Sprouted Grain Imbibition Using Low Voltage and Vacuum
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to develop systems and methods that mitigate harmful enteric carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions, increase the availability of economically viable and sustainable livestock feed, and maximize the efficiency of transforming livestock feed into marketable protein for ruminant meat and dairy production, while addressing the projected increase in global food demand and limited land resources.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of an aqueous solution with plant additives, reactive oxygen species, and metallic salts to treat grains with low voltage direct current and reduced pressure, followed by cultivation into plant seedlings, which are then processed for use in ruminant feed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional grain feed is used for ruminant livestock, then the feed is simple to produce and maintain, but the enteric methane and carbon dioxide emissions are high and feed efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by treating grains with low voltage direct current and reduced pressure before cultivation into sprouted grains. This pre-treatment modifies the grain structure and composition in advance, enabling subsequent rapid germination and producing feed with reduced enteric methane emissions and improved feed efficiency without requiring complex processing equipment during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters by applying low voltage direct current (electrical parameter) and reduced pressure (pressure parameter) to grains during treatment. These parameter changes alter the grain's physical and chemical properties, enabling faster sprouting and producing feedstuff with enhanced nutritional value and reduced greenhouse gas emissions from ruminant digestion
2Quantity of substance
If more crop land is used to increase feed production, then feed availability increases, but land resource depletion accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
By pre-treating grains with low voltage and reduced pressure to accelerate germination, the system produces sprouted grains faster than traditional methods. This preliminary action reduces the time required to convert stored grains into high-value feedstuff, increasing feed availability without requiring additional crop land
Solution Approach 2:
The sprouted grain system enables self-service by allowing rapid germination of stored grains into nutritionally enhanced feedstuff. This eliminates the need for continuous external feed inputs and reduces dependence on expanded agricultural land, as the system can sustain itself using stored grain reserves
3Quantity of substance
If conventional grain storage is used, then storage is simple, but soluble sugar concentration in resulting feed is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by subjecting stored grains to low voltage direct current and reduced pressure conditions. These parameter changes trigger biochemical transformations that rapidly increase soluble sugar concentrations in the germinating grains, producing feed with 2-4 times higher soluble sugar content than conventional methods without requiring complex post-processing equipment
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
This approach increases the concentration of soluble sugars in ruminant diets by 8-24% compared to traditional feeds, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and offers opportunities for carbon credit generation, enhancing feed efficiency and sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
providing a system for imbibing grains. The method may further include introducing the grains to an aqueous solution comprising water and at least one plant additive
Implementation Method 2
Low volts of direct current may be applied to the grains and the solution comprising less than or equal to approximately 36.0 volts of direct current
Implementation Method 3
The pressure may be reduced over the grains and the solution to approximately 10.0-25.0 inches of mercury (Hg), wherein the reduced pressure may be maintained for approximately 60-240 minutes
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates in general to the imbibition of grains for the ruminant meat production and dairy production industries. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for maximizing the value of sprouted grains as a feedstuff for ruminant livestock using the combined applications of low volts of direct current and negative pressure during grain imbibition. The application of less than or equal to approximately 36.0 volts of direct current to grains in aqueous solutions for at least approximately 120 minutes, in addition to the application of negative pressure of approximately 10.0 inches of mercury (Hg) for at least approximately 60 minutes, have been found to mitigate harmful enteric carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions to offer opportunities for offset or inset carbon credit generation.