Title: On-farm applications of cattle manure fibre hydrolysis biotechnologies: a review

Authors: Noori M. Cata Saady; Daniel I. Massé

Addresses: Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1M 0C8, Canada ' Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1M 0C8, Canada

Abstract: Bioenergy potential of cattle manure can be increased by incorporating a hydrolysis step prior to on-farm anaerobic digestion; however, on-farm conditions require simple yet reliable process which can be operated at ambient temperature with a minimum of energy input. Biological processes making use of (or involving) fungal cultures are potential alternatives particularly if they utilise ruminants' indigenous fungal species which could thrive in such substrate matrix. The review revealed that fungal strains with lignolytic, cellulolytic and hemicellulytic activities have been increasingly isolated recently from different environments. The potential, challenges and development strategies of fungal-based hydrolysis of animal manure are discussed.

Keywords: psychrophilic; cattle manure; fungal cultures; hydrolysis; manure fibre; on-farm anaerobic digestion; biotechnology; bioenergy potential; farms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2015.069963

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2015 Vol.15 No.4, pp.327 - 346

Received: 02 Feb 2014
Accepted: 25 Jan 2015

Published online: 16 Jun 2015 *

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