Rice Hull Feed via Hydrothermal Biofermentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for producing cattle feed from waste products of the rice processing industry are economically inefficient and provide inadequate nutrition, while the disposal of rice husks poses environmental challenges due to their large quantity and silica content.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the grinding of rice hulls and rice flour, followed by hydrothermal treatment and biofermentation with Trichoderma lignorum 19, which increases protein content and allows for complete digestion by cattle, resulting in a nutrient-rich feed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If rice hulls are simply added to feed, then the disposal problem is partially addressed, but the nutritional value is inadequate and economic efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotein contentVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by subjecting rice hulls to hydrothermal treatment at specific temperatures (110-120°C) and pressures (1-2 atm) for defined time periods (1.5-2 hours), followed by controlled biofermentation with Trichoderma lignorum at specific moisture contents (50-60%). These parameter transformations convert the inert rice hulls into high-protein feed material, resolving the contradiction between improving nutritional value and maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If rice hulls are incinerated, then disposal is achieved, but large amounts of land are required for ash storage and environmental harm occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental harmVSAvoidland requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful waste material (rice hulls that would otherwise be incinerated) into a beneficial product (high-protein feed). By using biofermentation with Trichoderma lignorum, the previously harmful silica-containing waste is transformed into nutritious feed material, eliminating environmental harm while producing valuable output, thus resolving the contradiction between environmental protection and land usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If existing feed production methods are used, then simple processing is maintained, but economic efficiency is low and nutrition is inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeconomic efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing steps
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing hydrothermal treatment on rice hulls before biofermentation. This pre-treatment step modifies the physical and chemical properties of the rice hulls, making them more suitable for subsequent fermentation and significantly improving the final protein content and nutritional value. This sequence of preliminary actions enhances economic efficiency while maintaining reasonable processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method effectively utilizes rice processing waste to produce a high-protein feed that can constitute up to 30% of cattle's daily diet, enhancing nutritional value and reducing waste disposal issues.

Implementation Method 1

ground to 0.2-0.5 mm and then hydrothermally treated at a temperature of 110-120°C to a moisture content of 50-60% at a pressure of 1-2 atm for 1.5-2 hours

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrothermal treatment:

Implementation Method 2

a biofermentation mass of Trichoderma lignorum 19 is added to the plant raw material in an amount of 5-15% of the mass of the raw material undergoing processing, the mixture is directed to a sealed bin for implementation of a microbiological process of impregnation and build-up of protein mass for 24-48 hours

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiofermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 3

the resulting biomass is dried at a temperature of 50-60°C to 13-14.5% moisture content to produce a finished product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDrying:

Data Source

PatentEP3622825B1Method for producing feed from secondary resources from the rice processing industry
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 SULTANXODJAEV AMANULLA ASADULLAEVICH

AI summary

Technical field: the invention relates to the field of agriculture, and more particularly to the production of feeds from non-fodder raw material, specifically waste from the rice processing industry. Aim: to expand the range of raw materials for producing feeds for farm animals, in particular cattle, and to produce a nutritious feed from secondary resources from the rice processing industry not hitherto used for this purpose, which can be used as a complete feed and also as a novel ingredient in the production of compound feed for cattle. Essence of the invention: a method is proposed for producing feeds from rice processing industry waste, which involves grinding a plant matter and subjecting same to biofermentation treatment using an active culture of Trichoderma lignorum, wherein the main plant matter used is rice hulls and rice flour, which is ground to 0.2-0.5 mm and then hydrothermally treated at a temperature of 110-120°C to a moisture content of 50-60% at a pressure of 1-2 atm for 1.5-2 hours, whereupon a biofermentation mass ("Trichoderma lignorum 19") is added to the plant matter in an amount of 5-15% of the mass of the raw material undergoing processing, the mixture is directed to a sealed bin for implementation of a microbiological process of impregnation and build-up of protein mass for 24-48 hours, then the resulting biomass is dried at a temperature of 50-60°C to 13-14.5% moisture content to produce a finished product.