WO2002055452A1

WO2002055452A1 - Method for powdering liquefied cms by mixing with coco-peat

Info

Publication number: WO2002055452A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/000042
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chun-Sik Kang; Jee-Won Park
Original assignee: Gbrc Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-01-11
Filing date: 2002-01-10
Publication date: 2002-07-18

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for powdering condensed molasses solubles(CMS), which is obtained as a by-product in fermentation process using microorganism, mainly, in amino acid fermentation process or vitamin fermentation process and the use of the powdered CMS. According to the present invention, troubles resulting from using liquefied CMS can be solved by powdering the highly viscous CMS by mixing with coco-peat. Moreover, because the present invention can be applied to powder the CMS with the high content, CMS can be used effectively instead of throwing it away to the sea.

Description


  



   METHOD FOR POWDERING LIQUEFIED CMS BY MIXING
WITH COCO-PEAT
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to a method for powdering condensed molasses solubles (CMS), that is a by-product from fermentation processes using microorganisms, mainly from amino acid fermentation or vitamin fermentation processes, and also to fertilizers, soil improvers and animal feeds which contain the powdered CMS as an active ingredient. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for converting a highly viscous liquid by-product of microbial fermentation processes into a powder form, in which crushed coco-peat, that is a byproduct of coconut industries, is added to CMS which contains large amounts of ingredients beneficial to soil and crops, including various organic substances, proteins and amino acids.



   BACKGROUND ART
Fermentation processes using microorganisms are used for the production of various products including alcohol, amino acids including glutamate which is a typical component of seasoning and lysine, organic acids including citric acid, various antibiotics, physiologically active substances including vitamins, and polymeric substances including polymeric peptide. For the microbial fermentation, carbon sources, nitrogen sources and various microelements need to be added. Cane molasses contains sugars, various organic substances and microelements required for the growth of microorganisms and is used as a typical carbon source in fermentation industries using microorganisms.

   Condensed molasses solubles (CMS), which is a by-product remaining after separating a target product from a fermentation broth obtained from a fermentation process using microorganisms, contains large amounts of various organic substances such as sugars, biomass, proteins and amino acids, inorganic substances, and microelements required for the growth of organisms. For this reason, there has been interest in the use of CMS as fertilizers or animal feeds. Namely, if the liquid byproduct from the fermentation process is subjected to suitable processing and treatment, it is sufficiently useful as animal feeds or fertilizers beneficial to the crops. Thus,
CMS are specified as possible organic fertilizers and by-product fertilizers in the current fertilizer process standard.



   Therefore, many companies conducting the fermentation process using cane molasses have used CMS, that is a liquid by-product of the fermentation process, in such a manner that it is used as an organic source for the production of organic fertilizer, as a granulation accelerator, or as a fermentation accelerator in the production of composts. Also, concentrated CMS have been used as an additive for the animal feeds. However, the liquid by-product generated from the fermentation process using cane molasses exhibited many shortcomings. Namely, since it is significantly sticky due to its high density and viscosity, there is a difficulty of handling in fertilizing them in a liquid phase. Furthermore, when applied to soil, it results in deterioration in air permeability.

   In addition, since it is difficult to be uniformly fertilized, it exhibits the salt accumulation phenomenon caused by over-fertilization.



   In order to solve such shortcomings, studies have been conducted in an attempt to powder the highly viscous CMS. For example, a liquid by-product from an amino acid fermentation process using cane molasses is supplied as organic fertilizers in combination with rapeseed meal, bone meal, oil cake or gypsum (e. g., fertilizers available from-Organic Fertilizer Industry Co. Ltd., Korea, and Gangnam Oil and
Chemical Co. Ltd., Korea). However, these organic fertilizers contain only about 5% of CMS. And these are not a form where CMS was mixed with the additives for drying, rather, these organic fertilizers are only a form where CMS were coated several times on the surface of the drying additives which were previously granulated by themselves.

   For these reasons, these organic fertilizers are disadvantageous in that the
CMS content is low, the unit cost of production is expensive, and also CMS with a thick concentration cannot be applied. Moreover, there were attempts to develop CMScontaining fertilizers using zeolite, which is known as having a high adsorptive strength (e. g., fertilizers available from Hyosung Agricultural Resources Co. Ltd., Korea).



  However, if the content of CMS was increased, CMS was stuck on the inner portion of a drier used in the production of fertilizers, so that a process could not progress. Also, a direct-fired drying manner did not exhibit satisfactory results with respect to not only economical efficiency including drying expenses but also input ratio of CMS. In addition, there were attempts to powder CMS by mixing it with various drying additives, including sawdust, bentonite, clay, diatomaceous earth, chaff and rapeseed meal that are excellent in water absorption capability. However, in all of such attempts, physical properties of CMS were modified into only a sticky gel state due to the action of highly viscous sugars contained in CMS, but there was no case where powdering at a high CMS content was successful.



   As described above, liquid CMS is limited in its use despite its advantages because of the shortcomings as described below. Namely, owing to high viscosity,
CMS is stuck on the inner wall surface of the drier in the production of fertilizers.



  Furthermore, it is difficult to transport, store and handle CMS in a highly viscose liquid phase. Also, when it is supplied directly as animal feed, it involves a difficulty. In addition, when it is added to the assorted feed in the form of a concentrated liquid, a mixing ratio of CMS cannot exceed a fixed ratio.



   Meanwhile, CMS is used as a by-product fertilizer for foliar application of plants after CMS is diluted with water and neutralized, but the amount of CMS used for this case is very little. Furthermore, since it was recently reported that CMS could be used as a fermentation accelerator in the production of composts, its use increases.



