DEVELOPMENT OF BIOREACTOR TO ENRICH THE PROTEIN OF AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES

The present study aims to develop a simple bioreactor to enrich the protein of rice straw using solid-state fermentation. laboratory experiments were carried out at Testing and Research Station for Tractor and Farm Machinery, Alexandria governorate, Egypt to study the effect of three bioreactor temperature levels T1 (25°C), T2 (35°C), and T3 (45°C) and three rice straw moisture levels M1(25%), M2(50%) and M3(65%) on fungus growth activity on rice straw under solid state fermentation by Trichoderma harzinaum F-418 fungi (TH) and molasses, valvic solution additive with controlled temperature and moisture at fermentation time (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days) to determine the optimum conditions of fungal treatment in terms of moisture and temperature. Parameters related to microbial growth crude protein content (CP%), and crude fiber (CF%) were measured every 24 hours and compared with crude protein content % (CP%), and crude fiber % (CF%) of rice straw before treatment (control treatment). The obtained results can be summarized as follows: The highest crude protein and the lowest crude fiber values were obtained at the temperature of 35 °C and the moisture content of 65% after 4 and 5 days. The best value of crude protein was 5.88% which increased 103% of the control treatment and the best value of crude fiber content was 28.35% by decreasing 30% of the control treatment. It is evident that these values demonstrated good operation of fermentation in bioreactor.