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Preservation of silage effluent
Author(s) -
Patterson Desmond C.,
Walker Norman
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740321003
Subject(s) - effluent , silage , formic acid , preservative , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , environmental science , food science , chromatography , environmental engineering , engineering
Three experiments have been carried out to investigate the storage of silage effluent and the value of formalin, formic acid and sulphur dioxide as preservatives. In the third experiment treatment with formalin was compared with sealing treatments using liquid paraffin, maize oil or polythene. This experiment was conducted on effluents with initial pH values of 3.8 and 4.6. All treatments except those sealed with polythene were challenged with a mould spore culture. The results obtained show that formic acid, formalin or sulphur dioxide can preserve silage effluent under aerobic conditions and appear to control mould growth. The higher the level of preservative the longer the interval to the onset of mould growth. None of the chemical measurements indicated when moulding would occur. Sealing provided an alternative storage method to chemical treatment and was particularly suitable when the pH of the effluent was higher than 4.5. The onset of mould growth appeared to accelerate the rate of chemical change in effluent.