  However, in this case, a content of CMS likewise cannot exceed 20%.



   As described above, in the conventional fertilizer-producing processes, adding large amounts of CMS as the organic source in producing the organic fertilizer was attempted, but this attempt was not successful because of the viscosity of CMS. CMS are used only as the granulation accelerator in such a manner that the CMS content is under 20%. In addition, although concentrated CMS are added to the animal feeds for cattle and the like, the amount of CMS added to the feeds is little. Therefore, most
CMS is currently disposed of with sea dumping.



   However, the sea dumping method for disposal of the liquid CMS causes sea contamination, and also requires enormous disposal expenses so that it occurs a serious loss to industrial and national economies. Also, the sea dumping itself is in a critical situation where it is prohibited within several years hereafter according to London
Dumping Convention. For this reason, there is an urgent need to establish a plan for the efficient disposal of CMS.



   Therefore, it is expected that the disposal of wastes in the future will be raised as an acute problem by which maintenance or abolition of fermentation industries is determined. The disposal of fermentation by-products, particularly liquid by-product of cane molasses fermentation that is significantly difficult to dispose of due to their high viscosity will be faced with a serious problem. An efficient disposal plan for such by-products is to increase the amount of CMS, which can be applied as fertilizer or animal feed, etc. For this, there is a need to develop an effective method for powdering CMS.



   Therefore, based on a trait of coco-peat produced in the Indian Ocean Islands and the Philippine Islands, etc., which is excellent in water-holding capacity, the present inventors have applied coco-peat in powdering CMS. As a result, the present inventors have found that the coco-peat allows CMS to be modified into a material of an entirely new form by virtue of its excellent water absorption capability. Based on this discovery, the present invention was achieved.



   DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for powdering CMS, which is a by-product produced from a fermentation process conducted using microorganisms.



   Specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for effectively powdering CMS limited in its use due to a difficulty involved in powdering it at a high concentration and causes a problem of over-fertilization and a harmful effect on soil and crop when used as a liquid fertilizer so that it is mostly disposed of with sea dumping, although CMS is valuable in terms of fertilizers.



   Another object of the present invention is to solve problems associated with the disposal of by-products by powdering the liquid CMS, and also to provide the use of the powdered CMS as fertilizers, soil improvers and animal feeds, that are rich in organic substances, proteins and amino acids, etc., and easily handled. 



   To accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a method for powdering a highly viscous liquid by-product of microbial fermentation, in which crushed coco-peat, that is a by-product of coconut industries, is added to liquid CMS, that is a by-product of a fermentation process using microorganisms and includes many nutrient ingredients, such as proteins, amino acids and organic acids, and the mixture thereof is stirred.



   Furthermore, the present invention provides fertilizers, soil improvers and animal feeds, which contain the microbial fermentation by-product powdered by above method.



   As used herein, the term"liquid by-product of cane molasses fermentation"or "liquid CMS"signifies a liquid ingredient remaining after separating and recovering a target product including amino acid such as glutamate and lysine, alcohol and organic acid, that is produced by microbial fermentation using cane molasses as a main carbon source.



   Also, as used herein, the term"powdered CMS"or"CMS powder"signifies a powder or granule form of CMS mixed with coco-peat, which is produced by the method of the present invention, exhibiting no a glossy surface state, very low stickiness between particles or to other objects, and no gel state.



   Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.



   Preferably, the liquid CMS, a microbial fermentation by-product that will be powdered according to the present invention, can be one obtained from cane molasses as a carbon source by using microorganisms after removing a target product from a fermentation broth resulted from a fermentation process which is conducted to produce amino acid, organic acids including citric acid, physiologically active substances including vitamins, antibiotics, enzymes or polymeric substances. More preferably, an amino acid fermentation by-product can be used as the liquid CMS.



   In particular, the method of the present invention is applied to the liquid byproduct of cane molasses fermentation obtained from a fermentation process for glutamate or lysine, which occupies a large output as a seasoning ingredient in fermentation industries, so that the effect of the present invention can be increased.



   A process where a liquid by-product of microbial fermentation is generated will now be described, for example, with reference to amino acid fermentation. First, before introducing cane molasses into a fermenter, the cane molasses is treated with sulfuric acid and the separated gypsum is removed, thereby removing calcium from the cane molasses. Thereafter, the cane molasses is subjected to microbial fermentation and sulfuric acid is added again so as to stop the fermentation reaction, after which the biomass is removed by a method including centrifugation. A target amino acid such as glutamate or lysine, is separated by ion exchange resin chromatography from the fermentation broth remaining after the separation of the biomass.

   The liquid byproduct remaining after the separation of the amino acid contains large amounts of various organic substances including sugars, amino acids and proteins, and microelements, and is called"CMS". CMS can contain salts such as ammonium sulfate and potassium sulfate at increased amounts according to the kind of a target fermentation product. For this reason, the powdering method of the present invention may further comprise a desalination step of removing such salts, before mixing the liquid CMS with coco-peat. Furthermore, CMS widely varies from thin to thick in its concentration depending on manufacturers, but the powdering method of the present invention is characterized in that it may also be applied to very thick CMS having solids of more than 65%. 



   The coco-peat for use in powdering CMS, a microbial fermentation by-product, according to the present invention, is added at the amount of 5-90% by weight relative to a total amount of the mixture. Coco-peat is preferably used at the amount of   10-    50% by weight, more preferably 15-40% by weight, relative to a total amount of the mixture, in view of contents of various useful organic ingredients, the powdered degree and economical efficiency of the powdered CMS, a final product.



