Difference between revisions of "Team:Calgary/Results"

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<b>Liquid-solid separation results </b>
 
<b>Liquid-solid separation results </b>
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<p></p>
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<p>The following table summarizes the results and comments for the <a href="https://2017.igem.org/Team:Calgary/Experiments">"Staged Filtration" experiment</a> conducted on the 25g of synthetic feces sample (using recipe 2). The original sample contained 15g of water, yet only 10% of it was recovered, meaning that a more advanced and power intensive technology has to be considered fro this stage of the process.</p>
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<b>PHB Extraction results</b>
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<table >
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<tbody>
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<tr>
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<td >
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<p >Filtration type</p>
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</td>
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<td>
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<p >Weight of liquid recovered (g)</p>
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</td>
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<td >Liquid lost due to transfer (g)</p>
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</td>
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<td >
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<p >comments</p>
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</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td >
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<p >Strainer</p>
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</td>
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<td >
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<p >18.6</p>
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</td>
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<td >
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<p>1.1</p>
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</td>
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<td >
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<p >Yellow thick liquid went through. Yeast bodies we visible in the filtrate.</p>
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</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td >
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<p>Paper towel filter</p>
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</td>
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<td >
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<p >13.9</p>
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</td>
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<td>
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<p >1.8</p>
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</td>
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<td>
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<p >A thick creamy-yellow sludgy layer remained on the filter and could be scraped down. Yeast bodies could still be visible</p>
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</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td>
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<p >Coffee filter</p>
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</td>
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<td >
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<p>8.6</p>
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</td>
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<td >
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<p>1.5</p>
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</td>
 +
<td>
 +
<p>Another similar looking creamy-yellow layer was scraped down. The yeast bodies were not visible in the liquid any more</p>
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</td>
 +
</tr>
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<tr>
 +
<td >
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<p >11 micron filter</p>
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</td>
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<td >
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<p >5.8</p>
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</td>
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<td >
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<p >1.2</p>
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</td>
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<td>
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<p >&nbsp;</p>
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</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td >
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<p >0.2micron filter</p>
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</td>
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<td >
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<p >1.5</p>
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</td>
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<td>
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<p >&nbsp;</p>
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</td>
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<td >
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<p >The majority of the liquid was not recovered because the filter got clogged. The recovered liquid had a brown tint, but appeared clear and transparent.</p>
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</td>
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</tr>
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</tbody>
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</table><b>PHB Extraction results</b>
 
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Revision as of 06:17, 31 October 2017

Header

Results

SDS-PAGE Gel 1

Figure 3: Photograph of one of our SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis apparatuses running with proteins from E.coli BL21(DE3) transformed with pSB1C3-Phasin-HlyA tag, E.coli BL21(DE3) transformed with an empty pSB1C3 vector, and a protein ladder.

SDS-PAGE Gel 2

Figure 3: Photograph of one of our SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis apparatuses running with proteins from E.coli BL21(DE3) transformed with pSB1C3-Phasin-HlyA tag, E.coli BL21(DE3) transformed with an empty pSB1C3 vector, and a protein ladder.

SDS-PAGE Gel 3

Figure 3: Photograph of one of our SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis apparatuses running with proteins from E.coli BL21(DE3) transformed with pSB1C3-Phasin-HlyA tag, E.coli BL21(DE3) transformed with an empty pSB1C3 vector, and a protein ladder.

Process Development Results

Methods for VFA quantification and characterization

As mentioned in our journal, determination of the total VFA concentration in the solution was an important step in the process – knowing how to quantify total VFAs in the solution helped to prove that the fermentation of human feces with naturally occurring bacteria increases the VFA concentration, as well as it helped to prove VFA presence in both - fermented and unfermented synthetic feces.

Titration is commonly employed by the wastewater treatment plants to give a rapid estimate of the VFA concentration in the solutions. We were able to successfully perform “Simple titration” experiments. The results (summarized below) indicate that the method tends to give a slight overestimate of the total concentration – yet it can be used for quick estimations, as well as for determination of VFA concentration increase/decrease.

  Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Actual VFA Conentration (mg/L) 60 60  60 
Sample volume (mL)  40 40  40 
Acid normality  0.1 0.1  0.1 
       
 Original pH  6.61 6.6  6.61 
Volume of acid added to titrate to pH 5 (mL)  0.53  0.53  0.536
Volume of acid added to titrate to pH 4.3 (mL)  0.745  0.75  0.785
 Volume of acid added to titrate to pH 4 (mL)  0.825  0.830  0.858
 Calculated VFA concentration (mg/L)  66.1  67.7  74.9

HPLC is another method commonly employed in laboratory setting for the VFA concentration determination. The advantage of the method is the fact that it provides the breakdown: the concentration of different volatile fatty acids in the solution.

Process results

VFA fermentation results

Liquid-solid separation results

The following table summarizes the results and comments for the "Staged Filtration" experiment conducted on the 25g of synthetic feces sample (using recipe 2). The original sample contained 15g of water, yet only 10% of it was recovered, meaning that a more advanced and power intensive technology has to be considered fro this stage of the process.

Filtration type

Weight of liquid recovered (g)

 Liquid lost due to transfer (g)

comments

Strainer

18.6

1.1

Yellow thick liquid went through. Yeast bodies we visible in the filtrate.

Paper towel filter

13.9

1.8

A thick creamy-yellow sludgy layer remained on the filter and could be scraped down. Yeast bodies could still be visible

Coffee filter

8.6

1.5

Another similar looking creamy-yellow layer was scraped down. The yeast bodies were not visible in the liquid any more

11 micron filter

5.8

1.2

 

0.2micron filter

1.5

 

The majority of the liquid was not recovered because the filter got clogged. The recovered liquid had a brown tint, but appeared clear and transparent.
PHB Extraction results

PHB characterization

HPLC

Nile red staining