• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.11-17
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• 2015

This study performed acid fermentation pre-treatment to improve production efficiency of methane that is produced as a product in case of anaerobic fermentation by using food waste leachate, and attempted to confirm the acid fermentation optimum through the BMP test by using pre-treated food waste leachate to increase the yield of methane. As a result of the BMP experiment by using acid fermented food waste leachate, the highest yield of methane of 0.220 L/g VS was confirmed in the HRT three-day condition, and in the initial BMP test by pH, pH 6 was 19,920 mg/L that the highest VFA and acetic acid/TVFA(76.2%) were shown. At this time, it was confirmed that the yield of methane was mostly within 10 days that was reduced to around one-third compared to the general methane fermentation (within 30 days). As the yield of methane was 0.294 L/g VS, it showed a high efficiency of around 1.3 times compared to the control group.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.952-959
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of 11 active compounds of essential oils (ACEO) on rumen fermentation characteristics and methane production. Two trials were conducted. In trial 1, ACEO (eugenol, carvacrol, citral, limonene, 1,4-cineole, p-cymene, linalool, bornyl acetate, ${\alpha}$-pinene, and ${\beta}$-pinene) at a dose of $1,000{\mu}L/L$ were incubated for 24 h in diluted rumen fluid with a 70:30 forage:concentrate substrate (16.2% crude protein; 36.6% neutral detergent fiber). Three fistulated Holstein cows were used as donors of rumen fluid. The reduction in methane production was observed with nine ACEO (up to 86% reduction) compared with the control (p<0.05). Among these, only limonene, 1,4-cineole, bornyl acetate, and ${\alpha}$-pinene did not inhibit volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, and only bornyl acetate produced less methane per mol of VFA compared with the control (p<0.05). In a subsequent trial, the effects on rumen fermentation and methane production of two concentrations (500 and $2,000{\mu}L/L$) of bornyl acetate, the most promising ACEO from the first trial, were evaluated using the same in vitro incubation method that was used in the first trial. In trial 2, monensin was used as a positive control. Both doses of bornyl acetate decreased (p<0.05) methane production and did not inhibit VFA production. Positive effects of bornyl acetate on methane and VFA production were more pronounced than the effects of monensin. These results confirm the ability of bornyl acetate to decrease methane production, which may help to improve the efficiency of energy use in the rumen.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.927-933
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• 2007

Waste activated sludge (WAS) was thermally pretreated to enhance hydrolysis and ultimately methane yield. Batch and semi-continuous anaerobic digestion were conducted to evaluate the performance of methane fermentation of the hydrolyzed sludge and to investigate the kinetics of sludge fermentation. Thermal pretreatment remarkably enhanced digestion performances particularly the methane fermentation with three times more methane production than before the pretreatment. Gas production and kinetic parameters in the semi-continuous anaerobic digestion were estimated using Chen Hashimoto model. The model simulation fitted well the experimental results and the model was shown to be suitable for evaluating the effects of disintegration of WAS in anaerobic digestion. Three parameters ($B_o$, K, and ${\mu}_m$) determined by model simulation were $0.0807L-CH_4/g-VS$, 0.453 and $0.154d^{-1}$ for control sludge, and $0.253L-CH_4/g-VS$, 0.835 and $0.218d^{-1}$ for thermally pretreated sludge, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.29-37
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• 2008

In this work, it was investigated that various aspects of process, application situation, merits and short-coming results of the thermophilic methane fermentation with highly concentrated organic waste substances such as sewage sludges, food wastes and excretions. The merits of this methane fermentation were that it had a very fast reaction rate and was possible to proceed in high loads. It was also high in mortality for pathogenic microorganism and the digested sludge was more hygienic. However, the short-comings were that more energy was required for heating in the fermentation facility, no surplus energy could be gained from low concentration of organic waste, the fermentation treatment dropped level of water quality, thus burdens discharging process of water. Especially, the high concentration of methane fermentation could possibly lack nutritious salt and could face the disturbance by ${NH_4}^+-N$, a proper alternative was required. In general, thermophilic methane fermentation was considered as a better mean in disposing of cow excretion and food waste which were highly concentrated organic wastes. On the other hand, under the condition where the concentration of waste material was low and the high concentrate waste material became higher than 3,000 mg/L in ${NH_4}^+-N$, thermophilic methane fermentation resulted less desirable outcome.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.700-707
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• 2010

