Three methods for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass are discussed: 1) AFEX treatment uses ammonia under pressure and heat to release sugars 2) Steam explosion heats biomass with steam then rapidly depressurizes 3) 2CCT treatment uses an alkali then oxidant to break bonds and remove residuals Pretreated biomass showed improved in vitro digestibility and higher animal intake and weight gain compared to untreated biomass in feeding trials.

1. Better lives through livestock
Deconstruction of ligno-cellulose
biomass
Padmakumar V, Chris Jones, Habibar Rahman
28th
October 2021

2. Deconstruction of ligno-cellulose biomass to improve feed quality

3. Deconstruction of ligno-cellulose biomass to improve feed quality
Pre-treated biomass
2GBF Technology
• AFEX Treatment
• Steam treatment
• 2CC Treatment

4. Approaches: AFEX Treatment
During AFEX treatment, ammonia vapor is added to the
biomass under moderate pressure (100 to 400 psi) and
temperature (90-100°C) and pressure is rapidly released

5. AFEX Treatment
3 7 4 0 4 3 4 6 4 9 5 2 5 5 5 8 6 1 6 4 6 7 7 0 7 3
2 .7 5
3 .0 0
3 .2 5
3 .5 0
3 .7 5
4 .0 0
4 .2 5
B e s t (n = 8 1 )
G o o d (n = 2 6 0 )
M e d iu m /lo w
(n = 2 7 3 )
In v itro d igestibility o f rice straw (% )
P
r
ic
e
o
f
r
ic
e
s
tr
a
w
a
t
K
o
lk
a
ta
tr
a
d
e
r
s
fr
o
m
2
0
0
8
-2
0
0
9
(In
d
ia
n
R
u
p
e
e
s
/k
g
)
A v e ra g e ric e s tra w d ig e s tib ility (IV O M D ) a fte r A F E X tre a tm e n t
c o m p a re d to th e IV O M D o f d iffe re n t ric e s tra w s
c u rre n tly tra d e d in In d ia
A v e ra g e IV O M D o f ric e
s tra w a fte r A F E X tre a tm e n t
Pre-treatment is done in alkaline
(ammonia) environment under moderate
temperature and pressure. The hexose
and pentose sugars are released from
cellulose & hemi cellulose

6. Blowdown Tank
Pre-treatment Reactor
Steam explosion
The biomass was steam-treated using
intermittent live steam injection to heat
stovers to 160°C for 10 minutes. After 10
min the stovers were exploded into a
receiver tank, collected, squeezed, dried
and ground

7. Two Chemical Combination Treatment (2CCT)
• First treated with an alkali and then an oxidant
• Residual analysis: The oxidant is completely
broken down in the process and alkaly is
completely removed by washing

8. Spin-off technology n In vitro GP after 48 h
(ml/200 mg)
True IVOMD after 48 h
(%)
U T U T
Steam Treatment
(M, S)
4 48.6 53.6 62.9 71.8
AFEX Treatment
(R, S, W, PM)
10 42.9 51.5 65.1 84.4
2CC Treatment
(PM, S, M, W)
11 39.7 66.7 55.9 94.1
Summary of effects of steam, ammonia fiber expansion and 2CC treatment on in
vitro gas production (GP) and true in vitro digestibility-1 (IVOMD) of
straws/stovers (M,S,PM,W) after 48 h of incubation. U = untreated; T = Treated
The average difference between true and apparent IVOMD is about 12.9 percentage units (van Soest, 94).
Increments in digestibility were similar independent of expression as apparent or true digestibility.
Blümmel et al. (2018)
ACETAMIDE

9. Comparisons of sheep performance with mash diet based on steam
and 2CCT treated rice straw in Patancheru, India
Control Steam
Treated
2CC
Treated
CP 12% 12 % 12%
Intake (g/day) 755 1147 945
Intake (g/kg LW) 37.30
(3.8% LW;
Dig 48.53%)
53.10
(5.4% LW;
Dig 50.16%)
40.10
(4.2% LW;
Dig 70.49%)
ADG (g) 32.45 79.91 95.43
Ingredients %
Rice straw 71
Soya meal 19
Molasses 8
Mineral mixture 1
Salt 1
* 84 days average

10. Deconstruction of ligno-cellulose biomass to improve feed quality
Complete
feed with
untreated
rice straw
Complete
feed with
STEAM
TREATED
rice straw
Complete
feed with
2CC
TREATED
rice straw
OMI/day (g/kgLW)* 28.3 39.9 34.1
Total weight gained (kg)
(10 weeks)
1.66 3.92 6.12
Economic impact (milk)
• 2CCT treated straw based feed has 4 MJ of additional energy /kgDM compared to untreated
• If average dry matter intake of a cow is 6 kg, the treatment will additionally provide 24 MJ of
energy, which can produce almost 5 lit of additional milk/day (Rs 150)
• Even if the treatment cost is Rs10/kg (Rs 60 kg total), the cost benefit will be highly favourable
Results of in vivo sheep trial with complete feed based on rice straw
* Average weight 20 kg, 21 kg and 22.55 kg respectively

11. THANK YOU