Energy and protein production from pulp mill wastes

Technical Report · Wed Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6808950· OSTI ID:6808950

Jurgensen, M F; Patton, J T

Research efforts during the past quarter have centered on increasing yeast protein production using ozonated spent sulfite liquor (SSL) and improving the biodegradability of SSL by ultrasonic treatments. Continuous-flow fermentation experiments demonstrated the suitability of ozonated SSL as a substrate for Torula yeast growth. Yeast yields averaging between 2.0--2.2 g/l of SSL were obtained at the optimum retention time of 1.8 days. This contrasts to yeast production rates of 4.8--5.0 g/l of SSL in two day batch cultures. Lower yields were expected under continuous-flow conditions as compared to batch conditions, but production rates were sufficient to warrant further investigation. In contrast, effluent from anaerobic digestors used for methane production supported very little yeast growth even though it contains appreciable amounts of acetate. A toxic product or products apparently are synthesized during fermentation which are inhibitory to the Torula yeast. Experiments were also run to determine if sonic treatments would increase the content of fermentable substrates in SSL. Results indicated striking increases in BOD levels of SSL after sonication, especially when used in conjunction with ozonation. Such gains in available carbon would likely result in increased methane and yeast production.

• Research Organization: Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6808950
• Report Number(s): COO-2983-7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090122* -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
BIOCONVERSION
BIOMASS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DIGESTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FERMENTATION
FLUIDS
FUNGI
GROWTH
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
METHANE
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PLANTS
PROCESSING
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOUND WAVES
SPENT LIQUORS
SYNTHESIS
TORULA
ULTRASONIC WAVES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
YEASTS