Team:Calgary/Results

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Results

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.

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.

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

PHLC 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.