Effects of protease-resistant antimicrobial substances (PRA) produced by Lactobacillus plantarum and Leuconostoc citreum on rumen methanogenesis were examined using the in vitro continuous methane quantification system. Four different strains of lactic acid bacteria, i) Lactococcus lactis ATCC19435 (Control, non-antibacterial substances), ii) Lactococcus lactis NCIMB702054 (Nisin-Z), iii) Lactobacillus plantarum TUA1490L (PRA-1), and iv) Leuconostoc citreum JCM9698 (PRA-2) were individually cultured in GYEKP medium. An 80 ml aliquot of each supernatant was inoculated into phosphate-buffered rumen fluid. PRA-1 remarkably decreased cumulative methane production, though propionate, butyrate and ammonia N decreased. For PRA-2, there were no effects on $CH_4$ and $CO_2$ production and fermentation characteristics in mixed rumen cultures. The results suggested that PRA-1 reduced the number of methanogens or inhibited utilization of hydrogen in rumen fermentation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.103-109
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• 2019

Objective: Ensiling of tannin-rich fruit byproducts (FB) involves quantitative and qualitative changes in the tannins, which would consequently change the rumen fermentation characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate whether ensiled FBs are effective in mitigating methane emission from ruminants by conducting in vitro assessments. Methods: Fruit byproducts (grape pomace, wild grape pomace, and persimmon skin) were collected and subjected to four-week ensiling by Lactobacillus buchneri inoculant. A defined feed component with or without FB samples (both fresh and ensiled material) were subjected to in vitro anaerobic culturing using rumen fluid sampled from beef cattle, and the fermentation parameters and microbial populations were monitored. Results: Reduced methane production and a proportional change in total volatile fatty acids (especially enhanced propionate proportion) was noted in bottles containing the FBs compared with that in the control (without FB). In addition, we found lower gene copy number of archaeal 16S rRNA and considerably higher levels of one of the major fibrolytic bacteria (Fibrobacter succinogenes) in the bottles containing FBs than in the control, particularly, when it was included in a forage-based feed. However, in the following cultivation experiment, we observed that FBs failed to exhibit a significant difference in methane production with or without polyethylene glycol, implying that tannins in the FBs may not be responsible for the mitigation of methane generation. Conclusion: The results of the in vitro cultivation experiments indicated that not only the composition but also ensiling of FBs affected rumen fermentation patterns and the degree of methane generation. This is primarily because of the compositional changes in the fibrous fraction during ensiling as well as the presence of readily fermented substrates, whereas tannins in these FBs seemed to have little effect on the ruminal fermentation kinetics.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.1270-1289
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• 2023

This study evaluates how different feeding systems impact ruminal fermentation, methane production, and microbiota of Hanwoo steers native to Korea. In a replicated 2 × 2 crossover design over 29 days per period, eight Hanwoo steers (507.1 ± 67.4 kg) were fed twice daily using a separate feeding (SF) system comprising separate concentrate mix and forage or total mixed rations (TMR) in a 15:85 ratio. The TMR-feeding group exhibited a considerable neutral detergent fiber digestibility increase than the SF group. However, ruminal fermentation parameters and methane production did not differ between two feeding strategies. In addition, TMR-fed steers expressed elevated Prevotellaceae family, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, and an unidentified Veillonellaceae family genus abundance in their rumen, whereas SF-fed steers were rich in the Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Erysipelotrichaceae UCG-004, and Succinivibrio. Through linear regression modeling, positive correlations were observed between the Shannon Diversity Index and the SF group's dry matter intake and methane production. Although feeding systems do not affect methane production, they can alter ruminal microbes. These results may guide future feeding system investigations or ruminal microbiota manipulations as a methane-mitigation practice examining different feed ingredients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1698-1707
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• 2013

