Effect Of Formic Acid Research Articles

Effects of formic acid and phytase supplementation on digestibility and use of phosphorus and zinc in growing pigs

Two studies, arranged according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design, were conducted to assess effects of dietary acidification on fungal 3-phytase (PHY) efficacy in growing pigs. In Exp. 1, effects of supplementing 500 units/kg feed of PHY and 4.7 g/kg HCOOH either alone or in combination on the use of P and Zn in growing pigs fed a pelleted diet based on wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and soybean (Glycine max) meal were investigated. In Exp. 2 the same dietary treatments were fed except that PHY supplementation was increased to 1000 units/kg. In both experiments, PHY supplementation increased (P < 0.05) P digestibility and retention. A PHY × HCOOH supplementation interaction on P balance was observed (P < 0.05), indicating that the combination of the additives may increase P digestibility and retention. Effects of HCOOH and PHY on Zn use followed a similar pattern. Supplementation of 1000 units/kg of PHY further increased P and Zn retention compared to supplementation of 500 units/kg. In conclusion, the present study indicated that HCOOH supplementation to diets with microbial PHY may increase PHY efficacy.

Solar photocatalytic inactivation of Fusarium Solani over TiO2 nanomaterials with controlled morphology—Formic acid effect

Photocatalysis is a well known efficient process for the decontamination of wastewaters pollutants. In the last decade an intense research was focused on the elaboration of well tuned TiO2 photocatalysts with the basic idea to understand the relationship between exposed facet and reactivity. In this work, four TiO2 morphologies are examined namely: nanotubes (NT), nanoplates (NPL), nanorods (NR) and nanospheres (NS). The solar photocatalytic properties are compared in the disinfection of a Fusarium solani inoculated solution. Disinfection using the solar light has been studied and the effect of formic acid (FA) was examined. We demonstrated, for the first time, that the solar inactivation of the resistant spores of Fusarium in water is related to the exposed TiO2 facets. At very low concentration of photocatalyst, the inactivation of F. solani over TiO2 nanospheres shows the best disinfection efficiency with respect to the others morphologies. Experiments on simultaneous photocatalytic decontamination of FA and inactivation of F. solani showed that the presence of FA strongly retards the disinfection reaction in the case of TiO2 nanospheres while the FA degradation occurred simultaneously with F. solani inactivation in the case of TiO2 NT. This result shows the interest of TiO2 NT for the decontamination and disinfection of wastewaters containing acidic pollutants and pathogens.

Effect of Formic Acid and Furfural on the Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose Powder and Dilute Acid-Pretreated Poplar Hydrolysates

Biomass pretreatment often leads to the formation of compounds that are inhibitory to enzymatic hydrolysis. To remove inhibitory compounds prior to enzymatic hydrolysis, pretreated biomass is washed with at least 3 volumes of water. However, this washing step would be difficult to manage in commercial operations because of the unsustainable water consumption. This study reports on the effects of formic acid and furfural on Accellerase 1500 with cellulose powder and dilute acid-pretreated poplar as substrates. Using cellulose powder as the substrate for enzymatic hydrolysis with the addition of 5 or 10 mg/mL formic acid, glucose recovery was reduced by 34% and 81%, respectively, in comparison to the control. The addition of furfural, at 2 or 5 mg/mL, to the enzymatic system reduced glucose recovery by 5% and 9%, respectively. When 5 mg/mL of formic acid was combined with 5 mg/mL of furfural, glucose recovery in the cellulose powder enzymatic system was reduced by 59%. Inhibition of sugar recovery was more pronounced when dilute acid-pretreated poplar was used as a substrate for enzymatic hydrolysis. At 24 h incubation, recovery reductions were 94%, 97%, and 93% in the presence of 5 or 10 mg/mL formic acid or the 5 mg/mL combination.

