GB2110516A - Rearing larvae - Google Patents
Rearing larvae Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2110516A GB2110516A GB08234123A GB8234123A GB2110516A GB 2110516 A GB2110516 A GB 2110516A GB 08234123 A GB08234123 A GB 08234123A GB 8234123 A GB8234123 A GB 8234123A GB 2110516 A GB2110516 A GB 2110516A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- bed
- trough
- larvae
- zone
- pupae
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000000384 rearing effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 58
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 32
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 235000013601 eggs Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 102000004169 proteins and genes Human genes 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 108090000623 proteins and genes Proteins 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 241000287828 Gallus gallus Species 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000010828 animal waste Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 description 6
- 241000255925 Diptera Species 0.000 description 5
- 230000012010 growth Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000012447 hatching Effects 0.000 description 4
- 241000257159 Musca domestica Species 0.000 description 3
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 241000283973 Oryctolagus cuniculus Species 0.000 description 2
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 210000003608 fece Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000001963 growth medium Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002803 maceration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000019617 pupation Effects 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 235000001674 Agaricus brunnescens Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 241000283690 Bos taurus Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000238631 Hexapoda Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000286209 Phasianidae Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000282887 Suidae Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000255588 Tephritidae Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005273 aeration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000013339 cereals Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000005253 cladding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002361 compost Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000029087 digestion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000009571 larval growth Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007791 liquid phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000012054 meals Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000002609 medium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000021049 nutrient content Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000017448 oviposition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003415 peat Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008188 pellet Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012466 permeate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008635 plant growth Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000002985 plastic film Substances 0.000 description 1
- 244000144977 poultry Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000002203 pretreatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002035 prolonged effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003516 soil conditioner Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000004243 sweat Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K67/00—Rearing or breeding animals, not otherwise provided for; New or modified breeds of animals
- A01K67/033—Rearing or breeding invertebrates; New breeds of invertebrates
- A01K67/0332—Earthworms
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Feed For Specific Animals (AREA)
Abstract
A method for the treatment of a solid material containing a protein, notably an animal waste slurry, comprises rearing larvae on a moving bed of the material on a trough 4, which bed passes through a series of zones A, B in which the bed is subjected to conditions of temperature and illumination which cause eggs on the bed to hatch adjacent to the upstream end A of the bed, to cause at least some of the resultant larvae to grow on the bed to the pupal stage in a downstream zone B of the bed and to cause at least some of the pupae to hatch and migrate to the upstream zone of the bed, attracted by light 8. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Method of treating solid material
The present invention relates to a method for treating waste.
Proteinaceous waste is produced during a number of operations, e.g. as animal excreta from animal husbandry and as waste material from food processing or animal feedstuff production. This waste often occurs in larger amounts than can readily be handled by an operator and has an offensive smell. Also, it requires treatment before it can be disposed of, which can be an expensive operation.
We have now devised a method for treating a proteinaceous waste material which renders it fit for other uses and yields a valuable by-product.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for the treatment of a solid material containing a protein which method comprises rearing larvae on a moving bed of the material, which bed passes through a series of zones in which the bed is subjected to conditions of temperature and illumination which cause eggs on the bed to hatch adjacent to the upstream end of the bed, to cause at least some of the resultant larvae to grow on the bed to the pupal stage in a downstream zone of the bed and to cause at least some of the pupae to hatch and migrate to the first zone of the bed.
The method of the invention can be applied to a wide range of materials, e.g. to animal excrement from the rearing of pigs, cattle, poultry (notably chicken or turkeys), horses or rabbits; and to waste or reject material from making foodstuffs. It is preferred that, where an animal excrement slurry is used, it is in the form of a slurry of the larger particles, e.g. those with a largest dimension greater than 1 mm, preferably in the range 1 to 5 mms, which is used.
The material can be fed in the process of the invention in the form of a slurry of solid in a liquid carrier, in which case it is preferred that the solids content be at least 5%, preferably more than 12%, on a total weight basis. We have found that the churning action caused by the larvae in the bed of material assists separation of liquid phase from materials which have hitherto been difficult to separate, e.g. the gel-like material from an anaerobic digester for pig excrement. However, it is preferred to use the material in a friable fibrous or particulate form which can be readily handled and heaped.Thus, it may be desired to subject the initial form of the material, say rabbits pellets or horse dung, to maceration, optionally in the presence of water, to reduce to the optimum form for present use. it is also within the scope of the present invention to use a liquid proteinaceous material, e.g. a concentrated liquid effluent, which has been adsorbed and/or adsorbed onto a solid carrier medium, e.g. peat or a cereal meal or flake.
The material for present use contains a protein and this is preferably present in amounts in excess of about 10% dry weight. If desired, the material can be enriched with protein or other additives to ensure that the material provides an adequate growth medium for the larvae. The material can also be subjected to a pre-treatment, e.g. drying, maceration and/or aerobic or anaerobic digestion before it is used in the process of the invention.
Desirably, the material for present use has an initial water content of at least 40% on a dry weight basis, so as to provide humid conditions within and above the bed during at least the initial stages of the larval growth. However, it may be desired to allow or assist the material in the bed to dry out in the later stages of the method of the invention to promote pupation of the larvae.
In the method of the invention larvae are grown on the bed of material. During their growth, in general they reduce the bulk volume of the material and also offensive odours from the material are reduced. The resultant material is more acceptable for discharge to waste than the initial material and often finds use as a plant growth medium or soil conditioner. The method of the invention can be operated so as to produce predominantly larvae as a by-produce (which can be sold as such) or predominantly pupae which find use as a protein source, e.g. for animal foodstuffs. The method of the invention thus enables an unacceptable material to be processed to yield a usable product and to recover protein values therefrom.Whilst it can be applied to many types of larvae, the method of the invention is of especial use with the larvae of flies, notably of the common house fly (Musca domestica), meat flies (e.g. Sircophoga or Caliphora vomitoria) or fruit flies (Borboridae).
In the method of the invention a moving bed of the material is formed and this is passed through a series of zones of different illumination and temperature levels. The bed can be formed by feeding the material to a moving carrier surface, e.g. an endless conveyor belt or a moving platform; or by causing the bed to move along a stationary surface. Thus, material can be fed by gravity chute or auger to a moving belt moving in a trough or being provided with side walls to retain the load of material on the belt as it moves.
Alternatively, the conveyor can be formed from a series of linked pans or containers. The moving carrier carries the bed of material through the various zones and discharges the treated material into a collection hopper. Howevever, we have found that a particularly simple method for forming the bed comprises feeding material to the upstream end of a trough. The movement of the bed along the trough is achieved in part by gravity where the trough is sloped, in part by the churning action of larvae within the material and in part by the forward movement imparted by feeding further material to the upstream end of the trough.
If desired the trough can be inclined, e.g. at 5 to 250, to the horizontal to aid movement of the material along the trough. In this way movement, of the bed of material is achieved without the input of significant amounts of energy and in a simple, cheap piece of equipment. However, if desired the trough can take the form of a tube or drum which is rotated about its generally
horizontal axis. In this way the bed of materials tumbles in the drum or tube, aiding aeration of the
material and its movement down the drum. The trough can have any suitable cross section, e.g.
semi-circular, triangular or squared. Also, if desired, the walls and/or base of the trough can be perforated to assist passage of air or other material through the bed and to aid release of excess moisture.
The bed passes through a series of zones which
encourage eggs in the material to hatch, larvae to
grow and pupate. It will usually be desired to
subject the bed to an initial zone of high
illumination, e.g. daylight or artificial illumination,
to attract flies or other inserts arising from the
hatching of pupae at a later stage to lay eggs on
the material. If desired, the eggs can be introduced
artificially. However, it is preferred to allow the
egg laying to occur in situ, since this will enable
the most suitable form of insect to establish itself
in a given operation by natural selection.
After the initial light zone, the bed passes through a darker, warm, humid zone to promote
hatching of the eggs and initial growth of the
larvae. This zone is conveniently formed by
covering the bed with a substantially light-proof
lid, which preferably is thermally insulated. Thus, for example, the trough in which the bed lies is
covered with a lid, the only light reaching the area
under the lid being that from the illuminated first zone, e.g. that from the open feed port for the material or from the light source used in that zone.
If desired, heat can be supplied to the bed, e.g. by using infra red lamps or by blowing warm air through the bed. Preferably, the heating is by indirect means, for example by using heating coils or cables in the wall of the trough. Desirably, the relative humidity of the atmosphere above the bed is maintained at 50 to 85% during the initial hatching and growth of the larvae. The temperature is preferably maintained at above 20 C, but at below the temperature at which the larvae sweat. This usually occurs at about 23 to 250C. If desired, temperatures below 20"C can be used where it is desired to slow down the process, e.g. when there is a prolonged interruption in the supply of material to the bed.
