = {Master Thesis}, author = {K C, Manoj}, title = {Material uses of nut and other fruit shells}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-8755}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {108}, abstract = {This review paper focused on the potential uses of nut and fruit shells. Based on the information from several kinds of literature, the composition of nut and fruit shells were studied, and the shells demonstrated the possibility to produce a wide range of materials such as bio-adsorbent like activated carbon; construction materials like concrete block, earth block, bricks, cement, etc.; and bio-composites like WPC, bio-plastic, etc. Besides these antimicrobials, drugs, insecticides, nanoparticles, and impact-resistant materials could be prepared from nut and fruit shells. Moreover, the production process for these materials was explained in the later part of the paper. Also, the yield, cost, and performance of materials prepared from nut and fruit shells were discussed and found that some of the products were as good as commercially available materials. The environmental impact being one of the important parts, materials from nut and fruit shells had a beneficial impact on nature. However, the entire life cycle assessment suggested that better techniques are required to attain a lower negative impact on the ecosystem. Since nut and fruit shells were the easy and low-cost raw material, they had a greater chance of replacing other expensive, non-environment-friendly raw materials and their products. Overall, this research shed light on the material use of nut and fruit shells along with its benefits; production process; material yield, cost, and performance; with possible implications and recommendations that can lead to better utilization of biological resources.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Muetter, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {M{\"u}tter, Dominik}, title = {Simulation of an OLOID Agitator with OpenFOAM for use in Bioprocesses}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-8905}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {87}, abstract = {Oloids are said to be very energy efficient stirrers, generating low shear rates while providing good mixing for small-to-medium-sized water bodies, which would make them optimal for decreasing energy cost in large installations as well as protecting shear-sensitive microorganisms. Yet oloids are relatively obscure and there are few works dealing with detailed analysis of their flow profile and comparison against standard stirrers. This work tries to add to this topic. In this thesis the potential of deploying oloid stirrers in bioprocesses and wastewater treatment in general is to be probed by computational fluid simulation and compared against a propeller and a Smith turbine (modification of a Rushton turbine). Parameters of interest are flow and pressure profile as well as shear stress. The results show that oloids have much lower shear at their surface compared to both propeller and Smith turbine. The flow is pulsating and in three dimensions, and while the results need verification, it seems like the oloid is well usable for agitation in ungassed bioprocesses, because it can mix a small water body at much lower stirrer speeds than rotating impellers. The application in an actively gassed vessel and whether it is usable for active gas dispersion has not been analysed. Based on data generated by others, the oloid can also be used efficiently as surface aerator in natural open water bodies.}, language = {de} } @misc{Tewes, type = {Master Thesis}, author = {Tewes, Thomas}, title = {Entwicklung einer Methode zur Identifizierung von Mikroorganismen {\"u}ber Raman-Spektroskopie}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-3212}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {100}, abstract = {Zielstellung: Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, eine Methode zur Identifizierung von Mikroorganismen {\"u}ber Mikro-Raman-Spektroskopie zu entwickeln. Daf{\"u}r musste zun{\"a}chst eine Methode gefunden werden, um Spektren verschiedener Mikroorganismen mit ausreichender Qualit{\"a}t zu erhalten. Im Anschluss sollte die Datensammlung erfolgen, bei der m{\"o}glichst viele repr{\"a}sentative Spektren gesammelt werden. Mit den Daten mussten danach Modelle zur Vorhersage unbekannter Raman-Spektren entwickelt werden, was eine entsprechende Datenvorbehandlung voraussetzte. Um die Praxistauglichkeit der Modelle zu pr{\"u}fen, sollten diese auf Spektren von Proben angewandt werden, die nicht in den Kalibrationssets enthalten waren. Neben der Entwicklung der Methode und der Vorhersagemodelle, sollten auch verschiedene Einfl{\"u}sse der Analysebedingungen ber{\"u}cksichtigt werden. Methoden: Neun verschiedene Mikroorganismen, die aus kryokonservierten Reinkulturen stammten, wurden bei 30 °C f{\"u}r 24 Stunden auf Trypton Soja Agar (TSA) bebr{\"u}tet. Die Spektrenaufzeichnung erfolgte bei einer Anregung von 633 nm {\"u}ber ein konfokales Raman-Mikroskop der Firma Renishaw. Sowohl die Datenvorbehandlung (Basislinienkorrektur, Gl{\"a}ttung, Normalisierung, Hauptkomponentenanalyse (PCA)), als auch die Modellentwicklung, erfolgte {\"u}ber die Software MATLAB. Es wurden verschiedene Klassifikationsverfahren angewandt, um ein Modell mit m{\"o}glichst guter Leistung zu finden. Ergebnisse: F{\"u}r die Entwicklung der Kalibrationsmodelle wurden insgesamt 2953 Raman-Spektren von neun verschiedenen Mikroorganismen gesammelt. St{\"o}rungen durch Fluoreszenz wurden durch Vorbestrahlung von bis zu 15 Minuten ausgebrannt. Die Modelle basierend auf der Quadratischen Diskriminanzanalyse (QDA), dem k-N{\"a}chster-Nachbar-Algorithmus (kNN) und der Support Vector Maschine (SVM), wurden mit verschiedener Anzahl an Hauptkomponenten und einer f{\"u}nffachen Kreuzvalidierung erstellt. Die theoretischen Vorhersageg{\"u}ten belaufen sich bei den genauesten Modellen auf 99,0 \% (QDA), 99,1 \% (kNN) und 99,7 \% (SVM). F{\"u}r die praktische Validierung wurden f{\"u}r jeden Mikroorganismus 100 weitere „unbekannte" Spektren gesammelt. Die Vorhersagegenauigkeiten in der Praxis belaufen sich auf 98,1 \% (QDA), 97,1 \% (kNN) und 97,0 \% (SVM). Diskussion: Eine zuverl{\"a}ssige Identifizierung der in dieser Arbeit untersuchten Mikroorganismen konnte {\"u}ber alle verwendeten Klassifikationsverfahren erreicht werden. Auf Stamm-ebene erzielt die SVM in der Praxis die genauesten Ergebnisse, jedoch nicht bei den restlichen Mikroorganismen. Die QDA erzielt in der Praxis etwas genauere Vorhersagen als das kNN-Modell, jedoch basiert das kNN-Modell mit der besten Leistung auf den wenigsten Hauptkomponenten. Dies kann als Vorteil angesehen werden, da weniger Dimensionen zur erfolgreichen Klassifizierung in der Regel robustere Modelle in der Praxis bedeuten.