물-페놀 혼합 용매의 근임계 하에서의 크래프트 리그닌의 저분자화

식물계 바이오매스는 석유로부터 얻어지는 화학물질들을 대체할 수 있는 물질로 제안되고 있다. 특히 식물계 바이오매스의 15-30%를 이루고 있는 리그닌은 복잡한 방향족 중합체로 이루어져 있어, 리그닌의 저분자화 공정에 의해 다양한 방향족 화합물을 얻을 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 국내에서 가장 많이 배출되는 크래프트 리그닌을 출발 물질로 선정하고, <TEX>$^{13}C$</TEX>-Muclear Magnetic Resonance(<TEX>$^{13}C$</TEX>-NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Elemental Analysis(EA)을 통해 원료물질의 화학적 구조를 분석하였다. 크래프트 리그닌의 저분자화 는 물-페놀 혼합 용매의 근임계 영역에서 수행되었으며, tube bomb reactor를 사용하였다. 최적의 반응조건을 찾기 위해 물-페놀의 비율, 반응온도(<TEX>$300-400^{\circ}C$</TEX>)를 변화시키며 실험을 수행하였다. 또한 기체상 수소를 대신하여 수소발생 용매인 formic acid 사용에 따른 영향을 조사하였다. 액상 생성물의 화학 종류 및 양은 GC-MS를 통해 분석하였고, 고체 잔류물(char)은 FT-IR을 통해 분석하였다. GC-MS 분석 결과 페놀이 첨가된 경우 anisole, o-cresol(2-methylphenol), p-cresol(4-methylphenol), 2-ethylphenol, 4-ethylphenol, dibenzofuran, 3-methyl cabazole, xanthene이 생성되는 것을 확인하였다. Plant biomass has been proposed as an alternative source of petroleum-based chemical compounds. Especially, aromatic chemical compounds can be obtained from lignin by depolymerization processes because the lignin consist of complex aromatic materials. In this study, kraft lignin, the largest emitted substance among several kinds of lignin in Korea, was used as a starting material and was characterized by solid-state <TEX>$^{13}C$</TEX>-Muclear Magnetic Resonance(<TEX>$^{13}C$</TEX>-NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FT-IR), Elemental Analysis(EA). The depolymerization of kraft lignin was studied at water-phenol mixture solvent in near critical region and the experiments were conducted using a batch type reactor. The effects of water-to-phenol ratio and reaction temperature(<TEX>$300-400^{\circ}C$</TEX>) were investigated to determine the optimum operating conditions. Additionally, the effects of formic acid as a hydrogen-donor solvent instead of <TEX>$H_2$</TEX> gas were examined. The chemical species and quantities in the liquid products were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy(GC-MS), and solid residues(char) were analyzed using FT-IR. GC-MS analysis confirmed that the aromatic chemicals such as anisole, o-cresol(2-methylphenol), p-cresol(4-methylphenol), 2-ethylphenol, 4-ethylphenol, dibenzofuran, 3-methyl cabazole and xanthene were produced when phenol was added in the water as a co-solvent.

Peculiarities of Mobile Phases Containing Formic Acid

Formic acid is often used for pH adjustment in RP–LC mobile phases. However, under certain circumstances, formic acid can also behave as an organic co-solvent. This study illustrates two scenarios when the effects of formic acid as co-solvent will be most noticeable. One scenario is for water-rich mobile phases, in which the addition of formic acid will cause small but significant decreases in retention of neutral analytes. The other scenario is in gradient chromatography. It is demonstrated that, during acetonitrile solvent gradients, desorption of formic acid from the column stationary phase occurs simultaneously, potentially causing a spike in UV detector baselines at the beginning of gradients. A pK a value of formic acid obtained in 50% acetonitrile is also reported and the impact of organic solvent on the dissociation of formic acid is discussed.

Effect of formic acid on the control of the bee parasitic miteVarroa destructorunder semiarid conditions

These experiments were conducted at Jordan University of Science and Technology campus from April to November of 2004, to investigate the effect of formic acid on the infestation of honeybee colony with Varroa destructor . Formic acid was applied at concentrations of 75%, 85%, or 98% using three methods of application, above, bottom, or both ways. Results indicated that the use of formic acid at low concentration (75%) did not have obvious effect on Varroa infestation with the three methods of application. Application of 98% formic acid resulted in a negative effect on the number of brood and worker bees, although it reduced the infestation rate of the colonies with Varroa to 0%. The moderate concentration of formic acid (85%) reduced the infestation rate with Varroa to a very low level, 2–3% using the three methods of application, whereas numbers of brood and workers of honey bees were not influenced. Moderate concentration of formic acid (85%) indicated that the correlation of the three methods of appli...

