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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Energy and protein production from pulp mill wastes. Progress report, December 15, 1976--March 15, 1977

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7304149· OSTI ID:7304149
During the past quarter significant progress was made toward demonstrating the feasibility of producing protein and methane from pulp mill waste materials. The most significant result obtained in the project to date occurred when ozonated spent sulfite liquor, SSL, was demonstrated to be a suitable substrate for biosynthesis. Sustained production of methane was obtained by biological conversion of ozonated SSL. Total methane production approximated 2 volumes of gas per volume of ozonated SSL after approximately 3 days reaction time. A detailed study of the effect of pH on ozonation indicates that low pH's favor the breakdown of SSL into organic fragments that are more easily assimilated by microorganisms. In addition, approximately one-half as much ozone is required to effect maximum degradation at pH 4 as compared to pH 8. Even with this lower dosage of ozone the resulting product is more amenable to bioconversion. The results were confirmed by BOD measurements on ozonated products and the biosynthesis of methane. There is even a preliminary indication that ozonation upgrades the substrate to a level suitable for the biosynthesis of protein with Torula yeast.
Research Organization:
Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton (USA)
OSTI ID:
7304149
Report Number(s):
COO-2983-3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English