   As described above, since CMS varies widely in its water content depending on manufacturers and in its viscosity depending on temperature, the time required to powder CMS and the powdered degree of CMS can vary according to experimental conditions. In addition, according to the area of production and compression strength of coco-peat, the time required to powder CMS and the powdered degree of CMS can vary. As powdering of CMS by coco-peat progresses, the volume of liquid reactant increases. This is because the amount of CMS being absorbed into voids of coco-peat is increased. It could be observed that the powdered CMS had an increased surface area such that moisture can be more easily evaporated.



   Coco-peat, which is generally called copeat, coir or coirdust, is a by-product of coconut industries well developed in the range of the Pacific Ocean Islands to the Indian
Ocean Islands, particularly the Philippine Islands. Coconut is composed of coconut milk; copra that is a raw material of coconut oil; a shell having a carbon structure which is highly stable upon carbonization; and a husk from which coconut fiber is drawn.



  The coconut fiber is used for garden baskets, bed mattresses, car seat fillers, ropes, and roof buffers, etc. Coco-peat, which is a by-product remaining after making such initial products of coconut, is a powder having dark brown color and a particle size of 0.2-2 mm. Also, coco-peat is excellent in water-retention and dehumidifying capabilities, and has a low salt content. Coco-peat contains cellulose and lignin at the amount of more than 90% and is advantageous to secure air permeability due to its porous particle structure. Also, it has a pH level of 5.4-6.8, which is suitable for fermentation.



  Furthermore, coco-peat has a high cation exchange capacity so that it can hold large amounts of cations, such as   NH4+,      K+,    Ca2+ and   Mg2+,    which can be easily utilized by the crops. For this reason, coco-peat is mainly used as agricultural substrates including fermentation regulatory agents, horticultural bed soil substrates, soil improver material, casings for use in mushroom culture, decomposed substrates for organic fertilizers and substitutes for livestock farming wood sawdust. In addition, coco-peat is rapidly developed for use in various applications such as soundproof building materials, in view of its physical properties.

   Coco-peat, which is a chemically inert material containing large amounts of lignin,. is relatively stable against decomposition, and exhibits a variation in physical property depending on its production methods and processing technologies. Table 1 below shows chemical composition and physical properties of general coco-peat.



   Table 1: Chemical composition of coco-peat      
EMI9.1     

  <SEP> Organic <SEP> pH <SEP> Cation <SEP> exchange <SEP> N <SEP> C <SEP> C: <SEP> N <SEP> Moisture <SEP> Water <SEP> holding
<tb> substances <SEP> capacity <SEP> capacity
<tb>  <SEP> (C. <SEP> E. <SEP> C.)
<tb>  <SEP> 95-99% <SEP> 5.8-6.4 <SEP> 60-120 <SEP> me/lOOg <SEP> 0.6% <SEP> 48% <SEP> 80 <SEP> 10-20% <SEP> 8-9 <SEP> times <SEP> self
<tb>  <SEP> weight
<tb> 
Recently, coco-peat is produced in a compressed brick shape for convenience of transport. For use in powdering CMS according to the present invention, the brickshaped coco-peat is preferably crushed. At this time, the crushed coco-peat preferably has a particle size ranging from   0.    2-2 mm. 



   A preferred embodiment of the method for powdering CMS according to the present invention is described below. First, the compressed brick-shaped coco-peat is crushed so as to obtain a particle of about 0.2-2 mm diameter. Then, CMS is sprinkled slowly on the coco-peat particles at the amount of 5-95% by weight relative to a total weight of a final mixture, and at the same time CMS and coco-peat are mixed well with a stirrer. At this time, a known drying aid may be added to the mixture if necessary.



  In addition, additives such as a granulation accelerator or a pH regulator, may be added if necessary.



   In an embodiment of the present invention, in case that coco-peat was added at the amount of less than 5% by weight, CMS was absorbed into coco-peat but it exhibited a glossy surface state and was not thus completely powdered, so that it was partially stuck on the surface of a vessel. However, if a known drying aid such as zeolite, was added, CMS was effectively powdered in a relatively short period of time.



  Thus, in the method of the present invention, the known drying aid such as zeolite, vermiculite, bone meal, oil cake, rapeseed meal, rice bran, wheat bran, sawdust, peat moss and peat soil, is added to a mixture of the liquid CMS and coco-peat, so that the time required to completely powdered CMS can be reduced.



   CMS powdered by mixing it with coco-peat as described above can be subjected to an additional compression forming process so as to be formed into pellet or granule depending on its use purpose. In this case, known forming methods used in the production of fertilizers or animal feeds can be applied. CMS prepared by the method of the present invention, that is, powdered CMS, pelletized CMS or granulated CMS is easily dried by evaporation of water as compared to the liquid CMS and dose not exhibit sticky phenomenon during a drying process conducted at elevated temperature, so that it has a property that water content in CMS is controlled in an easy manner. 



   In another embodiment of the present invention, if coco-peat was added at the amount of more than 5% by weight, complete powdering of CMS was always achieved.



  Also, if coco-peat was added at the amount of more than 40% by weight, there was no original form of liquid CMS. Thus, if coco-peat is added at a small amount, the known drying aid is added, so that the same effect as in a case where coco-peat is added at a relatively large amount can be achieved. When considering physical properties of
CMS and economical efficiency such as production cost for mass production, coco-peat is preferably added at the amount of 5-50% by weight, and more preferably at 15-40% by weight.



   When coco-peat is mixed with CMS, CMS exhibits a sticky state at an initial stage, alike a case when other materials are mixed with CMS. However, when the mixture is continued to stir, not only moisture but also sugars of CMS start to be absorbed into coco-peat, and at about one hour after the mixing, CMS somewhat maintains a glossy surface property, but it does not exhibit a gel state. At about 6 hours after the mixing, CMS is completely powdered so that it does not almost exhibit a sticky property, which allows CMS to be stuck on other objects (see, Fig. 4b and Fig.