Effect of Formic Acid and Plant Extracts on Growth, Nutrient Digestibility, Intestine Mucosa Morphology, and Meat Yield of Broilers

The effect of formic acid and 2 plant extracts on performance traits, apparent ileal digestibility (AID), intestine mucosa morphology, and meat yield of broilers was studied in a 49-d experiment. There were 6 treatments: a negative control diet without additives (control); 10 ppm of avilamycin; 5,000 of formic acid; 10,000 ppm of formic acid; 200 ppm of plant extract based on a blend of oregano, cinnamon, and pepper essential oil; and 5,000 ppm of hydroalcoholic plant extract from sage, thyme, and rosemary leaves. A total of 312 Ross chicks were distributed into 24 groups of 13 in each, comprising 4 replicates per treatment. The performance data revealed significantly better FCR in all the supplemented diets except for the 5,000 ppm of hydroalcoholic plant extract diet. All additives improved AID of nutrients. Both acidifier inclusion levels improved villus height, and the group fed the 10,000 ppm of formic acid diet also had the greatest crypt depth; however, villus surface area was not influenced. Meat yield was not affected. It was concluded that the diets with 5,000 and 10,000 ppm of formic acid, and with 200 ppm of plant extract based on a blend of oregano, cinnamon, and pepper essential oils were similar to avilamycin and were beneficial for improving growth traits and nutrient AID. Furthermore, a positive effect of formic acid on intestine mucosa was observed. This experiment involved a small sample, so the additives that showed beneficial effects should be further studied in commercial farms.

Effect of a Chemical Preservative on Fermentation, Aerobic Stability and Nutritive Value of Whole-Crop Wheat Silage

Filya, I. and Sucu, E. 2007. Effect of a chemical preservative on fermentation, aerobic stability and nutritive value of whole-crop wheat silage. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 32: 133–138. To evaluate the effect of formic acid based preservative (FAP) on fermentation, aerobic stability and nutritive value of whole-crop wheat silage, wheat was harvested at early dough stage and ensiled for 90 d with 0, 2, 3 and 4 ml/kg FAP. The FAP treatment did not affect the concentrations of lactic and acetic acid but increased formic and propionic acid and decreased concentrations of butyric acid, ethanol, ammonia-N and gas losses of the silages. Under aerobic conditions, FAP treated silages had lower pH, CO2 production and the numbers of yeasts (except FA2) and moulds than the control silage (P<0.05). Contents of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin and cellulose decreased in the FAP treated silages, but 96 h in vitro gas production and in vitro organic matter digestibility of the silages were not affected by FAP treatment. Applying 4 ml/kg FAP on wheat silages was most effective.

