Silage Additive Nitrite Formate Clostridia Inhibition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current silage additives are ineffective in targeting Clostridia, and hexamethylene tetramine, previously used, is harmful and disfavored by food regulations.
Innovation Solution
A silage additive comprising 40-90 wt.% nitrite and 10-60 wt.% ammonium or sodium formate, with less than 2 wt.% hexamethylene tetramine, allowing for a higher active ingredient concentration against Clostridia without using hexamethylene tetramine, and optionally including sorbate, benzoate, propionic acid, lactic acid, or other additives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hexamethylene tetramine is used to inhibit Clostridia, then antibacterial effect is improved, but harmfulness and regulatory compliance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes hexamethylene tetramine from the silage additive formulation while retaining effective Clostridia inhibition through alternative active ingredients (formic acid and sorbic acid), directly extracting the harmful substance while preserving the beneficial function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the persistent harmful substance hexamethylene tetramine with shorter-acting, safer organic acids that degrade more quickly and leave fewer residual harmful effects, prioritizing short-term effectiveness over long-term persistence
2Ease of operation
If current silage additives are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but effectiveness against Clostridia worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the silage additive by replacing traditional ingredients with a new combination of formic acid (40-90 wt.%) and sorbic acid (10-60 wt.%), achieving improved Clostridia inhibition while maintaining practical ease of use through similar application methods
3Reliability
If high dosage of silage additive is applied, then Clostridia inhibition is improved, but dry matter losses worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs organic acids with short persistence that act quickly to inhibit Clostridia during the critical early fermentation period, then degrade naturally, preventing the need for持续 high dosages that would cause excessive dry matter losses
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 additive effectively inhibits Clostridia growth at lower dosages, reducing dry matter losses and butyric acid production, and can replace hexamethylene tetramine without loss in performance, offering better handling properties and regulatory compliance.
Implementation Method 1
The additive effectively inhibits Clostridia growth at lower dosages, reducing dry matter losses and butyric acid production
Implementation Method 2
spontaneous onset of natural lactic acid fermentation by epiphytic lactic acid bacteria present on the forage
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a silage additive comprising 40-90 wt.% nitrite and 10-60 wt.% formate, preferably more nitrite than formate by weight, more preferably additionally 1-5 wt.% of sorbate and/or benzoate; use of this silage additive to inhibit the growth of clostridia as well as a method for ensiling forage comprising adding the silage additive to forage in an amount of from 200 to 1500 g per ton of forage.