  4c). The powdered degree of CMS and the time required to powder CMS vary depending on manufacturers, water contents, temperature of CMS, and also the areas of production, crushed degrees and compressed ratios of coco-peat. This embodiment was carried out at room temperature using CMS of a 65% dry matter.



   In another embodiment of the present invention, in order to verify applicability as fertilizers of powdered composts produced at varying mixing ratios of CMS to cocopeat, the powdered composts were examined for their composition. As a result, the contents of organic substances in the powdered composts were in the range of 40-70%, which sufficiently satisfies the standard of organic fertilizer of more than 25%. The ratios of organic substances to nitrogen were mostly less than 15, which satisfies the standard of less than 50. Thus, it was found that these powdered composts could be used as the effective organic fertilizer.



   The powdered CMS produced according to the present invention can be used in various fertilizers including by-product fertilizers, organic fertilizers, horticultural composite fertilizers and general composite fertilizers, soil improvers and animal feeds.



  Preferably, the powdered CMS can be used at the amount of 2-10% by weight relative to a total weight of the animal feeds, and at the amount of 5-80% by weight relative to a total weight of the fertilizers or soil improvers.



   An advantage obtained in case of using the granulated or powdered CMS as a fertilizer is that shortcomings of coco-peat and liquid CMS can be mutually supplemented. Specifically, coco-peat, which contains organic substances at the amount of more than 95% is a good organic material, but has low nitrogen content.



  Thus, if coco-peat is independently applied to soil, it can cause a problem of nitrogen starvation phenomenon due to the slow decomposition rate. On the other hand, the liquid CMS is a very good material containing organic substances and nitrogen, but if it is applied directly to soil, it causes a problem of salt accumulation phenomenon caused by deterioration in air permeability and over-fertilization. However, composts produced from the powdered CMS of the present invention can be used as a good fertilizer, since the shortcomings as described above are mutually supplemented.



   The organic fertilizer as described above signifies a high-grade organic fertilizer produced using animals and plants as a raw material according to Fertilizer Control Act (fertilizer process standard), and is generally a relative concept to an inorganic fertilizer or chemical fertilizer and also is a concept including a by-product fertilizer. CMS powdered by mixing it with coco-peat can serve an excellent organic fertilizer, since the contents of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potassium and moisture in the powdered CMS can be easily regulated.



   The class 3 compound fertilizer is the best fertilizer where a chemical fertilizer and an organic substance are blended in a suitable manner. However, the class 3 compound fertilizer is supplied at only a small amount, due to a limitation of organic substance sources, economical efficiency, and a difficulty of blending technology.



  However, if the powdered CMS of the present invention is used to produce the class 3 compound fertilizer, it is easily blended with nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potassium as compared to other organic fertilizers, and also the content of organic substances can be increased by more than   30%.    Thus, the powdered CMS is of great utility value.



   Moreover, where the powdered CMS produced by mixing it with coco-peat is used as a soil improver, it can serve as excellent soil improver, because a content of organic substances in coco-peat is significantly high. Also, this is because lignin, which is contained in coco-peat at a relatively high content, is converted directly or indirectly into soil humus, and also CMS itself contains large amounts of amino acids, proteins and sugars, that are nutrients beneficial to soil microorganisms.



   Animal feeds, which contain the powdered CMS provided by the present invention, are easily transported and stored as compared to a case where liquid CMS is used. In addition, the powdered CMS is easily blended with other nutrients. Thus, the powdered CMS can be used as an active ingredient in the production of animal feeds.



   Meanwhile, where the powdered CMS of the present invention, which is produced by mixing the liquid CMS with coco-peat as described above, is used as an active ingredient of fertilizers, soil improvers and animal feeds, it can be previously screened through a sieve with a regular mesh size in order to make a particle size of the powdered CMS uniform. 



   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig.   I a    is a photograph showing a liquid CMS-containing reagent bottle and a coco-peat powder, before the coco-peat powder is mixed with the liquid CMS which is a liquid by-product of cane molasses fermentation;
Fig. lb is a photograph showing CMS which is glossy at its surface and coagulated in a sticky state, immediately after mixing 5% by weight of coco-peat with   95%    by weight of CMS;
Fig. 2a is a photograph showing CMS which exhibits no glossy surface state, at one hour after mixing 5% by weight of coco-peat with 95% by weight of CMS;
Fig. 2b is a photograph showing that CMS of Fig. 2a exhibits no glossy surface state, but is not completely powdered and thus cannot be dispersed freely and also still exhibits the sticky property;

  
Fig.   3a    is a photograph showing CMS which was completely powdered, at 33 hours after mixing 10% by weight of coco-peat with 90% by weight of CMS;
Fig. 3b is a photograph showing that CMS of Fig. 3a was completely powdered such that it can be dispersed freely;
Fig. 4a is a photograph showing CMS which is glossy at its surface and coagulated in a sticky state so that it is stuck on paper, immediately after mixing 15% by weight of coco-peat with 85% by weight of CMS;
Fig. 4b is a photograph showing CMS which exhibits no glossy surface state but is not completely powdered and thus stuck on paper, at one hour after mixing 15% by weight of coco-peat with 85% by weight of CMS;

   
Fig. 4c is a photograph showing CMS which is completely powdered and thus not stuck on paper, at 6 hours after mixing 15% by weight of coco-peat with 85% by weight of CMS;
Fig. 4d is a photograph showing that CMS of Fig. 4c is completely powdered and thus can be dispersed freely;
Fig. 5 is a photograph showing CMS granulated by work-in-hand;
Fig. 6a is a scanning electron micrograph of coco-peat;
Fig. 6b is a scanning electron micrograph of powdered   CMS ;    and
Fig. 7 is a photograph showing that CMS is not absorbed into leaf mold and thus maintains a sticky gel state, at 12 hours after mixing 50% by weight of liquid CMS with 50% by weight of leaf mold.



   BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The present invention will hereinafter be described in further detail by examples.



  It should however be borne in mind that the present invention is not limited to or by the examples.



   Example 1. Preparation of powdered CMS at varying mixing ratios of coco-peat
The powdered degree of CMS resulted when coco-peat had been added to liquid
CMS at varying mixing ratios was examined.



     1-1 Mixing    of coco-peat with CMS at ratios of less than 5% by weight of cocopeat to more than 95% by weight of CMS 
Liquid CMS was absorbed into coco-peat and thus exhibited no gel state, but it was not completely powdered and exhibited a glossy surface state. When CMS was examined for its powdered degree, it remained sticky so that CMS particles were stuck to each other to form a lump. Also, CMS was significantly stuck to paper.



   1-2) Mixing of coco-peat with CMS at ratios of more than 5% by weight of coco-peat to less than   95%    by weight of CMS
It could be found that, if coco-peat was added at the amount of more than 5% by weight, liquid CMS could be always powdered and exhibited no sticky state such that
CMS particles could be dispersed from each other. At a coco-peat-mixing ratio of more than 40% by weight, there was no original form of liquid CMS. However, when considering a sticky property of CMS and economical efficiency such as production costs required to a powdering process, it is believed that adding coco-peat at the amount of 15-40% by weight is more preferred.



   Example 2. Powdering at mixing ratio of 5% by weight of coco-peat to 95% by weight of liquid CMS
Fig. la is a photograph showing a liquid CMS-containing reagent bottle and a coco-peat powder, before the coco-peat powder is added to the liquid CMS which is a liquid by-product of cane molasses fermentation. 5% by weight of coco-peat and 95% by weight of liquid CMS were mixed and stirred, and CMS was examined for its powdered degree. Results are shown in Fig. lb, Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b, and Table 5 below.



   As a result, immediately after the mixing, CMS exhibited a sticky state, alike a case where other materials are mixed with CMS (see, Fig.   lb).    When continuing to mix, not only moisture but also sugars of CMS started to be slowly absorbed into cocopeat. At one hour after the mixing, CMS exhibited no glossy surface state (see, Fig.



  2a). However, despite mixing for one hour in order to vanish the glossy surface state, adherence between the respective CMS particles was strong and dispersion of the particles was slight. From these results, it could be found that powdering of CMS was not completely achieved (see, Fig. 2b). Meanwhile, after mixing and stirring for 50 hours, it was found that CMS was completely powdered and thus exhibited a fine particle form other than a lump, and also the CMS particles were dispersed freely, similar a case that a powdering process is carried out at a mixing ratio described in
Example 3 below.



   Example 3: Powdering at mixing ratio of 10% by weight of coco-peat to 90% by weight of liquid CMS
10% by weight of coco-peat and 90% by weight of liquid CMS were mixed and stirred, and the powdered degree of CMS was examined. Results are shown in Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b, and Table 5 below.



   As a result, immediately after mixing coco-peat with liquid CMS, CMS was a gel state. At 24 hours after the mixing, a glossy state of CMS disappeared. Also, as shown in Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b, complete powdering of CMS was achieved at 33 hours after the mixing.   



  Example 4. Powdering at mixing ratio of 15% by weight of coco-peat to 85% by weight of liquid CMS        15%    by weight of coco-peat and 85% by weight of liquid CMS were mixed and stirred, and the powdered degree of CMS was examined. Results are shown in Fig. 4a,
Fig. 4b, Fig. 4c and Fig. 4d, and Table 5 below.



   As a result, immediately after mixing coco-peat with liquid CMS, it could be observed that CMS was coagulated in a paste state and thus stuck on paper (see, Fig.



     4a).    At one hour after the mixing, it could be observed that CMS exhibited no glossy surface state, but was not still completely powdered and thus stuck on paper   (see,    Fig. 4b). However, as shown in Fig. 4c and Fig. 4d, at 6 hours after mixing coco-peat with the liquid CMS, it could be observed that CMS was completely powdered and thus not stuck on paper, and the completely powdered CMS was dispersed in a free manner.



   Example 5. Powdering at mixing ratio of   20%    by weight of coco-peat to 80% by weight of liquid CMS
20% by weight of coco-peat and 80% by weight of liquid CMS were mixed and stirred, and the powdered degree of CMS was examined. Results are shown in Table 5 below.



   As a result, immediately after mixing coco-peat with liquid CMS, the mixture exhibited a physical property of a paste state. However, it could be found that CMS was completely powdered at 3 hours after the mixing.



   Example 6: Powdering at mixing ratio of 5% by weight of coco-peat and 10% by weight of peat moss to 85% by weight of liquid CMS
5% by weight of coco-peat, 10% by weight of peat moss and 85% by weight of liquid CMS were mixed and stirred, and the powdered degree of CMS was examined.



  Results are shown in Table 5 below. 



   As a result, immediately after mixing coco-peat and peat moss as a drying aid with liquid CMS, the mixture exhibited a physical property of a paste state. However, it could be found that CMS was completely powdered at 6 hours after the mixing.