반추위액의 미생물에 의한 In vitro 상에서의 리놀렌산과 리놀산의 Biohydrogenation

리놀렌산(C18:3)과 리놀산(C18:2)의 biohydrogenation 과 반추위 내에서의 이들 지방산의 bypass를 검토하기 위하여 3 구로 나누어 티모시 조사료를 반추위액과 함께 in vitro상에서 39℃, 0, 3, 6, 9, 24, 36 시간 동안 혐기 배양 시험을 하였다. 첫번째 시험의 목적은 C18:2과 C18:3의 in vitro biohydrogenation에 대한 조사료의 성장 단계(stem elongation, early heading, late heading, early flowering)와 질소 시비(0 and 120kg N ha－1)의 영향을 시험하는 것이었다. 수소첨가가능분획(hydrogenable fraction), C18:2과 C18:3의 효과적인 소실과 bypass는 stem elongation 시 수확된 티모시에서 높았고, 성숙함에 따라 일정하게 감소하였다. 질소시비구는 C18:3의 수소첨가가능분획, C18:2과 C18:3의 효과적인 소실과 bypass가 증가하였다. 그러나 C18:2과 C18:3의 소실율은 성숙과 질소시비(P≻0.1)에 의해 영향을 받지 않았다. 2번째 시험에서는 in vitro C18:2과 C18:3 biohydrogenation에 대한 티모시 보존 방법의 영향을 보았다. 사일리지는 C18:2과 C18:3를 가장 효과적으로 소실시켰으며, 건초는 가장 효과가 낮았다. C18:2과 C18:3의 biohydrogenation 된 양은 건초에서 보다 헤일리지와 사일리지에서 더 높았다. 티모시 헤일리지와 비교하였을 때 C18:3의 bypass는 신선 목초, 시든풀, 건초에서 더 높았다. C18:2의 bypass는 건초와 헤일리지에 비해 신선목초와 사일리지가 더 높았다. 3번째 시험에서는 C18:2과 C18:3의 소거와 bypass에 대한 티모시 헤일리지와 사일리지에 대한 개미산 첨가와 Lactobacillus plantarum 접종의 효과를 검토하였다. 개미산의 첨가는 헤일리지와 사일리지에 있어서 C18:3의 biohydrogenation 비율을 증가시켰으나 사일리지에 있어서 C18:2의 수소첨가 가능분획을 감소시켰다. 이러한 3가지 배양구의 결과는 티모시에 있어 C18:2과 C18:3의 수소첨가 가능분획과 bypass가 성숙도에 따라 감소하였고 질소시비에 따라 증가하였음을 보여 준다. 헤일리지와 사일리지에서 건초에서 보다 C18:2과 C18:3의 더 많은 양이 biohydrogenation 되었으며 C18:3의 반추위 소실은 헤일리지에서 보다 신선목초, 시든풀, 건초에서 더 높았다. In vitro anaerobic incubations of timothy (Phleum pretense L.) forage with bovine rumen fluid were conducted at 39℃ for 0, 3, 6, 9, 24, and 36 h in three trials to examine the biohy- drogenation of linolenic (C18:3) and linoleic acids (C18:2) and their bypass from the rumen. The objectives of the first trial was to study the effect of growth stage (stem elongation, early heading, late heading, and early flowering) and N-fertilization (0 and 120 kg N ha－1) on in vitro biohydrogenation of C18:2 and C18:3. The hydrogenable fraction, the effective disappearance and the bypass of C18:2 and C18:3 were high in timothy harvested at stem elongation, and decr- ease linearly with maturity. The N-fertilization increased the hydrogenable fraction of C18:3, the effective disappearance and the bypass of C18:2 and C18:3. However, the rate of disappearance of C18:2 and C18:3 were not affected by maturity and N-fertilization (P>0.1). In trial 2, the effect of timothy conservation method on in vitro C18:2 and C18:3 biohydrogenation was determined. Silage had the highest effective disappearance of C18:2 and C18:3, and grass hay had lowest one. The amounts of C18:2 and C18:3 biohydrogenated were higher in haylage and silage than in grass hay. Comparative to haylage timothy, the bypass of C18:3 was higher in fresh grass, wilted grass and grass hay. The bypass of C18:2 was higher in fresh grass and silage in comparison to grass hay and haylage. In trial 3, the effects of formic acid and Lactobacillus plantarum inoculum addition to timothy haylage and silage on C18:2 and C18:3 disappearance and bypass were studied. Haylage and silage additives had no effect (P>0.1) on effective disappearance and bypass of C18:2 and C18:3. The addition of formic acid increased the rate of biohydrogenation of C18:3 in haylage and silage, but it decreased the hydrogenable fraction of C18:2 in silage. The results of these three incubation trials show that the hydrogenable fraction and the bypass of C18:2 and C18:3 in timothy decreased with maturity and increased with N-fertilization. Higher amount of C18:2 and C18:3 were biohydrogenated in haylage and silage than in grass hay, and C18:3 ruminal disappearance was higher in fresh grass, wilted grass and grass hay than in haylage.

Effects of formic acid, molasses and inoculant additives on corn silage composition, organic matter digestibility and microbial protein synthesis in sheep

This study examined the production of com silages with low or high lactic acid concentrations, provided by the addition of formic acid (0.5%), molasses (5%) or microbial inoculant (homofermentative lactic acid bacteria, 10 g/tonne). After the fermentation period, sheep were fed the silages to determine true and apparent digestibility of the organic matter and microbial protein synthesis. The experiment were carried out with four KıvırcıkxMorkaraman sheep, 1.5 years old, fixed with cannula in their rumen and duodenum. Lactic acid concentrations were significantly higher in silages treated with enzyme or molasses compared to other specific treatments. Acetic acid concentration was highest in silage treated with formic acid, and lowest in silage treated with molasses ( P < 0.05). The by-pass of crude protein was highest in silage treated with formic acid.

Characterization of intermediate Cr-C layer fabricated by electrodeposition in hexavalent and trivalent chromium baths

The effect of formic acid and current density on the crystal structure, surface morphology and crystallization of intermediate Cr-C layers deposited in both hexavalent and trivalent chromium baths were studied to observe chrome-carbide formation behavior and to develop an environmental protective Cr-C electroplating technology. Formic acid in hexavalent and trivalent chromium baths effectively produces intermediate Cr-C layers. The intermediate Cr-C layers has initially amorphous type microstructure. Crystallization of the intermediate Cr-C layer occurs at a current density above 27.5 A/dm 2 in a trivalent chromium bath and above 100 A/dm 2 in an hexavalent chromium bath, respectively. The carbon content of the intermediate Cr-C layer prepared in hexavalent chromium bath is twice as much as that of the layer prepared in trivalent chromium bath. Cr 23C 6 and Cr 7C 3 were observed in the intermediate Cr-C layer prepared in hexavalent chromium bath, whereas, Cr 23C 6 was formed in the layer prepared in trivalent chromium bath after vacuum annealing at 800 °C.

