Ziel
THE C6 AND C5 SUGARS PRODUCED BY HYDROLYSIS OF STRAW CAN BE USED TO PRODUCE ETHANOL OR OTHER HIGH VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS (E.G. XYLITOL).
THE DIRECT GROWTH OF ACTINOMYCETES ON STRAW COULD ENHANCE THE PRODUCT AS A PROTEIN-ENRICHED ANIMAL FEED.
DR BERNARD GODDEN WAS APPOINTED AS RESEARCH ASSISTANT FOR THE DURATION OF THIS CONTRACT ON 1ST OCTOBER 1986.
THE RESEARCH IS ALSO PROCEEDING WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A RESEARCH STUDENT AND THE TECHNICAL STAFF OF THE INSTITUTE.
WE HAVE FIRST COLLECTED ALL OUR PREVIOUSLY ISOLATED ACTINOMYCETES STRAINS. THESE STRAINS WERE DESPATCHED TO DR ALAN MCCARTHY (UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL - CONTRACT EN3B/0080/UK) FOR COMPARATIVE SACCHARIFICATION TEST USING BALL-MILLED STRAW AS A SUBSTRATE.
WE HAVE ALSO PREPARED COMPOST SAMPLES THAT COULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR ISOLATING PERFORMING LIGNOCELLULOLYTIC ACTINOMYCETES. BEET LEAVES AND RESIDUES OBTAINED FROM A SUGAR FACTORY WERE MIXED WITH STRAW OR SPRUCE BARK. AFTER SIX WEEKS OF COMPOSTING, WE HAVE OBTAINED A WELL DECOMPOSED MATERIAL (PH = 8.3). A EARTHWORMS HORSE MANURE COMPOST (PH = 8.9) WAS ALSO PREPARED. A PRELIMINARY PLATE COUNT PROCEDURE HAS SHOWN THAT THE SAMPLES CONTAIN NUMEROUS PROPAGULAS OF LIGNOCELLULOLYTIC ACTINOMYCETES. THE COMPOST SAMPLES WERE DESPATCHED TO LIVERPOOL. A MEETING WITH DR MCCARTHY'S GROUP IS PLANNED IN DECEMBER.