   Example 7: Powdering at mixing ratio of 5% by weight of coco-peat and 20% by weight of vermiculite to 75% by weight of liquid CMS
5% by weight of coco-peat, 20% by weight of vermiculite and 75% by weight of liquid CMS were mixed and stirred, and the powdered degree of CMS was examined.



  Results are shown in Table 5 below.



   As a result, immediately after mixing coco-peat and vermiculite as a drying aid with liquid CMS, the mixture exhibited a physical property of a paste state. However, it could be found that CMS was completely powdered at 6 hours after the mixing.



   Example 8 Scanning electron micrograph of powdered CMS
Coco-peat and powdered CMS were observed for their cross-sectional structure with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It could be found that crushed coco-peat had a cross-sectional diameter of about 20   llm    and second spiral cell wall structure at the inner portion of the cross-section. The electron density of the scanning electron microscope is high in the presence of moisture and it is thus difficult to observe an accurate structure. For this reason, after 40% by weight of coco-peat and 60% by weight of CMS were mixed and dried at   80 C    for 6 hours, the mixture was observed with the scanning electron microscope.

   As a result, powdered CMS had a crosssectional diameter of about 30   pm,    and second spiral cell wall structure was not observed in the inner portion of the cross-section. Also, particles seemed to be salt or sugar crystals assumed to be originated from CMS was observed in the inner section of the cross-section. It is believed from this assumption that, since substances with low specific gravity such as vermiculite used in Comparative Example 3 below, allowed
CMS to be somewhat powdered due to its large space area but had no voids, sugars were not absorbed into the inner portion of such substances so that sticky phenomenon was exhibited. These observed results are shown in Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b.



   Example 9. Examination of composition of fertilizers containing granulated or powdered CMS
In order to confirm applicability as fertilizers of powdered CMS produced by mixing coco-peat with liquid CMS, the powdered CMS was examined for its content of nutrients. In this test, there were used a liquid by-product of lysine fermentation with a high dry matter content and thus a thick concentration (CMS 1 ; available from BASF
Company Ltd.), and a liquid by-product of lysine fermentation with a low dry matter content and thus a relatively thin concentration (CMS 2; available from Cheil Jedang
Corp., Korea). Composition of the respective CMS is shown in Table 2 below. Fig.



     5    shows CMS granulated by work-in-hand.



   Table 2:
EMI20.1     

  <SEP> CMSI <SEP> CMS2
<tb>  <SEP> Dry <SEP> matter <SEP> (%) <SEP> 65 <SEP> 40. <SEP> 01
<tb>  <SEP> Water <SEP> (%) <SEP> 35 <SEP> 59. <SEP> 99
<tb> Organic <SEP> substance <SEP> (%) <SEP> 60 <SEP> 31.08
<tb>  <SEP> Nitrogen <SEP> (%) <SEP> 6. <SEP> 8 <SEP> 5. <SEP> 18
<tb>  <SEP> Potassium <SEP> (%) <SEP> 0. <SEP> 25 <SEP> 1. <SEP> 32
<tb>  <SEP> Calcium <SEP> (%) <SEP> 0. <SEP> 15 <SEP> 0. <SEP> 05
<tb>  <SEP> Magnesium <SEP> (%) <SEP> 0. <SEP> 15 <SEP> 0. <SEP> 05
<tb>  <SEP> Sodium <SEP> (%) <SEP> 0. <SEP> 05 <SEP> 0. <SEP> 75
<tb>  
EMI21.1     

  <SEP> Specificgravity
<tb>  <SEP> pH <SEP> 4. <SEP> 5 <SEP> 5. <SEP> 62
<tb> Viscosity <SEP> (cps, <SEP> 25 C) <SEP> 400 <SEP> 250
<tb> 
Also, in this test, CMS, coco-peat and zeolite were used at mixing ratios indicated in Table 3 below.



   Table 3 :
EMI21.2     

  <SEP> CMS <SEP> Coco-Zeolite <SEP> (%)
<tb>  <SEP> CMS <SEP> 1 <SEP> (%) <SEP> CMS <SEP> 2 <SEP> (%) <SEP> peat <SEP> (%)
<tb> Fertilizer <SEP> 1 <SEP> 69-8 <SEP> 23
<tb> Fertilizer2 <SEP> 70-30
<tb> Fertilizer3-60 <SEP> 10 <SEP> 30
<tb> Fertilizer4 <SEP> 80-20 
Contents of nutrients, microelements, water, salts and the like in the fertilizers having the composition as described above were examined by A  &  F Research Co. Ltd.,
Korea. Analysis for this examination was carried out according to a fertilizer analysis method notified by Korea Rural Development Administration. The results of the analysis are shown in Table 4 below.



   Table 4:
EMI21.3     

  <SEP> Items <SEP> Standard <SEP> Results
<tb>  <SEP> Fertilizer <SEP> 1 <SEP> Fertilizer <SEP> 2 <SEP> Fertilizer <SEP> 3 <SEP> Fertilizer <SEP> 4
<tb>  <SEP> Nitrogen <SEP> (%) <SEP> - <SEP> 4.87 <SEP> 4.83 <SEP> 4.18 <SEP> 5.71
<tb>  <SEP> Phosphoric <SEP> acid <SEP> - <SEP> 0.19 <SEP> 0.19 <SEP> 0.17 <SEP> 0.30
<tb>  <SEP> (%)
<tb>  <SEP> Calcium <SEP> (%) <SEP> - <SEP> 0.47 <SEP> 0.72 <SEP> 0.58 <SEP> 0.46
<tb> Organic <SEP> substance <SEP> More <SEP> than <SEP> 25 <SEP> 51.76 <SEP> 66.41 <SEP> 42.17 <SEP> 67.91
<tb>  
EMI22.1     


