Feed Material Research Articles

Cassava Grating Machines, Designs and Fabrication: A Review of Related Literature

Cassava products produced in Nigeria varies, ranging from one product to another, mostly for direct human consumption after harvesting. This is because the emphasis of the promotion of cassava has been on its use as food. The use of the crop as a basic raw material for industrial purposes would improve industry in Nigeria. Cassava products has been diversified ranging from one product to another, such as the use of cassava in livestock feed, means that more maize and other feed materials used in the past can now be available for other uses such as cassava flour products like glucose for pharmaceuticals, food supplements, alcohol and other beverages. The need for improved method of extracting pulp from cassava for economic purposes made researchers to device improved method of achieving these extractions. However, this particular study describes a detailed review of the literature concerning cassava grating machines, design and fabrication in Nigeria. The methodology used in this study was a secondary data collection approach that involves the review of journal and conference paper articles from past authors, internet sources and materials, newspapers and magazines and so on and so forth. Hence, authors in this research reported that to achieve the call for a good design that assures effectiveness and quality of the processed products. The design was made using Autocad professional software while the fabrication was done using locally sourced materials. Findings from existing studies showed that cassava grating machines has been designed to be mechanically operated and in so doing cassava is fed through the hopper for grinding. Authors in this study also reported that the performance evaluation of cassava grating machines were carried out, giving the average collection efficiency of 93.25% and average grating efficiency of 86.1%. Keywords: Mechanical Advantage: Hopper: Grating Unit: Internal Combustion Engine: Shaft: Machineries: Design Calculation: Literature Review: Nigeria.

Connection between Circadian Rhythm and Rumen Digestibility of Concentrate and Roughage in Sheep

This study investigated the effects of circadian rhythm on rumen nutrient digestibility using the nylon bag method and the digestibility characteristics of dietary nutrients during the daytime and at night. It also presents modification suggestions for evaluating the nutritional value of raw feed materials. The rumen nutrient digestibility was measured and investigated for correlation with circadian rhythm using the nylon bag method. We established a sheep-feeding program to determine the differences in rumen nutrient digestibility between the daytime and nighttime. The digestibility of 18 standard feed samples was investigated in 6 Hu sheep with ruminal fistulas (body weight: 33.59 ± 0.39 kg, 12 months old). Samples were incubated in the rumen for three periods: daytime (12 h, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM), night (12 h, 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM), and the entire day (24 h, 6:00 AM to 6:00 AM). The activities of enzymes amylase, lipase and cellulase were higher during the day than at night. The rumen digestibility of organic matter was significantly higher during the daytime than at night compared to the digestibilities of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and ether extract (EE). Among them, the rumen digestibility of DM and CP was higher, but the digestibility of EE was lower during the daytime than at night in cereal feed fed sheep. The rumen digestibility of DM was higher in roughage-fed sheep but lower in rice straw- and corn silage-fed sheep during the day than at night. Circadian rhythms correlate strongly with the activities of major digestive enzymes in the rumen and the rumen digestibility of nutrients. Moreover, the nylon bag method needs to be modified and improved to ascertain the appropriate time for placing the nylon bag in the rumen and thus establish a unified procedure.

Use of distillery by-products asTenebrio molitor mealworm feed supplement

Agricultural and industrial waste represent valuable starting materials to create novel products with economic value added. Winery industry represents an important economic sector in Italy, which produces tons of by-products every year. Global warming and the increasing demand for food and feed led us to analyse the nutraceutical properties of distillery by-products as possible supplements to feedTenebrio molitor larvae (TML). Grape pomace (GP) and grape marcs (GM), grape skin pulp, grape seeds and winery waste sludge were analysed for their antioxidant activity and fatty acid (FA) profile. Even if subjected to multiple processing, by-products had an important content of antioxidant compounds, in particular polyphenols, flavonols, flavonoids and condensed tannins. Moreover, the high amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids and the low percentage of saturated fatty acids found make them useful feed supplements. Herein has been disclosed that their use as TML feed material was well tolerated over TML development, with a significant mean weight gain respect to control of about 25% and no effect on survival rate. Interestingly, total antioxidant activity and FA profile ameliorate significantly, suggesting that distillery by-products can be used to extend the shelf-life of TML and ameliorate their nutraceutical properties, with possible application in controlled dietary regimens. This work confirmed that by-products largely produced in Europe can be used as TML feed materials, simplifying waste management and reducing rearing costs.

