HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chung, P. Articles by Krook, L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Chung, P. Articles by Krook, L.

Production and Nutritive Value of Arthrospira Platensis, a Spiral Blue-Green Alga Grown on Swine Wastes

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

Abstract

Methane generation has been proposed as a means of swine waste disposal. As a secondary treatment to recover nitrogen, carbon and other nutrients from the effluent of a methane generator, Arthrospira platensis (a blue-green alga also known as Spirulina) was grown and its nutritive value determined. This alga contained 55 to 61% crude protein and was easy to harvest. Three indoor culture ponds of .65 M² were designed and built. The ponds consisted of a bottomless wooden frame lined with a polyethylene sheet resting on a table top. Culture medium was kept circulating by a special aerator. An inorganic medium was evaluated. When algal growth reached a saturation point, there was still 70% of N0₃^— and 11% of HCO₃^— left unused in the medium. Swine waste fermented at a hydraulic retention time of 10 days gave the highest ratio (2.3:1) of NH₃-N to TKN (about 70% NH₃-N). NH₃ seemed to support best the growth of algae, when the effluent was slowly infused. Organic acids in the effluent also provided a good source of carbon, a limiting factor when algae were intensively grown. Under the light intensity of 500 footcandles, Arthrospira yielded about 5 g/M²/day. A sample containing 2,038 mg of NH₃-N produced 16,250 mg of dry algae, containing 9,750 mg protein or 1,560 mg N, giving an efficiency of nitrogen recovery of 76%. The protein of Arthrospira platensis showed a PER of 2.25, apparent nitrogen digestibility of 76.7% and biological value of 67.7%; no toxic effects were noted.

¹ Chief, Animal Industry Division, JCRR, 37 Nai Hai Rd., Taipei, Taiwan.

² Department of Animal Science.

³ Department of Botany.

⁴ Present address: Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, NY.

⁵ Department of Pathology, NY State College of Veterinary Medicine.