<tb>  <SEP> (%)
<tb>  <SEP> Ratio <SEP> of <SEP> organic <SEP> Less <SEP> than <SEP> 50 <SEP> 10. <SEP> 63 <SEP> 13.75 <SEP> 10. <SEP> 09 <SEP> 11.89
<tb>  <SEP> substance:

  
<tb>  <SEP> nitrogen
<tb>  <SEP> Arsenic <SEP> (mg/kg) <SEP> Less <SEP> than <SEP> 50---Trace
<tb> Cadmium <SEP> (mg/kg) <SEP> Less <SEP> than <SEP> 5---0. <SEP> 03
<tb>  <SEP> Mercury <SEP> (mg/kg) <SEP> Less <SEP> than <SEP> 2---Trace
<tb>  <SEP> Lead <SEP> (mg/kg) <SEP> Less <SEP> than <SEP> 150---10. <SEP> 03
<tb>  <SEP> Chromium <SEP> Less <SEP> than <SEP> 300---3. <SEP> 81
<tb>  <SEP> (mg/kg)
<tb>  <SEP> Copper <SEP> (mg/kg) <SEP> Less <SEP> than <SEP> 500---5. <SEP> 67
<tb>  <SEP> pH <SEP> 4. <SEP> 50 <SEP> 4. <SEP> 49 <SEP> 5. <SEP> 57 <SEP> 5. <SEP> 04
<tb>  <SEP> Conductivity <SEP> 23 <SEP> 10 <SEP> 22.40 <SEP> 19.74 <SEP> 27. <SEP> 4
<tb>  <SEP> Water-25. <SEP> 10 <SEP> 25, <SEP> 90 <SEP> 26. <SEP> 10 <SEP> 27. <SEP> 75
<tb>  <SEP> Salts <SEP> Less <SEP> than <SEP> 1 <SEP> 0. <SEP> 19 <SEP> 0. <SEP> 64 <SEP> 0. <SEP> 42 <SEP> 0. <SEP> 40
<tb>  <SEP> C. <SEP> E.

   <SEP> C.----13. <SEP> 21
<tb> 
From the above results, it can be found that the fertilizers containing the powdered CMS of the present invention as an active ingredient contain various nutrients and can be used as an organic fertilizer satisfying the fertilizer process standard.



  Therefore, it is expected that composts of a powdered CMS form produced by mixing coco-peat with the liquid CMS can be used as an excellent organic fertilizer, because shortcomings capable of occurring when separately applying coco-peat and the liquid
CMS are supplemented mutually. Namely, coco-peat is an excellent organic material in view of an organic content of more than 95%, but has low nitrogen contents, thus when it is independently applied to soil, it can cause nitrogen starvation phenomenon due to the slow decomposition rate. The liquid CMS is a very excellent material containing organic substances, nitrogen and the like, but it can occur salt accumulation phenomenon caused by deterioration in air permeability and over-fertilization when it is independently applied to soil.



   Comparative Example 1 : Powdering of CMS using leaf mold as additive
In order to verify an effect of coco-peat in powdering liquid CMS, 50% by weight of leaf mold known as having a great absorbing ability instead of coco-peat was mixed with 50% by weight of liquid CMS and stirred, and the powdered degree of the liquid CMS was observed.



   As a result, as shown in Fig. 7, the liquid CMS was not absorbed into the leaf mold and thus maintained a sticky gel state, even at   12    hours after the mixing.



   Comparative Example 2: Powdering at mixing ratio of 20% by weight of zeolite to 80% by welt of liquid CMS
20% by weight of zeolite and 80% by weight of liquid CMS were mixed and stirred, and the powdered degree of the liquid CMS was examined. Results are shown in Table 5 below.



   As a result, immediately after mixing zeolite as a drying aid with the liquid
CMS, the mixture exhibited a physical property of a gel state. Even at a lengthy period of time after the mixing, the mixture was maintained at the gel state and thus was not completely powdered.



   Comparative Example 3. Powdering at mixing ratio of 10% bv weight of vermiculite to 90% by weight of liquid CMS 
10% by weight of vermiculite and 90% by weight of liquid CMS were mixed and stirred, and the powdered degree of the liquid CMS was examined. Results are shown in Table 5 below.



   As a result, immediately after mixing vermiculite with the liquid CMS, the mixture exhibited a physical property of a gel state. Even at a lengthy period of time after the mixing, the mixture was maintained at a paste state and thus was not completely powdered.



   Comparative Example 4 : Powdering at mixing ratio of 10% by weight of peat moss to 90% by weight of liquid CMS
10% by weight of peat moss and 90% by weight of liquid CMS were mixed and stirred, and the powdered degree of the liquid CMS was examined. Results are shown in Table 5 below.



   As a result, immediately after mixing peat moss with the liquid CMS, the mixture exhibited a physical property of a gel state. Even at a lengthy period of time after the mixing, the mixture was maintained at a paste state and thus was not completely powdered.



