Innovation Cache™: USDA Agricultural Research Service
Below you will find a listing of the top technology transfer abstracts from the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
Title: Chemical Composition to Attract House Flies
About the technology: Researchers have developed chemical compounds to attract house flies. These compounds are a blend of constituents from blackstrap molasses. The invention is intended to be used in traps that attract and capture or attract and kill house fly pests. Some fly baits are based on compounds from the degradation of proteins and have an unpleasant odor. This limitation prevents widespread use of these baits, especially in indoor traps. The present invention is comprised of compounds that were identified from blackstrap molasses and have a pleasant odor to humans. This quality allows the bait to be used for fly control in indoor traps, porches and patios. Bioassays in outdoor tents were conducted with the 7-compound blend. The results indicate a 2:1 preference for the blend invention compared to the industry standard.
ARS seeks a commercial partner to assist with development and bring this technology to market.
For more information, contact:
Don Nordlund, Ph.D.
USDA, ARS, OTT
950 College Station Road
Athens, GA 30605
706-546-3496
don.nordlund@ars.usda.gov
Title: Green Detergents
About the technology: The demand for cost-effective specialty surfactants continues to grow, as more people are looking for a “green” alternative for common household products. This is a new method for converting lipids to fatty acid hydrazides and potentially any fatty acid, including those with different chain length can be used as the starting material. These fatty acid hydrazides react in water with “locked ring” sugar C-glycoside ketones to produce a new class of detergents. This chemistry is mild, water-based, easily prepared and requires no activating or protecting groups. It is possible to produce a broad variety of fatty acid hydrazide-based detergents with potentially different cleaning properties. The longer chain length detergents generally have improved surfactant properties. The C-glycosides have been made from a variety of sugars including monosaccharides, disaccharides, or oligosaccharides. The Cglycoside ketohydrazone detergents are environmentally friendly as they are made from renewable agricultural starting materials. These detergents are phosphate-free, and biodegradable. Researchers are assessing these numerous products for their ability to form surfactant micelles, liposomes and gels, and testing for biological activity and degradation. This research may improve technology on the market by expanding the availability of novel surfactants and relying on the use of renewable agriculturally derived carbohydrates for the synthesis of chemicals through environmentally friendly methods.
“Locked Ring” Sugar C-glycoside Ketones as described in US Patent 7,888,500
“Preparation and uses of locked-ring sugar C-glycoside derivatives“
Benefits:
- Excellent detergent properties
- Mild, water-based chemistry
- Phosphate-free
- Biodegradable
For more information, contact:
Renee Wagner, Ph.D.
USDA, ARS, OTT
1815 North University Street
Peoria, IL 61604
309-681-6565
Renee.Wagner@ars.usda.gov
Title: Novel Anammox Bacteria for Wastewater Treatment
About the technology: ARS scientists have discovered a novel anammox bacteria isolate Candidatus Brocadia caroliniensis (Accession Deposit Number NRRL B-50286) that oxidizes ammonia and releases di-nitrogen under anaerobic conditions. They have also developed methods for treating wastewater using said isolated anammox bacterial isolate. The novel anammox bacteria was isolated from livestock manure sludge. The bacterial isolate is capable of reactivation after lyophilization. The high nitrogen removal rate obtained with NRRL B-50286 of more than 1.7 kg N/m3 reator/day is optimum for wastewater treatment applications. The novel bacterial strain Candidatus Brocadia caroliniensis of this invention (Serial No. 13/013,874 – Filed January 26, 2011) may be used for the treatment of wastewater contaminated with animal waste and/or having undesirable levels of ammonia, including agricultural, industrial, or municipal wastewaters. Compared to conventional biological nitrogen removal methods, the anammox process can save more than 50% of the oxygen supply and 100% of the external carbon source for denitrification. This leads to a significant decrease in operational costs. In addition, by-products of anammox do not include greenhouse gases.
ARS seeks a commercial partner to bring this technology to market.
For more information, contact:
Don Nordlund, Ph.D.