Potential of Weed As Raw Material for Animal Feed on The Integration of Cattle with Coconut Plantations

Constraints on the use of forage for animal feed in smallholder coconut plantations are product availability and chemical composition of nutrients that are lacking and their production potential is low. The reason for this is that the soil under the shade of coconut is not managed intensively. The aim of the study was to evaluate the management of coconut shaded soils based on their ability to increase the potential of forage products and their capacity for raising cattle. The results showed that the production of forage products as raw material for animal feed was the best obtained in the system of planting patterns of sweet corn-long beans-fallow and long beans-sweet corn-fallow. The cropping pattern found 5 species of weeds in the Poaceae family, 4 species of broadleaf weeds and 2 species of puzzles with a palatable level in the category of favored to very favored with an inedible weight percentage of 75.431–98.732%. The Poaceae weed family gave the highest contribution to the total forage production per hectare, which was 8.72 kw ha-1 day-1. While the lowest of broadleaf weeds and puzzles in the system of long bean-sawley-fallow cropping pattern was 1.22 kw ha-1 day-1 and the mustard-longbean-fallow cropping pattern was 1.31 kw ha-1 day-1. The carrying capacity of coconut shaded soil for raising cattle, before being managed was 0.83 ST ha-1-1.52 ST ha-1, after being managed it increased significantly, especially in the sweet corn-longbean-fallow and longbean cropping system. - fallow sweet corn to 2.612 ST ha-1 – 3.87 ST ha-1

Estimation of process steady state with autoregressive models and Bayesian inference

To improve efficiency, separations engineers will typically design process circuits containing recirculating streams, which mix one or more of the process outputs with the feed material. Doing so can improve efficiency, but will cause a delay in the system reaching steady state conditions until the recirculating load mass flows stabilize. In testing separation circuits, engineers will often test a variety of factors and complete an analysis from sample results. Knowledge of if a process is at steady state, as well as the steady state conditions of a process, is essential for a valid techno-economic analysis. However, the definition of process steady state is often poorly defined, or does not include uncertainty quantification. If the performance of a process operating under two different sets of conditions are compared, an engineer who does not test for steady state or quantify steady state conditions risks producing a faulty analysis. In this work, a Bayesian statistical method for testing if all streams are at steady state is further motivated and then derived. Then after testing for steady state, the same model is used with a prior distribution that enforces a steady state assumption to estimate steady state conditions. These methods were validated in a solvent extraction pilot plant where steady state conditions for all outflows were inferred with uncertainty quantification. Analysis is completed with functions available to the reader as part of the BayesMassBal (V 1.1.0) software package written in R.

Nutrient profiling of ruminant feed resources in Ghana

A study was carried out to evaluate the available ruminant feed resources for their nutrient compositions. Two hundred and seventy-eight (278) feed resources were sampled from 27 farms in six regions in Ghana: Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East and Volta. Parameters measured included proximate composition, detergent fibre, and in vitro gas production of the samples. Other parameters such as apparent digestibilities, relative feed values, short-chain volatile fatty acid (SCFAs) content and dry matter intake were estimated using the established models. A Kruskal-Wallis H test was carried out with the nutritional parameters serving as random factors whilst the different feed materials served as fixed factors. The results obtained indicated that root crops and their residues had higher (p < 0.001) CP contents than the other categories of plant-based feed materials whilst cereals and their residues recorded the least CP (p < 0.001). The crude fat content was generally low for all samples, however, the fibre content was high in the cereals, legumes and their residues, grasses, and forbs. The mixed feeds and mashes produced the highest (p < 0.001) quantities of gas after 96 h of incubation (19.38 ml/200 mg DM) and also had a faster rate (p < 0.001) of gas production than the other materials (0.025 ml/h). However, the root crops and their residues were the materials with the highest (p < 0.001) potential gas produced. Digestibilities, SCFA, metabolisable energy and other estimated nutritional attributes were relatively low (p < 0.05) for the varying categories of feed materials except for the mixed feeds and mashes. The study revealed that the nutrient composition and the nutritional value of the feed resources were generally lower than the requirement of ruminant livestock and this may subsequently affect their productivity.

