United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

Terence R Whitehead

Michael A Cotta

Christopher A Dunlap

Douglas B Jordan

Xin Liang Li

Cheryl Spence

Quebracho tannins are effective for the treatment of animal wastes which contain feces or fecal waste-containing material to inhibit odor emissions therefrom. Application of an effective amount of Quebracho tannins to the animal wastes elicits one or both of reducing gas emissions (such as total gas, hydrogen sulfide, and/or methane) therefrom, and reducing the populations or metabolic activity of anaerobic sulfate reducing bacteria therein. Reduction of odor emissions from the animal waste may also be effected by combining the Quebracho tannins with animal litter which is applied in the locus or vicinity of the animal.

Application of tannins to reduce odor emissions from animal waste

Xylose-containing plant material may be hydrolyzed to xylose using a &#x3b2;-D-xylosidase which exhibits unexpectedly high activity. The enzyme has a kvalue for catalysis of approximately 185 secfor 1,4-&#x3b2;-D-xylobiose (X2) when measured at a pH of 5.3 and a temperature of 25&#xb0; C.; this is at least 10-fold greater than reported for other xylosidases at 25&#xb0; C. and their optimal pH. The enzyme also has an isoelectric point of approximately 4.4. When reacted at a pH between about 4.5 and about 7.7, the &#x3b2;-D-xylosidase exhibits surprisingly high activity for hydrolyzing xylose-containing plant materials to xylose. The xylose released from plant materials may then be converted to other secondary products such as ethanol by fermentation or other reaction. This &#x3b2;-D-xylosidase may be used alone or in combination with other hydrolytic or xylanolytic enzymes for treatment of lignocellulosic or hemicellulosic plant materials or plant material hydrolysates or xylooligosaccharides.

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

Terence R Whitehead