Method of treating ligno-cellulose to produce animal fodder

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Ligno-cellulose material such as aspen poplar wood is rendered suitable for use as ruminant fodder by treating the material with saturated steam at elevated pressure in a digester. In order to enhance the yield of digestible product formed, whilst at the same time retaining economically favorable process conditions, special process features are employed in feeding and discharging the material to and from the digester, to avoid overheating the material even locally. The, material is maintained at or above the fibre moisture saturation point and is compacted, prior to entry into the digester. Then it is abruptly subjected to steam pressures and temperatures in the digester, so that it …