Optimization of the dietary formulation is the most effective way to reduce methane. Nineteen feed ingredients (brans, vegetable proteins, and grains) were evaluated for their potential to generate methane and change methanogen diversity using an in vitro ruminal fermentation technique. Feed formulations categorized into high, medium and low production based on methane production of each ingredient were then subjected to in vitro fermentation to determine the real methane production and their effects on digestibility. Methanogen diversity among low, medium and high-methane producing groups was analyzed by PCR-DGGE. The highest methane production was observed in Korean wheat bran, soybean and perilla meals, and wheat and maize of brans, vegetable protein and cereal groups, respectively. On the other hand, corn bran, cotton seed meal and barley led to the lowest production in the same groups. Nine bacteria and 18 methanogen 16s rDNA PCR-DGGE dominant bands were identified with 83% to 99% and 92% to 100% similarity, respectively. Overall, the results of this study showed that methane emissions from ruminants can be mitigated through proper selection of feed ingredients to be used in the formulation of diets.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.584-593
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• 2021

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare fenugreek (FG) with alfalfa (Alf) in ruminal fermentation and methane (CH4) production in vitro. Methods: Whole-plant FG harvested at 11- and 15-wk and Alf harvested at early and mid-bloom maturities, alone or as 50:50 mixture of FG and Alf at the respective maturity, were assessed in a series of 48-h in vitro batch culture incubations. Total fermentation gas and methane gas production, dry matter (DM) disappearance, volatile fatty acids, microbial protein and 16S RNA gene copy numbers of total bacteria and methanogens were determined. Results: Compared to early bloom Alf, FG harvested at 11-wk exhibited higher (p<0.05) in vitro DM and neutral detergent fibre disappearance, but this difference was not observed between the mid-bloom Alf and 15-wk FG. Regardless plant maturity, in vitro ruminal fermentation of FG produced less (p<0.001) CH4 either on DM incubated or on DM disappeared basis than that of Alf during 48-h incubation. In vitro ruminal fermentation of FG yielded similar amount of total volatile fatty acids with higher (p<0.05) propionate percentage as compared to fermentation of Alf irrespective of plant maturity. Microbial protein synthesis was greater (p<0.001) with 11-wk FG than early bloom Alf as substrate and 16S RNA gene copies of total bacteria was higher (p<0.01) with 15-wk FG than mid-bloom Alf as substrate. Compared to mid-bloom Alf, 15-wk FG had lower (p<0.05 to 0.001) amount of 16S RNA methanogen gene copies in the whole culture during 48-h incubation. Conclusion: In comparison to Alf, FG emerges as a high quality forage that can not only improve rumen fermentation in vitro, but can also remarkably mitigate CH4 emissions likely due to being rich in saponins.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1577-1583
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• 2014

Encapsulation is a method used to protect material from certain undesirable environments, for controlled release at a more favorable time and place. Animal productivity would be enhanced if feed additives are delivered to be utilized at their site of action, bypassing the rumen where they are likely to be degraded by microbial action. A novel method of encapsulation with sesame gum was used to coat nitrate, a known enteric methane mitigating agent, and tested for the effect on methane reduction and other in vitro fermentation parameters using rumen fluid from cannulated Hanwoo steers. Orchard grass was used as basal diet for fermentation. The treatments were matrix (1.1 g sesame gum+0.4 g sesame oil cake) only, encapsulated nitrate (matrix+nitrate [21 mM]), free nitrate (21 mM), and a control that contained no additive. Analyses of fermentation parameters were done at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 48 h time periods. In comparison to control, both free and encapsulated nitrate produced significantly reduced (p<0.01) methane (76% less) and also the total volatile fatty acids were reduced. A significantly higher (p<0.01) concentration of ammonia nitrogen was obtained with the encapsulated nitrate treatment (44%) compared to the free form (28%) and matrix only (20%) (p = 0.014). This might suggest slow release of encapsulated nitrate so that it is fully reduced to ammonia. Thus, this pioneering study found a significant reduction in methane production following the use of sesame gum encapsulated nitrate that shows the potential of a controlled release system in enhancing sustainability of ruminant production while reducing/eliminating the risk of nitrite toxicity.