ギ酸添加浴を用いた高効率高速クロムめっき ＩＩ．光沢クロムめっき形成に及ぼす電極表面の３価クロムイオン濃度の影響

A defect associated with the use of the Sargent bath, a widely-used device for chromium plating, is the substantially lower current efficiency of chromium, compared to that of other metals. It has been reported that the use of a formic acid bath leads to the production of amorphous-structured chromium deposits with a higher current efficiency. However, it is difficult to use this process commercially, because of difficulties involved in maintaining the bath. In this paper, the concentration of Cr3+ ion in the vicinity of the cathode in a formic acid bath was estimated from the current density, the aging time of the bath and the rotating speed of the rotating disk electrode (RDE) apparatus. The results show that Cr3+ concentration plays the most important role in determining the appearance of the deposited metal. The effect of formic acid and sulfuric acid on the chromium deposit was investigated, and the optimum Cr3+ concentration in the vicinity of the cathode on the chromium deposition process was determined. Taking these results into account, the conditions required for obtaining a bright deposit with a high current efficiency at a high deposition rate could be predicted, resulting in a bright deposit with a current efficiency of 64.8% at a deposition rate of 17.1μm/min.

The effect of formic acid on the deliquescence of model sea-salt aerosol particles

We report measurements of the deliquescence relative humidity (DRH—the relative humidity at which deliquescence occurs) of NaCl aerosol in the presence of varying amounts of formic acid vapour. The observations were carried out on submicron aerosol particles in a room-temperature flow tube. Dry NaCl aerosol particles were produced by nebulizing a sodium chloride solution and drying the droplets in a diffusion dryer. The dried particles were exposed to increasing relative humidity in the presence of varying amounts of formic acid until the deliquescence point was reached, as detected from the FTIR spectrum. The formic acid caused a reduction in the DRH from 75%, the value in the absence of acid, to 68.5% at a pH of 2.7. The reduction of DRH results from processes occurring in an aqueous layer on the surface of the particles and does not occur in the presence of formic acid vapour alone. If ambient sea-salt aerosols scavenge acidic pollutants to the same extent as has been observed for acid fogs, the resulting decrease in DRH could be substantially in excess of that measured in these experiments.

Effect of formic acid and a bacterial inoculant on the amino acid composition of grass silage and on animal performance

An Italian ryegrass and hybrid ryegrass sward was harvested on 11 May 1994. The mean dry‐matter (DM) content of the herbage was 197 g kg–1 fresh matter (FM), and mean nitrogen and water‐soluble carbohydrate contents were 20 and 272 g kg–1 DM respectively. Approximately 72% of total nitrogen (TN) was in the form of protein‐nitrogen. The herbage was treated with either no additive, formic acid (3·3 l t–1) (Add‐F, BP) or inoculant (2·3 l t–1) (Live‐system, Genus) and ensiled in 100 t silos. Changes in effluent composition with time showed that silage fermentation and protein breakdown were delayed by treatment with formic acid. Formic acid and inoculant treatments also inhibited amino acid catabolism during ensilage. All silages were well fermented at opening with pH values &lt; 4·0 and ammonia‐N concentrations of ≤ 50 g kg–1 TN after 120 d ensilage. Treatment had an effect on protein breakdown as measured by free amino acid concentration, with values of 21·5, 18·2 and 13·2 mol kg–1 N at opening (191 d) for untreated, formic acid‐treated and inoculated silages respectively. Amino acid catabolism occurred to the greatest extent in untreated silages with significant decreases in glutamic acid, lysine and arginine, and increases in gamma amino butyric acid and ornithine. The silages were offered ad libitum without concentrate supplementation to thirty‐six Charolais beef steers for a period of 69 d (mean live weight 401 kg). Silage dry‐matter intakes and liveweight gains were significantly (P &lt; 0·05) higher on the treated silages. Silage dry‐matter intakes were 7·42, 8·41 and 8·23 kg d–1 (s.e.d. 0·27) with liveweight gains of 0·66, 0·94 and 0·89 kg d–1 (s.e.d. 0·058) for untreated, formic acid‐treated and inoculated silage‐fed cattle respectively. In conclusion, additives increased the intake of silage and liveweight gain by the beef steers, and it is suggested that this may be caused in part by the amino acid balance in these silages.

