The production of value-added microbial media from poultry byproducts through thermal hydrolysis presents a sustainable solution to utilize wet feedstocks like dissolved air flotation solids.
Thermal hydrolysis of poultry byproducts transforms high-water-content DAF solids and the resulting stick water offers nutrients for microbial media, avoiding evaporation issues. The research involved various institutions and authors focusing on food and agriculture, including USDA and several universities. The study was published in 2025, with relevance to current sustainability challenges and practices within poultry processing.
Experiments were conducted at poultry processing facilities and laboratories predominantly located in the Southeastern USA. The poultry industry generates vast amounts of wet byproducts, leading to environmental issues and wasted resources, necessitating innovative processing methods.
Thermal hydrolysis is utilized to treat poultry byproducts, with specific focus on two differing solids concentrations (7% and 25%) and their effect on amino acid and nutrient release. Stick water derived from DAF solids has high potential value as microbially rich media and may alleviate disposal issues and odors.
"If stick water could be sold it would prevent the need for evaporation and resolve an important issue for the processing of DAF solids," the researchers stated. They acknowledged the tradeoff, noting, "The results indicate the tradeoff of higher water throughput necessitates greater heating energy for the stream, but it utilizes thermal hydrolysis effectively to both produce high yields of nutrients and reduce waste."
Though the protein content is lower, the solubilization rates achieved from the 7% solids stream demonstrated significantly higher yields of valuable free amino acids, emphasizing the method's efficiency. Researchers expect this process to contribute to improved sustainability practices within the meat processing industry.
This research emphasizes not only the need for alternative processes to address the waste from DAF but also presents practical solutions to utilize these materials for high-value microbial growth media, potentially transforming waste management within poultry processing.