Michael Allen 11-11-11 TX ASM Fall Meeting

Intro to Biotechnology 1.0

Whats new in v2.0?

What is a composite? Our preliminary efforts in Green Composites Future Directions

What is a composite?

A product made of two or more materials Typically fibrous material in epoxy matrix Ex: fiberglass strong, nonflammable Growing demand for green products with improved properties Lighter weight, biodegradable car parts, building panels

Replace: mineral/synthetic fibers

and epoxy

With: natural fibers and

Plant fibers, PLA, PHAs

biodegradable plastic resins Ultimate Goal not just green substitutes, but superior performance

Numerous plant sources

Hemp, Cotton, Jute, Linen, Kenaf

Different properties, but lots of natural variation

Within the species, the field, the plant

Complicates processing, engineering of product

Kenaf Stalk in Cross Section

Ayre et al.

Annual (in our climate) Time to harvest ~140 days Harvested with std equipment Decorticating (stripping bark)

Property Wall Material Tensile Strength (MPa)

Cotton Cellulose 330-585

Kenaf Lig-cel 930

Glass Fiber 1800

Density
Modulus (GPa) Maximum Strain Specific Stiffness

1.5-1.54
4.5-12.6 7-8% 0.85

1.5
53 1.6% 3.6

2.5
69-73 2.5-3% 2.98

Retting: partial-degradation using indigenous microbes (traditionally)

Wet (ponds) or dry (in field) depending on plant

Digestion of pectins, hemicellulases, release lignocellulosic fibers

Alternative Retting Methods

Enzymatic (expensive) Chemical (E.g. NaOH; cheap but destructive)

NaOH

Pectinase

Natural Flora
*Microbially retted fibers have increased porosity *Produce composites with superior damping, viscoelastic properties

Enrichments with pectin

From retting solutions

Several Isolates
Aerobic Bacillus spp. Paenibacillus sp. Anaerobic Clostridium sp.

Using isolates, can we speed up process or increase uniformity? So far: No and Yes

D1

D2

D3

D4

Performed 16S rDNA community analysis

Universal Primers Targeting variable region 5

Sequencing on Ion Torrent platform

PRELIMINARY! http://mg.bio.titech.ac.jp/vitcomic

4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

Where are the Bacillus spp.? Paenibacillus?

Do previous pectinolytic isolates establish themselves during natural retting? How does the community respond? Can these data be applied to target new isolates?

Customized fiber properties

Do different strains produce fibers with altered properties?

Co-production during retting

Organic acids Ethanol Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)

Final Product Biodegradation

Students
David Visi Nok Prombutara Stephanie Simon Ugoo Anieto Leslie Perry Sarah Martnez Brittany Kiehler

Collaborators
UNT Nandika DSouza Brian Ayre USDA Charles Webber

Charn Uswachoke International Development Fund