The Commodity Utilization Unit consists of seven projects all directed to designing and developing innovative, cost-effective and environmentally friendly technologies that produce value-added products of enhanced quality from agricultural crops. Principles of biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry and chemical engineering are employed to improve the nutritive quality of soybean meal and reduce the pollution from excess phosphate in animal excreta by enzymatic (phytase) supplementation of feed to improve availability of phosphate, to formulate biological pathogens for control of crop pests to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, to develop innovative processes that enhance utilization of oilseed products and by-products, to develop technology for utilization of cereal and oilseed byproducts to remove toxic compounds found in wastewater effluents, to develop enzymatic processes to increase the reactivity of vegetable oils to produce industrial oils of added value, to develop innovative processes to improve the wet-milling of corn and yield products with high-purity and desirable performance, and to improve the the processing of sugar cane by reducing losses in factory operations.

CRIS Projects

TITLE: Development of an Enzyme-Based Technology to Reduce Phosphate Pollution  (CRIS 6435-13410-002-00D)

SCIENTISTS: Edward J. Mullaney, Brian Q. Phillippy and Abul H. Ullah

OBJECTIVES: Develop a superior feed additive phytase to reduce the negative environmental effects of high phosphorus levels in the manure from the poultry and swine industries. Determine the effects of myo-inositol and other agriculturally derived phosphorus compounds in stimulating harmful algal blooms in our watersheds and coastal environments. Optimize the enzymatic and nutritional properties of phytase for diverse applications.

APPROACH: Sequence and x-ray crystal structure data on available phytase molecules will be utilized to formulate a structure-function model for the enzyme. Computer analysis of this model will then be employed to evaluate the effects of specific sequence changes on this enzyme. Site-directed mutagenesis and other PCR-based technologies will be used to structurally engineer a superior phytase gene based on computer analysis of the structure of phytase. We will continue our efforts to expand the use of phytase into aquaculture. Agriculturally-derived phosphate species will be examined as potential phosphorus sources for a variety of noxious and harmful algal species. Cultures will be grown under highly controlled conditions in a chemostatic photobioreactor, which is capable of delivering a variety of nutritive loads. This will be used to characterize the phytase and/or phosphatase enzyme/specificity of our target species.

KEYWORDS: Phytase Site Directed Mutagenesis Genetic Engineering Biotechnology Phosphate Utilization Soybean Meal Animal Feed Aspergillus Harmful Algal Bloom Watershed Myo-Inositol Phosphate CACO-2 Cells Bioavailability

TITLE: Improved Formulation Technology For Biocontrol Agents of Agricultural Pests (CRIS 6435-22000-008-00D)

SCIENTISTS: Margaret Lyn

OBJECTIVES: To develop new or improved formulations of bioherbicides, bioinsecticides, and plant pathogen biological control agents that are effective under a wide variety of conditions, easily applied, environmentally safe, have adequate shelf life to support commercially feasible biological control, and utilize agricultural commodities when feasible.

APPROACH: Sprayable, granular, and bait formulations will be developed that contain fungal and bacterial biological control agents. Current methods of stabilizing microorganisms in formulations will be improved. Drying conditions will be optimized for each agent. Adjuvants such as rice flour, sugars, inorganic salts, and vegetable oils will be evaluated. Water-dispersible granules will be prepared by extrusion, a cost-effective trial process. 'Pesta' granular formulations that use wheat flour as the principal matrix-forming material will be improved in effectiveness and breath of biological control application. Improved methods for production of biological control agent inoculum for formulations will be developed. Formulations will be safe for users and the environment. Collaborations with ARS scientists, university research groups, and companies involved in biological control will be actively sought and maintained.

KEYWORDS: Biological Control Biopesticide Bioherbicide Bioinsecticide Formulation Weed Control Insect Control Soilborne Plant Pathogens Fungi Bacteria Environment Safety Invasive Species

TITLE: Losses Of Sucrose And Other Sugars During Processing Of Sugarbeet And Sugarcane (CRIS 6435-41000-072-00D)

SCIENTISTS: Gillian Eggleston

OBJECTIVES: To use model reaction systems, simulating industrial sugar processing conditions, to determine changes in processing parameters that will reduce industrial sugar losses and to indentify products from sucrose degradation that can be used as markers to accurately and easily measure sucrose losses across different industrial unit processes. To assess sugar losses in sugarbeet and sugarcane industrial processes to improve process control and designs to reduce losses.

APPROACH: Undertake model sucrose degradation studies, simulating conditions found in industrial sugar processes, i.e., high temperatures and brix concentrations, correct ph and concentrations of reactive substances including amino acids and salts, to identify sucrose loss marker compounds and to gain insight into the origin of industrial sugar losses and color formation. Undertake parallel studies across sugarbeet and sugarcane industrial processes, to assess sugar losses and how to reduce them. Separate model study reaction mixtures and industrial samples using ion chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection, and characterize identified marker loss compounds using mass spectroscopy, UV and NMR spectrometry.