Opportunities and challenges for pig production in Vientiane Capital, Laos

In Laos, pork is the second most common meat source after fish and its demand is constantly growing annually. Recently, pork has been in short supply in urban and rural areas, forcing the Lao government to import thousands of tons from neighbouring countries, particularly Thailand, Vietnam, and China. In view of the earlier-mentioned, this study aimed to look at the current situation of pork production and supply in Vientiane Capital (VC) and the prospects for pork production in VC, Laos. In 2020, Laos had a pig population of about 4.3 million, with over 91.0% being native pigs and only 366,000 heads being European pig types, with over 54.0% being reared in VC. In 2019, Laos had 578 commercial pig farms, with 188 farms (33.0%) of which were located in VC. Despite the fact that most of the commercial pig farms are located in VC, pork demand is still high, with the consequence that consumers need to pay a high price. For example, in 2020, the average price of pork was 46,000 LAK/kg ($ 4.00); it rose up by 22.0% against 2019 and by 11.0% from 2015. Several feed raw materials (maize, cassava, and rice bran) are produced in VC, and nearby provinces, which the farmers can use to combat the dramatic changes or instabilities of feed price. We concluded that there is a high potential to develop pig production in VC, especially local breeds considering the high demand for premium pork and more available raw feed materials.

Optimization and validation of a quick and responsive LC-ESI-MS/MS method to evaluate tetracycline residues in processed animal proteins (PAPs).

Following the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in 2001, processed animal proteins (PAPs) reintroduction is envisaged in non-ruminant feed thanks to their high protein content, easy availability and cost-effective characteristics. PAPs must be submitted to rendering practices, providing sterilization of products, under standardized conditions of temperature and pressure, according to Regulation (EC) No 142/2011. However, the chemical risk associated to these raw materials has been never evaluated. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a reliable liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination and quantification of tetracycline residues in PAPs at µg kg-1 level. The LC-MS/MS method performances were evaluated in terms of specificity, linearity (25-500µgkg-1), limit of quantitation (LOQ) (25µgkg-1), accuracy and precision (CV% < 25%), uncertainty, recovery (80-120%) and ruggedness. All the evaluated parameters fulfilled the analytical performance criteria, and the validated LC-MS/MS method fits for purpose as confirmatory method on the occurrence of residues (µg kg-1) of tetracyclines in PAPs. PAPs are a powerful product which could be used both as raw materials in feed and in organic fertilizer production in a circular economy context. Therefore, the lack of regulation and control over antibiotic occurrence should be implemented to avoid a misuse and an increment of antibiotic resistance pressure over the environment and to ensure safety of the feed and food chain.

The use of nurseryfish meal (Kurtus gulliver) as local ingredients chicken feed

Kurtus gulliver fish is one of the most abundant natural resources in Merauke Regency but is not widely consumed by the community, so it can be used as a source of protein for feed raw materials. The purpose of this study was to find out the protein, fat, and fiber content of poultry feed produced using a fish meal, to be used as the basis for the development of diverse local feed raw materials. This study used a random design complete with 3 concentrations of fish meal (5%, 10%, and 15%). The parameters tested are chemical qualities. The results showed an increasing concentration of fish meal, can increase the protein and fat content at the concentration of 15%. The content of fiber increases, but it has no significant effect and is still included in the standard feed needs. Based on these results, it is known as fish meal (Kurtus gulliver), with a mixture of other local ingredients capable of complementing the nutritional needs of poultry, so that it can be developed as a raw material for poultry feed, in supporting the fulfillment of nutritional needs based on local resources. This indirectly supports the diversity of nutritious feed ingredients.

Potential utilization of mussel meals as an alternative fish feed raw material for aquaculture

Increasing the target of aquaculture production will increase the need for feed which an increase will follow in the need for fish meal. The constraint in aquaculture fish feed dependence on a fish meal import is known. In efforts to find local raw materials to reduce dependence on fish meals, one source of quality animal protein from marine resources as raw material for feed that needs to be studied and developed is mollusks or mussels. This review summarizes the use of mussel meal in aquaculture feed and is expected to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing studies’ potential on mussels meal used as a feed ingredient in fish feed. Many species of mussel have been tested for raw material in fish feed such as blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), Freshwater mussels (Anodonta anatina & Unio mancus), Mytilus edulis L and Green mussel (Perna viridis). Mussels contain high levels of nutrients and bio-actives which were utilized in the form of mussel meals for feed ingredients. The constraint mussels have high heavy metals such as Pb, Hg and Pb. The utilization of mussel meals as a source of protein feed could increase the growth of several types of cultured fish. One alternative used organic acid as a feed additive to reduce toxicity of heavy metals in fish. The conclusion is that mussel meals have the potential as raw material and an alternative protein source to reduce dependence on a fish meal in aquaculture fish feed.

