Use of corn distiller's solubles from an ethanol plant for aquaculture
Wet stillage can economically be separated into two fractions: distiller's grain and distiller's solubles. Wet corn distiller's grain has shown potential as a feed supplement for ruminants, swine, and poultry. However, the soluble fraction (with suspended particles) is of little food value to terrestrial animals because of its high water content; it is not generally economically feasible to concentrate it further. The purpose of this project is to determine if the soluble by-product could potentially be used as a food source in an aquatic environment where its high water content would not necessarily pose an impediment. Studies have shown that corn distiller's solubles are not highly toxic to aquatic organisms at concentrations ranging up to 10,000 ppM. However, the high biological oxygen demand of the material requires that it be administered to ponds at rates less than 2000 ppM on a daily basis. Golden shiners were observed to actively consume the particulates of the corn distiller's solubles. Direct consumption of the particulates by fish makes the use of corn distiller's solubles in aquaculture much more attractive than if the by-product only serves to increase pond fertility. Despite the minimum amount of food material added to the ponds, production of shrimp and fish was favorable over the 4 month growing periods. Golden shiners reared in the same ponds as shrimp had production rates equivalent to 130 kg ha/sup -1/. Monoculture of shrimp at higher densities (3000 to 5000 shrimp stocked per pond versus 2000 in 1982) resulted in an average production equivalent to approximately 228 kg ha/sup -1/, with individual shrimp averaging 10.5 g. Based on estimated wholesale prices of $10.00 and $7.75 per kilogram for frozen shrimp and live fish, respectively, the gross profit margin would have exceeded $2000 ha/sup -1/ both years. 25 references, 13 figures, 13 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale (USA). Fisheries Research Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-81R510295
- OSTI ID:
- 6687337
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/R5/10295-T1; ON: DE84014157
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
090222 -- Alcohol Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
ANIMAL FEEDS
ANIMALS
AQUACULTURE
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BY-PRODUCTS
CRUSTACEANS
DATA
DECAPODS
ETHANOL PLANTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FISHES
FOOD
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INFORMATION
INVERTEBRATES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC WASTES
PRODUCTIVITY
SHRIMP
SIZE
STILLAGE
VERTEBRATES
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WASTES
WEIGHT