   Table 5:
EMI24.1     

  <SEP> Physical <SEP> property <SEP> Final <SEP> physical <SEP> property <SEP> Time <SEP> required <SEP> for
<tb>  <SEP> immediately <SEP> after <SEP> powdering <SEP> (hr)
<tb>  <SEP> mixing
<tb> Example <SEP> 2 <SEP> Gel <SEP> Powder <SEP> 50
<tb> Example <SEP> 3 <SEP> Gel <SEP> Powder <SEP> 33
<tb> Example <SEP> 4 <SEP> Paste <SEP> Powder <SEP> 6
<tb> Example <SEP> 5 <SEP> Paste <SEP> Powder <SEP> 3
<tb> Example <SEP> 6 <SEP> Paste <SEP> Powder <SEP> 6
<tb>  
EMI25.1     


<tb>  <SEP> Example <SEP> 7 <SEP> Paste <SEP> Powder <SEP> 6
<tb> Comparative <SEP> Gel <SEP> Gel
<tb>  <SEP> Example <SEP> 1
<tb> Comparative <SEP> Gel <SEP> Gel
<tb>  <SEP> Example2
<tb> Comparative <SEP> Gel <SEP> Paste
<tb>  <SEP> Example3
<tb> Comparative <SEP> Gel <SEP> Paste
<tb>  <SEP> Example <SEP> 4
<tb> 
As apparent from the above Examples,

   it could be found that adding coco-peat to liquid CMS allowed the liquid CMS to be powdered, although the time required to powder the liquid CMS varies depending on the amount of coco-peat. For example, in case that a mixture of coco-peat with the liquid CMS was left to stand for a long time, the liquid CMS was also powdered even when 5% by weight of coco-peat was used.



  Also, where coco-peat was used at the amount of more than 15% by weight, the liquid
CMS was powdered in a relatively short time. However, the easiness of powdering and the time required to powder CMS can vary according to the place of production of coco-peat, compressed ratio and mixing temperature. When considering a sticky property of CMS, and economical factors including the time required for powdering and production costs, it is more preferred to add coco-peat at the amount of 15-40% by weight.



   Furthermore, drying aid, for example, substance with a low specific gravity such as peat moss and vermiculite, is additionally added upon mixing and stirring of the liquid CMS and coco-peat, the mixture does not exhibit a liquid property according to the passage of time due to a large surface area of such drying aids, and time required to powder can be reduced. 



   INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention provides the method for powdering the liquid by-product of cane molasses fermentation by mixing it with coco-peat. In this method, the crushed coco-peat is added to the liquid CMS at the amount of 5-90% by weight so as to powder the liquid CMS. This can increase the practical use of the liquid CMS, which has been limited in its use despite its useful value.

   Namely, although the liquid CMS is valuable in that it contains large amounts of nutrient ingredients including organic acids, amino acids and proteins, it have been limited in its use because it is difficult to handle due to its high density and viscosity, and it is difficult to powder due to its excessively high viscosity, and also even if it is powdered, the powdered CMS will necessarily have a low CMS content of about 10-20% such that it is limited in its fertilization time and amount. Moreover, the method of the present invention can be carried out in a simple manner as compared to the conventional methods for powdering
CMS, and can be applied without a need of separate equipment.

   Furthermore, it can provide a product which improves salt accumulation phenomenon caused by deterioration in air permeability and over-fertilization occurring when using the liquid
CMS, and which is easily transported, stored and fertilized. CMS powdered by this method can be effectively used as a raw material of fertilizers, soil improvers and animal feeds, since it contains the nutrient ingredients at large amounts and is easily handled. In addition, this method provides a greatly effective way for disposing of
CMS, which has been disposed of with only sea dumping.

Claims

What is claimed is.

1. A method of powdering a liquid by-product of cane molasses fermentation, which comprises mixing the liquid by-product of fermentation with coco-peat.

2. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the coco-peat is added at the amount of 5-90% by weight relative to a total weight of the mixture.

3. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the coco-peat is added at the amount of 10-50% by weight relative to a total weight of the mixture.

4. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the liquid by-product of fermentation and the coco-peat are mixed and stirred so as to powder the liquid byproduct of fermentation, or the powdered by-product of fermentation is subjected to an additional compression forming process so as to be formed into a pellet or a granule.

5. The method according to Claim 1, which further comprises adding one or more additives selected from the group consisting of a dry aid, a granulation accelerator and a pH regulator, when mixing the liquid by-product of fermentation with the cocopeat.

6. The method according to Claim 5, wherein the drying aid is one or more selected from the group consisting of zeolite, vermiculite, bone meal, oil cake, rapeseed meal, rice bran, wheat bran, clay, diatomaceous earth, chaff, sawdust, peat moss, and peat soil.

7. The method according to Claim 5, wherein the liquid by-product of fermentation, the coco-peat and the drying aid are mixed respectively 50-85% by weight, 5-30% by weight and 10-50% by weight.

8. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the liquid by-product of cane molasses fermentation is obtained after removing a target product from a fermentation broth which is obtained by carrying out a fermentation process of producing amino acids, organic acids including citric acids, alcohol, physiologically active substances including vitamins, antibiotics, enzymes and polymeric substances, from cane molasses as a carbon source using microorganisms.

9. The method according to Claim 8, wherein the liquid by-product of cane molasses fermentation is obtained by removing a microorganism biomass in addition to the removal of the target product.

10. The method according to Claim 8, wherein the amino acid produced by the fermentation process using the microorganisms is glutamate or lysine.

11. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the coco-peat has a particle size of 0.2-2 mm.

12. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the liquid by-product of fermentation is subjected to a desalination process for removing salts before it is mixed with the coco-peat.

13. A fertilizer which contains, as an active ingredient, the dried by-product of cane molasses fermentation produced by the method of any of Claims 1 to 12.

14. The fertilizer according to Claim 13, which is a by-product fertilizer, an organic fertilizer or a class 3 compound fertilizer.

15. The fertilizer according to Claim 13, which further contains chemical fertilizer ingredients including nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potassium.

16. A soil improver which contains, as an active ingredient, the dried by-product of cane molasses fermentation produced by the method of any of Claims 1 to 12.

17. An animal feed which contains, as an active ingredient, the dried by-product of cane molasses fermentation produced by the method of any of Claims 1 to 12.