Optical characteristics of fermented cocoa pod husk based on Nears Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy and evaluation of its quality as animal feed materials

Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRs) is one of the alternative methods to determine chemical characteristic of the animal feed due to its several benefits. The purpose of this study was to determine optical characteristics and the quality of fermented cacao pod husk as animal feed by NIRs method. Totally eighteen samples of fermented cocoa pod husk were analyzed by wet analysis consisting of as dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, crude ash, and nitrogen-free extract material. Spectrum acquisition was carried out using a Thermo Nicolet Antaris II tool. Chemical analysis is intended to compare the data from chemical analysis and the NIRS method. Spectrum data were processed using partial least squares (PLS) with multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) and de-Trending (DT) pre-treatment methods. The results of the study indicated that the NIRS was good prediction for dry matter, crude protein, and crude fat with the model of MSC pre-treatment. The crude ash parameter is only able to predict well on the MSC pre-treatment method with evaluation values. In conclusion, NIRS can be applied to determine animal nutritive values by means of using partial least squares (PLS), principal component regression (PCR) and other regression approaches.

Improve the Nutrition Value of Local Feed Materials in the Production of Freshwater Fish

Improve the Nutrition Value of Local Feed Materials in the Production of Freshwater Fish

A comparative analysis of the proximate and mineral composition of whole Citrus limon and Citrus clementina as a prospective alternative feed resource for livestock farming in South Africa

Citrus is a well-known vital fruit grown in South Africa. The presence of important bio-nutrients and metabolites within the different Citrus fruits indicates their significant nutritional qualities. This study is aimed to evaluate the proximate and mineral components of whole Citrus limon and Citrus clementina while considering them as prospective feed material for livestock farmers in South Africa. The nutritional evaluation was done using standard analytical procedures of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). The mineral constituents of the whole citrus samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). From the result, the nutritional analysis showed that the whole C. limon contains significantly higher moisture content (14.13 ± 0.57) and fiber content (24.48 ± 0.61) than C. clementina (11.41 ± 1.24 and 20.66 ± 1.07). Meanwhile, C. clementina had a significantly higher protein value (8.65 ± 0.04) compared to C. limon (5.53 ± 0.10). Furthermore, the whole C. clementina had significantly higher K, Na, P, Zn, and Na+/K+ (1513.33 ± 16.99, 53.33 ± 4.71, 160.00 ± 0.00, 4.80 ± 0.00, and 1.09 ± 0.01) than the whole C. limon (1356.67 ± 20.55, 30.00 ± 0.00, 133.33±4.71, 1.67 ± 0.09, and 0.80 ± 0.02), respectively. While C. limon had significantly higher Ca, Mg, Mn, and Fe (593.33 ± 4.71, 160.00 ± 0.00, 1.00 ± 0.00, and 4.53 ± 0.25) compared to C. clementina (483.33 ± 4.71, 136.67 ± 4.71, 0.80 ± 1.11, and 3.43 ± 0.05). The study revealed variations in some nutritional and mineral components of whole C. limon and C. clementina; however, both citrus fruits have the potential to be explored for more significant livestock nutritional use in South Africa.

The Utilization of Soybean Aircraft Waste as A Additional Material in The Process of Manufacturing Goat Feed Materials

The processing process in industry does not only produce the main product but also produces residual production which is usually not used anymore and is called waste. Soybean aircraft waste is a of tempe production by 10% of the total amount of soybean aircraft waste. Environmental problems caused by waste and also the supply of imported feed at a fairly high price underlies researchers to make nutrient-rich feed products by utilizing soybean aircraft waste. The Research content contained in soybean aircraft waste in the form of energy is 306.48 kcal/kg, crude protein 14.45%, fat 3.15% and crude fiber 47.01% . The purpose of this study is to produce a produce a product that is expected to be a solution in reducing waste from the production of soybeans as an additive ]in feed processing. The Methods used in this study is a qualitative descriptive study. The Result in a this journal is additional feed product using soybean aircraft waste that provided benefits for increasing appetite, milk production and meat quality in livestock.