USDA, ARS, OTT
950 College Station Road
Athens, GA 30605
706-546-3496
don.nordlund@ars.usda.gov
Title: Handheld Inspection Tool and Method
About the technology: Moon Kim and Yud Ren Chen, with the Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory in Beltsville, MD have developed a low-cost, hand-held, rapid screening tool to detect the presence of surface contaminants in areas where food is processed. The invention utilizes optical and optoelectronic sensing and wireless and data communication techniques. The device consists of an active light source with narrow spectral band. The active light induces fluorescence in the longer wavelengths where a low, light sensitive CCD camera with a narrow spectral band-pass filter detects fluorescence emission, which would not be easily discernable to the naked eye. The image is displayed in real-time on a portable display. Data networking capabilities were integrated into the devices to share and centrally manage data from multiple inspectors. Real-time data transfer over the Internet for remote-inspection management and certification can be achieved. Food processing plants, retail stores, restaurants etc. could use this technology to improve contamination, sanitation, and safety of meat and poultry.
ARS seeks a commercial partner to bring this technology to market.
For more information, contact:
Jim Poulos, J.D.
Technology Transfer Coordinator
USDA-ARS
Bldg 003 BANC-WEST
Beltsville, MD 20705
301-504-6421
Title: Ultra-Low Oxygen Treatment for Post-Harvest Pest Control
About the technology: Post harvest disinfection treatments against insects on vegetables, grain, fruits, nursery stocks, cut flowers and other agricultural commodities rely heavily on chemical fumigation. Fumigations can be expensive, toxic, and have negative effects on the environment. ARS researchers have developed an ultra-low oxygen treatment for post harvest pest control. This new treatment is cost effective, safe, convenient and reliable for killing agricultural pests. Oxygen treatments do not damage the quality of the product undergoing treatment, and does not introduce toxic pesticides nor other chemical residues. The method comprises placing the agricultural product in a controlled temperature environment and exposing it to ultra-low oxygen conditions for a length of time sufficient to kill pests without injury to the product. The invention also provides a container for controlling pest populations. The container comprises a sealable enclosure, an oxygen sensor, a system for circulating air within the sealable enclosure, an automatic feedback control, a temperature control and a nitrogen source or generator.
ARS is seeking a commercial partner to bring this technology to market. Please refer to U.S. patent 7,765,733 Yong-Biao Liu, inventor.
For more information, contact:
David Nicholson
Technology Transfer Coordinator
USDA-ARS
800 Buchanan Street
Albany, CA 94710
510-559-5641
david.nicholson@ars.usda.gov
Title: Vaccines to Prevent Bacterial Diseases in Fish
About the technology: Aquaculture is emerging as an important economical agribusiness worldwide. Disease outbreaks in fish cause severe economic losses in aquaculture production and trade. In addition to mortality and morbidity, disease causes reduced slaughter value, growth performance and feed conversion in fish. Other costs associated with disease are money spent to purchase chemicals and drugs to combat diseases. It has been shown that the best disease prevention method is vaccination. Vaccines are an integral tool in any health management strategy. Researchers at the USDA/ARS Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit in Auburn, Alabama, have developed effective vaccines against many highly pathogenic bacteria species. The vaccine technology involves preventing infection by the initiation of acquired immunity in the immunized fish. Bacterial species of more than 20 genera have been reported as causes of diseases. Bacteria cause disease in many species of fresh and marine water food fish worldwide. The economic loss due to these pathogens is estimated in hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Fish infected with these pathogens suffer high mortality and greatly reduced growth rates. All vaccines are very effective when delivered by injection, which is not cost-effective as a method of fish immunization.
ARS is seeking a commercial partner to assist with development of oral and/or immersion vaccine delivery methods, and commercialization of the delivery technology.
For more information, contact:
Thomas D. Valco, Ph.D.
Technology Transfer Coordinator
USDA-ARS
111 Experiment Station Road
Stoneville, MS 38776
662-686-5255
Thomas.Valco@ars.usda.gov
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