Effects of peptidase inhibitors and other additives on fermentation and nitrogen distribution in perennial ryegrass silage

The effects of formic acid, three concentrations of formaldehyde in a formic acid/formaldehyde mixture and cysteine-peptidase inhibitors, 1-trans epoxysuccinyl-leucylamido-(4-guanidino) butane (E-64), N-ethylmaleimide and cystamine on nitrogen (N) distribution during ensilage of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) were investigated. A third cut or perennial ryegrass (163 g dry matter kg−1 and 61 g water-soluble carbohydrate kg−1 dry matter) was ensiled in two silo sizes; formaldehyde-treated herbage was ensiled only in larger silos (500–550 g herbage) and cysteine-peptidase inhibitor-treated herbage only in smaller silos (130–150 g herbage). Control silages were poorly fermented but contained low concentrations of butyric acid and ammonia N indicating little activity of spoilage bacteria. Formic acid increased peptide N concentrations (P<0.01) in silage from smaller silos but had little effect on other N constituents; in the larger silos, formic acid reduced soluble non protein nitrogen (NPN) and ammonia-N concentrations and increased peptide N concentrations. Increments in formaldehyde reduced silage soluble and ammonia N concentrations (linear effect; P<0.001). N-Ethylmaleimide and E-64 reduced soluble NPN concentrations (P<0.05) but had little effect on other N constituents. Cystamine, however, increased silage peptide N concentrations. Gel filtration on Sephadex G-25 of silage juice prepared from control and formic acid-treated silages suggested that most silage peptides were small, with molecular weights of less than 520 Da. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry

The Effect of Formic Acid with Formalin on Grass Silage Fermentation and the Performance of Dairy Cows

In the first experiment, perennial ryegrass with dry matter (DM) 260 g/kg and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) 140 g/kg DM was harvested as first-cut material on 25 May 1982. It was pre-wilted for 24 h prior to ensilage and treated with either a formic acid with formalin additive (WFF) at 4l/t or no additive (W) and ensiled in two adjoining covered 150 t bunker silos. Subsequently, both silages were satisfactorily fermented. Nevertheless, the pH, ammonia–N g/kg N and lactic-acid content were significantly lower and the residual WSC content significantly higher for WFF than W. Each silage was subsequently individually fed to ten Friesian and ten Holstein dairy cows, together with 10 kg/d of a compound feed containing 160 g/kg crude protein in a 70 d feeding trial. Additive treatment had no significant effect upon silage DM intake, milk output or composition. However, the daily liveweight losses of cows given WFF-treated silage were significantly higher than those given W. In the second experiment, perennial ryegrass (DM 180 g/kg and WSC 170–200 g/kg DM) harvested as first-cut material on 2 June 1983, was either cut and picked up within 20 min of cutting and treated with either the formic acid with formalin additive at 4l/t (NWFF) or no additive (NW); or wilted for a maximum of 24 h and treated with either the formic acid with formalin additive at 4l/t (WFF) or no additive (W). Wilting significantly increased subsequent silage DM. The pH of NW was significantly less than W, whilst the ammonia–N g/kg N of NWFF was significantly less than NW and W and that of W significantly higher than the other treatments. Additive treatment significantly increased the residual WSC content. Each silage was subsequently individually feed to 12 Friesian and 12 Holstein dairy cows together with 10 kg/d of a compound feed to 12 Friesian and 12 Holstein dairy cows together with 10 kg/d of a compound feed containing 160 g/kg protein in a 180 d feeding trial. The silage DM intake of WFF was significantly higher than NW. Silage treatment had no significant effect upon milk output or composition. The daily liveweight loss of cows given WFF-treated silage was significantly less than the other treatments, and the cows on NW had a significantly longer calving index than the other treatments. It is concluded that compared with non-additive-treated silage, formic acid with formalin applied at ensilage produced better fermented silage which, when subsequently given to lactating dairy cows, produced no significant increase in daily silage DM intake, milk output or composition, but had small significant effects upon liveweight change.