Techno-economic analysis of waste PCB recycling in Australia

Detailed techno-economic assessment of different scenarios of waste printed circuit board (PCB) metallurgical processing was carried out in the context of Australia. The results show that the cost of recycling waste PCB through black copper smelting at a small scale (10,000 tonnes/year) is estimated to be AU$ 5.33/kg waste PCB, with a likely revenue ranging from AU$7.3 to AU$9.3/kg waste PCB. The result also shows that a small-scale centralised recycling facility could provide a cumulative net benefit of AU$ 175 million with 76% IRR (Internal Rate of Return) over 20 years of plant life. The NPV (Net Present Value) of the scenario is highly sensitive to waste input capacity, feed material composition and the metal market price. Overall, the current study suggests that a small local waste PCB recycling plant is highly likely to be economically viable in the context of Australia based on the current assumptions in this study.

Dioxin transfer simulation from feed to animal tissues and risk assessment

Dioxins might be introduced into the food chain through a direct or an indirect pathway. The main source of human exposure to dioxins is food of animal origin, whereas feeds are the main route of exposure of farmed animals to dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls. The aim of the study was to simulate dioxin passage from feed to tissues on farm animals using transfer models, and, in addition, to assess the risk to consumers of food of animal origin. From over 700 feed samples analyzed over the course of 9 years (2013–2021), those exceeding the maximum permissible levels set down in Commission Regulation No 277/2012/EU were selected. These samples being derived from real cases of dioxin contamination made it possible to present the most realistic picture of the effects these feed materials could have had if they had entered the food chain. Three species of animals were selected (laying hens, dairy cattle and slaughter pigs), for which feed materials with dioxin contents exceeding the maximum permissible level were selected in accordance with the nutritional recommendations. The calculated PCDD/PCDF concentrations in chicken eggs, cow's milk and pork were above the maximum permissible level in most cases.

Impacts of Mechanized Crop Residue Management on Rice-Wheat Cropping System—A Review

Residue management has become a new challenge for Indian agriculture and agricultural growth, as well as environmental preservation. The rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) is predominantly followed cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic plain (IGP), resulting in generating a large volume of agricultural residue. Annually, India produces 620 MT of crop residue, with rice and wheat accounting for 234 MT of the surplus and 30% of the total. Farmers are resorting to burning crop residue due to the short window between paddy harvest and seeding of rabi season crops, namely wheat, potato, and vegetables, for speedy field preparation. Burning of residues pollutes the environment, thus having adverse effects on human and animal health, as well as resulted in a loss of plant important elements. This problem is particularly prevalent in rice-wheat-dominant states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. If we may use in situ management as residue retention after chopper and spreader, sowing wheat with Happy seeder/zero drill/special drill with full residue load, full residue, or full residue load incorporation with conventional tillage, burning is not the sole approach for residue management. In addition, off-farm residues generated are being utilized for animal feed and raw materials for industries. While there are regional variations in many mechanization drivers and needs, a wide range of mechanization components can be transported to new places to fit local conditions. This article focuses on innovations, methods, and tactics that are relevant to various mechanization systems in particular geographical areas. This article also stresses the need for a thorough analysis of the amount of residue generated, residue utilization using modern mechanical equipment, and their positive and negative effects on crop yield and yield attributes, weed diversity, soil physic-chemical, biological properties, beneficial, and harmful nematode populations in the IGP, which will aid researchers and policymakers in farming research priorities and policy for ensuring sustainability in RWCS.

Utilization of salt-rich by-products from the dairy industry as feedstock for recombinant protein production by Debaryomyces hansenii.

The dairy industry processes vast amounts of milk and generates high amounts of secondary by-products, which are still rich in nutrients (high Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels) but contain high concentrations of salt. The current European legislation only allows disposing of these effluents directly into the waterways with previous treatment, which is laborious and expensive. Therefore, as much as possible, these by-products are reutilized as animal feed material and, if not applicable, used as fertilizers adding phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, and other nutrients to the soil. Finding biological alternatives to revalue dairy by-products is of crucial interest in order to improve the utilization of dry dairy matter and reduce the environmental impact of every litre of milk produced. Debaryomyces hansenii is a halotolerant non-conventional yeast with high potential for this purpose. It presents some beneficial traits - capacity to metabolize a variety of sugars, tolerance to high osmotic environments, resistance to extreme temperatures and pHs - that make this yeast a well-suited option to grow using complex feedstock, such as industrial waste, instead of the traditional commercial media. In this work, we study for the first time D. hansenii's ability to grow and produce a recombinant protein (YFP) from dairy saline whey by-products. Cultivations at different scales (1.5, 100 and 500 ml) were performed without neither sterilizing the medium nor using pure water. Our results conclude that D. hansenii is able to perform well and produce YFP in the aforementioned salty substrate. Interestingly, it is able to outcompete other microorganisms present in the waste without altering its cell performance or protein production capacity.

