PMB Paint Waste Biodegradation

DEPOT MAINTENANCE PROJECT as of 940923

Type: E
Accession Number: 57545
Code: Active

Narrative:

This project would develop cultures to biodegrade mixed PMB-paint wastes, for pre-pilot plant incorporation. In Task I of this proposed study, representative PMB and PMB-paint waste samples will be obtained from Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) and/or Kelly Air Force Base (KAFB) and characterized. TRA's PMB and PMB-paint waste degrading microbial system(s) will then be tested. An initial reaction rate will be established for each system and the most promising identified; in Task II, constituent isolation, characterization and/or identification will be performed. Constituent biodegradation reactions rates will also be established. Tests will determine if pure or mixed cultures are required to degrade the PMB and PMB-paint wastes; in Task III, temperature, pH, aeration, pigmentation and particle size will then be evaluated as a function of each degradation activity. Successful cultures will then be ranked; in Task IV, biodegradation will be optimized and final reaction rates established. Environmentally safe biodeterioration will be assured; in Task V, data for necessary design pre-pilot plant parameters will be identified and quantified. An engineering report will be produced.

Funding: SA/ALC
Cost: 625K

Status:

- Nov 92 Samples were removed from two sequential bioreactors that were actively degrading paint waste (300 micron) previously acquired from KAFB. These samples were plated on TGY agar plates and incubated at 30 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Daily analysis over a period of several weeks revealed the presence of 5 different microorganisms, 3 of which appeared within 2 days while the other 3 appeared at day 3 and 4.
It is believed that these last two organisms do not contribute to the biodegradation; the majority of the analysis will therefore be done with the first 3. Upon isolation, a series of tests were completed to identify each organism.
- Jan 93 Further experiments allowed TRA to identify 2 of the 3 primary organisms to the species level: Bacillus cereus, Pseudomas pictorum, Pseudomonas sp. In addition, the paint-waste material (<300 micron previously acquired from KAFB) have been studied for characterization and development of an assay. These tests involved extraction, separation and analysis via thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography (GC).
- Feb 93 Establishing Initial Reaction Rates in TRA's Biodegrading Cultures.
Identifying most promising PMB and PMB Paint Waste Biodegradation System(s).

Future Events: - Acquire two new samples from KAFB: one line and one coarse ground.
- Evaluate each PMB and PMB-Paint Waste Biodegradation Reaction Rate as a function of temperature, ph, aeration, pigmentation, and particle size. Prioritize each culture for further study.
- Optimize Biodegradation Batch Rates for rapid and efficient PMB and PMB-paint degradation. Establish Final Reaction Rates. Assure environmentally safe biodeterioration. - Quantify Data for Design and Construction of Pre-Pilot Plant. Produce an Engineering Report with Installation and Operating Costs Estimates in a Defined Flowsheet.
- Aug 94A final report is in progress.
Implementation Date: Nov 1992
Initial Submission Date: 1994-02-08
Update Submission Date: 1994-08-09
Lead Service: Air Force
Key Words: PMB, Paint, Biodegradation
Point of Contact - Name: Dave Leeson
Point of Contact - Organization: SA-ALC/EMP
Point of Contact - Phone: DSN 945-3100 ext 206