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CC BY-ND V4.0, Open Access
Thesis
MULTI-SOLVING WASTE TO FOOD: FROM INTERGENERATION IMPACTS ON STYROFOAM-FED MEALWORMS TO FARM SCALE PRODUCTION
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
01/2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000004496
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/125358
Abstract
Expanded polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam™, fills the landfills of the world and pollutes the environment. This discarded waste product is of global concern. This research explores the use of expanded polystyrene as a food source for mealworms, turning inorganic matter into organic products such as protein, fat, fertilizer, and chitin. The study utilized nine treatments and three generations for feeding mealworms: Abundance 32, Abundance 64, Abundance Control, Blend 24, Blend 48, Blend Control, Sufficient 16, Sufficient 32, and Sufficient Control. Results verified by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy-Attenuated Total Reflectance indicated no presence of (poly)styrene in mealworm frass samples for each generation and treatment. This study analyzed % crude protein, % crude fat, % dry matter, final mealworm weight, time to harvest, rate of expanded polystyrene consumption by mealworms, rate of Purina Chicken Starter ® consumption by mealworms for all treatments within each of the three generations. A lab-driven large-scale population model simulated population growth over one thousand days for each treatment. A supply chain model, utilizing industry standards, simulated expanded polystyrene consumption for each treatment over 60 months and simulated associated profits through four reasonable scenarios.
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Details
- Title
- MULTI-SOLVING WASTE TO FOOD
- Creators
- Brenden X Campbell
- Contributors
- Allyson B King (Advisor)Nancy A Irlbeck (Advisor)Alex Fremier (Committee Member)Allan S. Felsot (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Environment, School of the (CAHNRS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 131
- Identifiers
- 99900882236901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis