GB450693A - Improvements in or relating to the preservation of green fodder - Google Patents

Abstract

Green fodder is preserved by spreading thereon a solid substance which reacts with water to yield hydrochloric acid. This substance may be one or a mixture of solid compounds, such as the alkali or alkaline earth salts of chlorsulphonic or pyrochlorsulphonic acids, to which adsorption agents such as silicic acid gel can be added. Liquid compounds or mixtures thereof, e.g. phosphorus oxychloride or trichloride, sulphuryl chlorides, thionyl chloride, chlorsulphonic acid, silicon tetrachloride, acetyl chloride, &c., may be used together with adsorption agents such as kieselguhr or activated carbon which bring them into a spreadable form. To retard the decomposition of the added substances water absorbing agents, e.g. anhydrous salts, acid anhydrides, or adsorption agents may be added. Wetting agents which favour the escape of air from the green fodder may be included. In examples given: (1) young grass is treated with sodium pyrochlorosulphonate; (2) young clover is sprinkled in layers with a mixture of calcium chlorosulphonate and anhydrous calcium chloride; (3) meadow grass is treated in layers with a mixture of calcium pyrochlorosulphonate, sodium chlorosulphonate and phosphorus pentoxide. The Provisional Specification also describes the use of aqueous solutions of the preservative substances, e.g. sulphuryl chloride is absorbed in kieselguhr which contains one per cent of sodium oleyloxethanesulphonate or of the sulphuric acid ester of coconut oil alcohol, and an aqueous solution of the powder so obtained is used for treating turnip leaves.