Seasonal variations in mercury, cadmium, lead and arsenic species in Norwegian blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) – Assessing the influence of biological and environmental factors

BackgroundBlue mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) can accumulate undesirable substances, including the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) cadmium (Cd), mercury, (Hg), lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and As species. In this study, the levels of PTEs and As species were determined in samples of blue mussels to assess the influence of environmental and biological factors, and evaluate the potential risk associated with blue mussels in terms of food and feed safety. MethodologyBlue mussels were collected monthly from one location in Western Norway from February 2018 to December 2018, and from April 2019 to April 2020. Samples were analyzed for PTEs using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to ICP-MS. Temperature, salinity and fluorescence (chlorophyll a) were monitored in the seawater column by STD/CTD, to assess the potential influence of these environmental factors on the PTE levels in the mussels. ResultsThe results showed seasonal variations in the PTEs, with somewhat higher concentrations in spring and winter months. Unusually high levels of total As (101.2 mg kg-1 dw) and inorganic As (53.6 mg kg-1 dw) were observed for some of the time points. The organic As species arsenobetaine was generally the major As species (17–82% of total As) in the mussels, but also simple methylated As species and arsenosugars were detected. Principal components analysis (PCA) did not show a consistent relationship between the environmental factors and the PTE concentrations, showing contrary results for some elements for the periods studied. The condition index (CI) could explain variations in element concentration with significant correlations for Cd (r = −0.67, p = 0.009) and Pb (r = −0.62, p = 0.02 in 2019/20 and r = −0.52, p = 0.02 in 2018), whereas the correlation between As and CI was not significant (r = 0.12 in 2018, and r = −0.06 in 2019/20). Higher concentrations of iAs and arsenosugars coincided with increased signals of chlorophyll a, suggesting that phytoplankton blooms could be a source of As in the blue mussels. ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first study of As species in blue mussels collected over a time period of two years, providing an insight into the natural variations of these chemical forms in mussels. In terms of mussel as food and future feed material, concentrations of Cd, Hg and Pb were below the maximum levels (MLs) established in the EU food and feed legislation. However, levels of As and iAs in mussels at some time points exceeded the MLs for As in the feed legislation, and the margin of exposure (MOE) was low if these mussels were for human consumption, highlighting the importance of determining the chemical forms of As in feed and food.

A high-throughput approach to developing and optimizing mixed-mode membrane chromatography for protein purification.

Membrane chromatography has been established as a viable alternative to packed-bed column chromatography for the purification of therapeutic proteins. Purification via membrane chromatography offers key advantages, including higher productivity and reduced buffer usage. Unlike column chromatography purification, the utilization of high-throughput screening in order to reduce development times and material requirements has been a challenge for membrane chromatography. This research focused on the development of a new, high-throughput screening technique for use in screening membrane chromatography conditions for monoclonal antibody purification. The developed screen utilizes a 96-well plate format, thereby allowing for the screening of multiple different membrane conditions at once. For this study, four mixed-mode cation exchange membranes and one cation exchange membrane were evaluated on the plate. The screen is performed in a similar manner to that of a resin slurry plate screen, however, instead of a single loading step, the antibody feed was loaded in 50 mg/ml increments up to a maximum loading of 450 mg/ml. Performing a similar, incremental loading on a resin plate would be impractical, as mixing times are substantially longer due to pore diffusion limitations. However, due to the significantly faster rate of mass transfer for membranes relative to resin, mixing times could be reduced by up to a factor of sixty on the membrane plate. Additional optimization showed that higher hydrophobicity can potentially lead to slower kinetics and mixing times that may need to be adjusted accordingly. The end result is a screen that has been proven to provide results comparable to those obtained on larger-scale membrane purification runs while also enabling exploration of a much greater operating space and significantly reducing the feed materials required.