The bed then passes to a zone wherein at least some of the larvae pupate and hatch. This is promoted by warm, drier conditions, e.g. by means of infra red lights or conventional lighting, or by ventilating the air space above the bed. Desirably, the moisture content of the bed is in the range 30 to 90% on a dry weight basis and the temperature is similar to that in the earlier zone, e.g. in excess of 200 C. At this stage the nutrient content and volume of the moving bed have been reduced due to the feeding action of the larvae. This would cause the larvae to move out of the bed in search of further food supplies. This movement can be channelled into a collection trough or other container. Alternatively, where the remaining bed is in an appropriate form and amount, the bed/larvae/pupae mixture can be discharged directly.If desired, the mixture can be separated by a suitable technique to recover the remaining bed material, e.g. for use as a mushroom compost.
As indicated above, the method of the invention can be operated to provide predominantly pupae in the end bed mixture or to provide predominantly larvae. The formation of pupae is achieved by a longer residence time of the larvae in the moving bed. This can be achieved either by a slower rate of movement of the bed through the same piece of equipment; or by lengthening the path of the moving bed, notably in the final zone of heat and light; or by a combination of these. Thus, in the case of the common house fly, it is preferred to have a total residence time of from 5 to 10 days for the moving bed to produce pupae and from a 2 to 7 days for larvae.
The optimum illumination, temperature and residence time conditions will depend upon a number of factors for each given case and the above description is given by way of a general guide.
The method of the invention is illustrated by the following Example which uses the apparatus shown diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing.
Solid chicken waste from an intensive battery unit 1 is fed by auger 2 to a chute 3 feeding an inclined trough 4. The trough has a truncated V cross-section and is inclined at 50 to the horizontal. The base of the trough can be provided with apertures 5 extending over the majority of the length of the trough. The apertures are typically 0.5 mms in diameter. The apertures enable excess moisture to drain out of the bed air to permeate through the bed. The waste enters trough 4 via an entry hatch 7 at the upper end of a cover 6 over the trough to form a bed in the trough. Typically, the waste has a protein content of 20% and a moisture content of 80%, both on a dry weight basis, and a temperature of about 5 to 1 5 C. The trough is of such a size that it can accommodate 7 days feed of waste from the battery unit 1.If necessary several troughs can be fed in parallel from one battery unit.
The walls of trough 4 are insulated to retain heat within the trough, e.g. with a foam plastics or mineral fibre cladding or Flectalon (shredded metal coated plastic sheet). Preferably, electrical heating cables are imbedded in the wall of the trough to provide indirect heating to the bed.
The upstream end of the trough is provided with a source of illumination to attract flies hatched at the lower end of the trough to lay eggs at the upstream end of the moving bed. This illumination can be provided by a light 8 or merely by opening the waste entry hatch 7. This latter also allows indigenous flies to lay eggs in the waste in the trough during the initial start up of the process.
The trough then has a zone of lower illumination (A) in which the warm humid conditions of the bed promote hatching of the eggs. The illumination in this zone is preferably provided merely by that spilling over from the first zone. If desired low intensity lights, e.g. red or orange lights can be provided in this zone, to permit observation of the bed of material. A temperature of between 20 and 230C is maintained by means of the heating cables in the trough wall. In some cases, e.g. during hot weather, it may be possible to dispense with the external heating once the operation of the bed has reached equilibrium conditions.
Movement of material down the trough is caused by the feed of new material to the trough and also by the movement of larvae within the material. This carries the waste/larvae mixture through zone A into zone B where the illumination is less intense than in zone A and preferably is provided by the overspill of illumination from the first zone. The temperature is maintained at 1 7 to 230C to promote further growth of the larvae and cause pupation of at least some of the larvae.
In, zone B drying of the bed of material occurs and this can be assisted by blowing air through or counter-current over the bed. Alternatively, the end wall of the trough can have an air inlet to permit a natural flow of air over the bed to the entry hatch at the other end of the trough.
Some of the pupae in zone B will hatch to give flies which are attracted to the light at the upper end of the trough to lay eggs there and thus start the cycle all over again.
The mixture from zone B is discharged onto a riddle or other separating device 10 in order to separate the larvae from the remainder of the bed material and these products collected for sale or use.
