Optimizing the Use of Hydrothermal Carbonization In Livestock Disposal
Abstract
Improper disposal of livestock carcasses is one of the leading causes of antibiotic resistance. This is due to antibiotic resistant bacteria or plasmid DNA left behind after disposal. These carcasses can be sanitized, but not without great cost to farms. This study was carried out to optimize the cost effectiveness of one sanitation process, Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC). Particularly, its effectiveness on Poultry. HTC was carried out at the USDA Agricultural Research Service located in Florence, SC. The optimization concerned minimizing temperature by compensating for it with a higher pressure. To test this, chicken bone and tissue were immersed in water and a Phosphate-Buffered Saline solution, respectively. They were then inoculated with E. coli. They were then put through HTC at 150°C and 200°C for 30 min, 60 min, and 240 min. This was done for both kinds of sample (Bone and Tissue). After HTC, the samples were tested for any lingering bacteria and Plasmid DNA. To test for bacteria, 4 LB Agar plates were inoculated with unfiltered liquid from each sample, with 2 at 10⁰ dilution, and 2 at 101 dilution. To test for Plasmid DNA, three parts of each sample (Unfiltered Liquid, Filtered Liquid, Solid material) had DNA extraction performed on them, and that DNA was subsequently run through both the PCR process and Bioanalysis. No experimental runs were found to have any bacteria or DNA after being put through the HTC reactor. This study concluded that 150°C at 30 minutes was enough to ensure DNA denaturation.
Optimizing the Use of Hydrothermal Carbonization In Livestock Disposal
Founders Hall 213 B
Improper disposal of livestock carcasses is one of the leading causes of antibiotic resistance. This is due to antibiotic resistant bacteria or plasmid DNA left behind after disposal. These carcasses can be sanitized, but not without great cost to farms. This study was carried out to optimize the cost effectiveness of one sanitation process, Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC). Particularly, its effectiveness on Poultry. HTC was carried out at the USDA Agricultural Research Service located in Florence, SC. The optimization concerned minimizing temperature by compensating for it with a higher pressure. To test this, chicken bone and tissue were immersed in water and a Phosphate-Buffered Saline solution, respectively. They were then inoculated with E. coli. They were then put through HTC at 150°C and 200°C for 30 min, 60 min, and 240 min. This was done for both kinds of sample (Bone and Tissue). After HTC, the samples were tested for any lingering bacteria and Plasmid DNA. To test for bacteria, 4 LB Agar plates were inoculated with unfiltered liquid from each sample, with 2 at 10⁰ dilution, and 2 at 101 dilution. To test for Plasmid DNA, three parts of each sample (Unfiltered Liquid, Filtered Liquid, Solid material) had DNA extraction performed on them, and that DNA was subsequently run through both the PCR process and Bioanalysis. No experimental runs were found to have any bacteria or DNA after being put through the HTC reactor. This study concluded that 150°C at 30 minutes was enough to ensure DNA denaturation.
