It’s curious how life makes our paths twist and turn.
I started out positive that I would spend my entire life developing renal therapy solutions. OK. Not solutions- just one. Who knew I’d be lucky enough to develop a slew of them.
But, that didn’t mean I spent my entire life in that specialty. (To be honest, this was one of the [many] bones of contention between me and my professors in grad school. Because they expect one to devote all of his [it was generally his in my specialties] efforts on one sliver of science or technology. I didn’t- and still don’t.]
Nope. While I was considering what would work for dialysis, I spent time considering how to feed the world. Dr. Norman Borlaug was developing strains of wheat that could grow faster. And, wrote a monograph about the need for science to solve the food problem. Meanwhile, my father spent hours (days, even) tilling the gardens behind our house and on one of its sides. Tomatoes, peppers (which I didn’t like back then), carrots, watermelon, cantaloupe were the crops that adorned our meals.
So, I spent some time developing a hydroponic system. Which allowed me to grow tomatoes or canteloupe (you notice what tickled my fancy) in short order. Of course, the instrumentation was rudimentary (in-line sensors were figments of one’s imagination then), but my concepts sufficed to afford me success.
As, did water treatment. Both drinking water and the treatment of wastewater. All of these technologies were based upon the intersection of chemical engineering and biology. All involved water. Which formed the basis for the bulk of my professional career(s).
Years later, when perfecting a home water recycling system with my partner Sam, it became obvious that we had provided solutions to almost every need and want we had considered critical for the device. Except for those situations at the top end of our design criteria- the eight person household. For that scenario, our system just couldn’t keep up the nitrogenous wastes being fed to the system. Which also led to a change in the water pH. (These two problems meant we had an odor problem and what we thought was a slime problem. We could tell the homeowner that the ammonia was keeping their toilets clean- but the occasional slime, that was a lot harder to explain.)
After a few weeks, we had a good handle on these issues. I had developed a mutant strain of microbe that would convert the ammonia (the odor in the water). Except we needed a better method of “feeding” the microbes to ensure that every system would have the solution applied to it.
So, Sam and I researched technologists around the US. One choice was (as Sam termed them) another young man/older mentor combination. Jim Tobey and George A. Jeffreys of Salem, Virginia. We developed a relationship and a research program together. Luckily, the initial program was short-lived. Within 5 days, we had ourselves a rudimentary solution. AT5N– which either stood for Ackerman and Tobey took 5 Nights to develop the solution or Ackerman and Tobey had a 5 gram solution to treat ammonia (NH3). To be honest, I can’t recall which it was.
That was the first of many liaisons between myself and Jim. We developed a Pseudomonas syringae formulation that could be used to treat Dutch Elm Disease. (It also be used to promote snow formation on ski slopes.) Or, the strain of microbe (Bacillus thuringiensis) that we used to eradicate mosquitoes that plagued trickling filter and lamellar flow wastewater treatment systems.
But, years later, when we divested ourselves of our microbial production division, I lost touch with Jim. Oh, sure, I spoke to him on occasion. Which is exactly what I wanted to do over a recent weekend. (This post has been in the queue for a while.) Except, I found out Jim succumbed to cancer. Leaving his wonderful wife Becky (Rebecca), a daughter (Heather), a son (Matt), and a few grandchildren.
Jim was a a devoted Christian who spent his time teaching others, feeding the hungry and homeless, promoting science among our younger folks… an all-around great person. Not as famous as he should have been, but he certainly exemplified the credo I’ve taught my kids and that has adorned our home’s walls for decades…
To the world, you are one person.
To one person, you are the world.
May his memory always be surrounded with love and smiles.
Some of Jim’s patents:
BACTERIA AND ENZYMES PRODUCED THEREFROM AND METHODS OF USING SAME. USPTO, Pending 20170073260). Cellulose degradation via Baccilli.
LIQUID SEPTIC TANK TREATMENT COMPOSITION. USPTO 5905037, 18 May 1999. Ensures that one’s septic tank can continually reduce the organic load before land absorption in a septic field.
ENZYMATIC GRAIN CONDITIONER AND METHODS OF USING IT. USPTO 5662901, 2 September 1997. This improves the grain fed to ruminants (cattle) to augment weight gain and feed utilization
PROCESS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR STABILIZATION OF FORAGES. USPTO 4592915, 3 June 1986. Promotes storage of forage crops so they don’t degrade and can remain use for animal feed.
PROCESS FOR PRODUCING QUALITY FISH MEAL FROM WHOLE FISH. USPTO 4405649, 20 September 1983. Quality or trash fish (on board or on shore) to liquefy and pasteurize fish for storage for weeks. (Also removing bones and oil from mixture.)