From another aspect, the invention also provides apparatus for use in the method of the invention which comprises a trough having its longitudinal axis inclined at from 5 to 250 to the horizontal, the trough having apertures in the base thereof, the side walls of the trough being thermally insulated and having means for indirectly heating the contents of the trough, the top of the trough being closed at least partially by an insulated cover which has an aperture at the upstream end thereof whereby material may be fed to the upper end of the trough, the trough being provided with means for circulating air over material in the trough.
Claims (9)
1. A method for the treatment of a solid material containing a protein which method comprises rearing larvae on a moving bed of the material, which bed passes through a series of zones in which the bed is subjected to conditions of temperature and illumination which cause eggs on the bed to hatch adjacent to the upstream end of the bed, to cause at least some of the resultant larvae to grow on the bed to the pupal stage in a downstream zone of the bed and to cause at least some of the pupae to hatch and migrate to the first zone of the bed.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bed is formed within an inclined trough to which material is fed at the uppermost end.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the trough has insulated walls and a cover thereto, which cover has an opening at one end for feeding material into the trough.
4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bed of material passes through an initial zone of higher illumination, then through a darker zone in which the relative humidity of the airspace above the bed is in the range 50 to 85% and the temperature is maintained at from 20 to 250C, then through a zone where the bed has a moisture content of from 30 to 90% on a dry weight basis, and the bed mixture is then discharged to a means for separating the larvae/pupae from the solid residue.
5. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the material to be treated is a slurry containing at least 12% on a dry weight basis of solids.
6. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the larvae and/or pupae are of one or more types of fly.
7. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the material is chicken waste or a pig excrement slurry.
8. A method substantially as hereinbefore described.
9. Apparatus for use in the method of claim 1 which comprises a trough having its longitudinal axis inclined at from 5 to 250 to the horizontal, the trough having apertures in the base thereof, the side walls of the trough being thermally insulated and having means for indirectly heating the contents of the trough, the top of the trough being closed at least partially by an insulated cover which has an aperture at the upstream end thereof whereby material may be fed to the upper end of the trough, the trough being provided with means for circulating air over material in the trough.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08234123A GB2110516B (en) | 1981-12-01 | 1982-11-30 | Rearing larvae |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8136202 | 1981-12-01 | ||
| GB08234123A GB2110516B (en) | 1981-12-01 | 1982-11-30 | Rearing larvae |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2110516A true GB2110516A (en) | 1983-06-22 |
| GB2110516B GB2110516B (en) | 1985-05-30 |
Family
ID=26281426
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08234123A Expired GB2110516B (en) | 1981-12-01 | 1982-11-30 | Rearing larvae |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2110516B (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1995026633A2 (en) * | 1994-03-31 | 1995-10-12 | Dikla International | Insects' egg-laying substrate |
| US6938574B2 (en) * | 2002-06-25 | 2005-09-06 | Mao Zhang | Rearing fly larvae and animals in space for waste recycling and food supplying |
| WO2019053456A1 (en) * | 2017-09-14 | 2019-03-21 | Entocycle Ltd | Apparatus and methods for production of dipteran insects |
| US20210000090A1 (en) * | 2017-12-22 | 2021-01-07 | Protix B.V. | Insect tray with cover, rack for said tray, use of an assembly of said rack with at least one tray |
| US12016316B2 (en) | 2017-09-14 | 2024-06-25 | Entocycle Ltd | Apparatus and methods for production of dipteran insects |
-
1982
- 1982-11-30 GB GB08234123A patent/GB2110516B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1995026633A2 (en) * | 1994-03-31 | 1995-10-12 | Dikla International | Insects' egg-laying substrate |
| WO1995026633A3 (en) * | 1994-03-31 | 1995-11-23 | Dikla International | Insects' egg-laying substrate |
| US6938574B2 (en) * | 2002-06-25 | 2005-09-06 | Mao Zhang | Rearing fly larvae and animals in space for waste recycling and food supplying |
| WO2019053456A1 (en) * | 2017-09-14 | 2019-03-21 | Entocycle Ltd | Apparatus and methods for production of dipteran insects |
| US12016316B2 (en) | 2017-09-14 | 2024-06-25 | Entocycle Ltd | Apparatus and methods for production of dipteran insects |
| US20210000090A1 (en) * | 2017-12-22 | 2021-01-07 | Protix B.V. | Insect tray with cover, rack for said tray, use of an assembly of said rack with at least one tray |
| US12004496B2 (en) * | 2017-12-22 | 2024-06-11 | Protix B.V. | Insect tray with cover, rack for said tray, use of an assembly of said rack with at least one tray |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2110516B (en) | 1985-05-30 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |