| Popis: |
ADSTRACT THE Ocean Food and Energy Farm Project envi-sions using Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp), grown in vast ocean farms, as a source of a fermentable material for producing a substantial portion of our nation's fuel gas and as a source of animal feed and/or human food. However, the high ash content of kelp may be inhibitory or toxic to anaerobic fer-mentation and may limit the proportion of kelp in animal feeds. A process has been developed by the Western Regional Research Center which reduces the ash and water content of kelp and increases its caloric and bulk densities. In a typical example, kelp is treated with CaCl2, heated, and pressed to remove 75 percent of the moisture and 65 percent of the ash initially present; 70 percent of the organic solids are retained for fermentation. Technical feasibility of the process has been demonstrated in pilot-plant testing using com-mercially available equipment. |