KEYWORDS: Sucrose Sugar Degradation Industrial Cane Beet Processes Losses Reduction Marker Compounds

TITLE: Development of Environmentally Acceptable Technologies For Processing Corn (CRIS 6435-41000-075-00D)

SCIENTIST: Michael K. Dowd and Oliver D. Dailey Jr.

OBJECTIVES: To develop improved processes for separating carbohydrate, protein and oil fractions from corn and rice that are environmentally acceptable, cost effective, and with improved value-added properties.

APPROACH: Current technologies for processing corn are largely involved processes that are energy and capital intensive and produce mostly basic commodity products. Alternative technologies that are environmentally acceptable and cost-effective will be developed. These efforts will result in improved processes to recover corn starch, protein, and oil and will result in new products to improve the marketability of the products from these processes.

KEYWORDS: Starch Protein Oil Carotenoids Corn Gluten Milling Processing Wet Zein Sulfur Dioxide

TITLE: Develop of Processes to Improve Oilseed Utilization (CRIS 6435-41000-082-00D)

SCIENTISTS: Peter J. Wan, Michael K. Dowd and Myong S. Kuk

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of processing techniques and conditions on the chemical and physical properties of oil, protein and their by-products and on the biologically available gossypol in cottonseed products. To develop innovative separation and purification processes to enhance the utilization of oilseed products with minimum undesirable environmental impact.

APPROACH: The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a process to produce cottonseed products which are consistently safe to lifestock. To achieve this objective, biologically available gossypol in cottonseed products need to be defined and determined using selected animal models and analytical procedures. At the same time, cost effective processes will be developed to extract and deactivate gossypol and aflatoxin, and to enhance value and utilization of its co-products.

KEYWORDS: Aflatoxin Cottonseed Oil Meal Gossypol Soapstock Hull Separation Purification Technologies HNRIM2829

TITLE: Enzymatic Processes For Increasing Industrial Utilization of Vegetable Oils (CRIS 6435-41000-083-00D)

SCIENTISTS: John M. Dyer and Hurley S. Shepherd

OBJECTIVES: Identify enzymes involved in biosynthesis of tung oil. Develop microbial expression systems to characterize lipid-modifying genes obtained from tung. Optimize microbial expression systems for bioconversion of low-cost vegetable oils into value-added industrial oils.

APPROACH: Full-length cDNAs for the tung FAD-2 like genes will be cloned by RACE PCE (Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends using the polymerase chaine reaction). The tung diacylglycerol acyltransferase will be cloned using the PCS and degenerate primers complementary to conserved regions of the enzyme family. Activity of enzymes will be verified by expression in yeast and characterization of lipid products. Express a known fatty acid desaturase gene (FAD3) in yeast that makes a fatty acid with three double bonds (similar to eleostearic acid) to establish parameters required to measure enzyme activity. Identify oil-inducible yeast promoters that can be used to express plant modifying enzymes when yeast are grown on exogenous oils as a food source.

KEYWORDS: Lipid oils enzymes conjugated fatty acids tung chinese melon eleostearic acid conjugated fatty synthetase

TITLE: Agricultural By-Products as Adsorbents For Environmental Remediation (CRIS 6435-41000-087-00D)

SCIENTISTS: Wayne E. Marshall and Isabel Lima

OBJECTIVES: Develop adsorbents from wood by-products, particularly hard wood chips from white oak. Develop strategies for the conversion of agricultural by-products to carbonized and non-carbonized adsorbents that are specific for anionic pollutants. Optimize existing technologies to facilitate their transfer and adoption by the private sector.

APPROACH: Emphasis will be placed on the conversion of so called "non-tradional" by-products, such as wood waste, to activated carbon and modifying existing procedures, i.e. those used to convert treenut shells, grain hulls and cobs, oilseed hulls and plant fiber, to accommodate this "new" by-product. Advantage will be taken of the metal ion adsorption properties of modified agricultural by-products. By-products with adsorbed metal ions will be converted to activated carbons that will attract various anions, such as phosphates, nitrates, etc. Additionally, modification of non-carbonized adsorbents with agents that can increase positive charge density on the adsorbents will be carried out. Modification agents will be selected on the basis of reaction efficiency, cost and reagent toxicity. Our existing technologies will be modified to produce characteristics in an activated carbon or ion exchange resin that a particular company wants. We will design flow diagrams of existing processed for scaleup. We will also assist the private sector in equipment design and cost analysis.

KEYWORDS: Wood by-products agricultural by-products adsorption activated carbon job exchange resin environmental remediation