The Effect of Formic Acid, Formic Acid Salt and Formic Acid with Formalin on Silage Fermentation, Digestibility and Intake, and on Liveweight Change of Young Cattle

Abstract Data from four experiments conducted at ADAS Liscombe Research Centre during 1977–1982 were used to compare unwilted silage treated with either formic acid (FA), a complex formic salt (FS) and formic acid with formalin (FF) with non-additive-treated silage (C), made from herbage with dry matter (DM) 166 g/kg and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) 21 g/kg. Following ensilage, the DM content of C was significantly less than that of the other treated silages. Compared with C, the additive treatments significantly decreased pH, acetic acid, butyric acid, total short-chain fatty acids and total acid content and increased the WSC content. Compared with FA and FS, FF significantly increased the WSC content. DM losses from FA and FF treatment were significantly less than C but not FS. Additive treatment significantly increased silage DM intake and liveweight gain compared with C. It is suggested that additive treatment irrespective of the nature of the formic acid applied produced well-fermented silage, which when fed to growing cattle significantly increased both silage DM intake and liveweight gain compared with non-additive-treated silage.

Effect of Formic Acid with Formalin or Barley Incorporation into Grass Silage on Silage Fermentation and the Performance of Dairy Cows

Abstract Perennial ryegrass was ensiled in three different ways: (1) with a formic acid with formalin silage additive at 4·0 l/t; (2) with an addition of 50 kg/t ground barley; and (3) no-additive. Formic acid with formalin produced well-fermented silage, which, when subsequently given to lactating dairy cows significantly enhanced daily dry matter (DM) intake and butterfat, protein and butterfat plus protein output and reduced the liveweight decrease experienced with the other treatments. The addition of ground barley at ensilage provided less benefit in terms of fermentation, but had a more pronounced effect upon daily silage DM intake and milk yield than formic acid with formalin treatment. The daily liveweight losses of cows given the non-additive-treated and ground-barley-treated silages were significantly higher than those given formic acid with formalin treated silage. Silage treatment had no significant effect upon cow fertility.

The Effect of Formic Acid with Formalin Addition and Wilting on Silage Fermentation and Intake, and on Liveweight Change of Young Cattle

Abstract Data from seven experiments conducted at ADAS Liscombe Centre during 1980–1983 were used to compare formic acid with formalin-treated unwilted (FF) and wilted silage (WFF) with wilted non-additive-treated (W) silage made from herbage [dry matter (DM) of 172 g/kg and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) 114 g/kg DM]. Following ensilage, the DM content of FF was significantly less than W and WFF. Compared with W, WFF treatment significantly decreased silage pH, ammonia–N and butyric-acid content and significantly increased the residual WSC, whereas FF significantly reduced pH, ammonia–N, butyric acid, protein and ash content and significantly increased lactic acid, acetic acid and lactic acid expressed as a proportion of total acid content. DM losses were significantly higher for FF than from W or WFF treatments. W and WFF significantly increased subsequent silage DM intake compared to FF. Daily liveweight gains were, however, significantly higher on FF compared with W but not WFF treatment. It is suggested that FF treatment of unwilted silage produced well-fermented silage, which when fed to growing cattle had a lower DM intake, but higher liveweight gain than wilted silage, and that when compared with wilted silage (W) formic acid with formalin treatment (WFF) improved fermentation, but provided no significant benefit in terms of either silage DM intake or liveweight gain.

The effect of formic acid on BSE and scrapie infectivity in fixed and unfixed brain-tissue

Brain-tissue infected with scrapie-like agents remains infectious after histological fixation, and represents a source of occupational exposure. Infectivity titres in formol or paraformaldehylysine-periodate (PLP)-fixed mouse-brains infected with the 301V strain of BSE agent were reduced by around six logs following treatment with formic acid. After PLP fixation and formic acid treatment, no infectivity was detectable in mouse-brain infected with the 87V strain of scrapie agent. Similarly-treated mouse-brain infected with the ME7 strain of scrapie agent showed a titre loss of ∼5 logs. No infectivity was detectable in PLP-fixed, BSE-infected bovine brain after formic acid treatment, but this was an unreliable result. With unfixed brain homogenates, formic acid reduced the titre of ME7 by ≥ 5.0 logs; technical problems limited the measured loss of BSE infectivity to ≥ 1.0 logs. These studies confirm that formic acid treatment during fixation of brain-tissue significantly reduces the infectivity titres of scrapie-like agents, thus reducing the level of any occupational exposure.