}, subject = {Raman-Spektroskopie}, language = {de} } @masterthesis{Schneider, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Schneider, Mike}, title = {Untersuchung der zeitaufgel{\"o}sten Orangen{\"o}lausbeute am Beispiel einer Wasserdampfdestillation im Technikumsmaßstab}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-6374}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {67}, abstract = {Bei der industriellen Saftherstellung fallen große Mengen an Orangenschalen als Abfallprodukte an. Hierbei stellt sich die Frage: Wie k{\"o}nnen diese Stoffe wirtschaftlich und {\"o}kologisch zur {\"O}lgewinnung verwertet werden, sodass ein nutzbares Endprodukt entsteht? Das Ziel ist es, ein Orangen{\"o}l herzustellen, mit einem hohen Einzelstoffvorkommen an Limonen, mithilfe der Wasserdampfdestillation und einer speziellen eigenen Trennmethodik zu entwickeln. Die Trennung von fluiden Stoffen wird erl{\"a}utert und sichtbar dargestellt. W{\"a}hrend des Destillationsprozesses entstehen unterschiedliche Heizleistungen, die im Verlauf dieser Arbeit zur {\"O}lausbeute zum Zeitfaktor angepasst werden. Die erstellten Diagramme geben Aufschluss {\"u}ber die Dauer und die unterschiedlichen Heizleistungseinstellungen. Eine Trennung der Phasen w{\"a}hrend des Destillierprozesses wird detailliert dargestellt. Das hier verwendete Trennverfahren k{\"o}nnte zu weiteren Forschungsans{\"a}tzen dienen und weiter ausgebaut werden. Das bedeutet, dass die Destillationszeit anhand des verwendeten Verfahrens eingegrenzt werden kann. Die verminderte Destillationszeit, f{\"u}hrt zu Prozessoptimierung, welches durch die Energieeinsparung Produktionskosten senken k{\"o}nnte. Die gewonnene {\"O}lausbeute in finanzieller und {\"o}kologischer Sichtweise k{\"o}nnte einen industriellen Nutzen darstellen.}, language = {de} } @misc{Kerst, type = {Master Thesis}, author = {Kerst, Mario}, title = {Validation and optimization of mathematical predictive models for the identification of microorganisms using Raman-spectroscopy}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-14820}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {86}, abstract = {The identification and classification of microorganisms remains a challenge in many areas, especially considering time and cost-efficiency. Fast, reliable and cheap methods are of great interest for research, industry and health care. Raman spectroscopy is a method that fulfills these criteria and, in this work, we aim to show its effectiveness to classify a selection of microorganisms. Using a standardized protocol, eighteen microorganisms were measured using Raman spectroscopy and classified with several types of mathematical classification models, including linear discriminant analysis, support vector machines and convolutional neural networks. To prepare the measured spectral data for classification several steps for the data evaluation and transformation were applied and their effectiveness for removing noise and other interferences evaluated. The resulting predictions outcomes were compared to select the most efficient model, showing that with an overall true positive prediction rate of 86.87 \% the convolutional neural network performed the best. Further inspection of the results shows issues with the measurements of selected organisms, indicating that an improved measurement protocol is required to achieve proper predictions. Overall this work shows that Raman spectroscopy in combination with mathematical classification models is a viable and fast method for classification of microorganisms.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Wensor, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Wensor, Brianna}, title = {Start-up and operation of a continuous stirred tank reactor performing stable anammox process with Candidatus Brocadia fulgida}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-12695}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {66}, abstract = {Nitrogen removal from wastewater is an energy and resource intense operation. In response, anaerobic ammonium oxidising (anammox) bacteria are being increasingly applied as a cost effective and sustainable wastewater treatment. Despite their utilisation worldwide, very little is understood about kinetic parameters and factors impacting their niche differentiation. The lack of enriched planktonic cultures is limiting further investigations into anammox bacteria and the optimisation of wastewater treatment. In this study, a Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) inoculated with Candidatus Brocadia fulgida to obtain an enriched planktonic culture. Ca. Brocadia fulgida was selected due to Ca. Brocadias widespread application in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs), and the lack of planktonic cultures of this anammox species. The cultivation of anammox bacteria is a time-consuming operation, due to the slow growth rate. This operation was conducted for 84 days, and variety of analytical and microbial techniques were used to monitor bioreactor performance and anammox bacteria enrichment. An analysis of consumption and production patterns was performed to investigate anammox metabolism. Changes in the microbial community were also assessed, which indicated a culture enriched in anammox bacteria. The establishment of a planktonic culture enriched in Ca. Brocadia fulgida in a CSTR was not achieved, and further research is needed in order to successfully apply this innovative approach to anammox bacteria cultivation.}, language = {en} }