DETERMINACION DE LA DOSIS OPTIMA DE AMONIACO EN EL TRATAMIENTO DE LA CASCARILLA DE CITRICO DESHIDRATADA

Abstract

An experiment was conducted with the dehydrated citrus fruit shell in order to increase the NPN in it and determine the most efficient dose of ammonia. This by-product was treated with 1,1 (T1); 2,2 (T2) and 3,3 % of ammonia (T3) in aqueous form during 4 weeks. The indicators measured were: DM, CF and total and insoluble CP. The evaluations were carried out at the moment of opening and after 3 and 7 days of exposition to air. DM contents were reduced with the inclusion of ammoniacal water,
although after 7 days the percentages were stabilized (x̅ =89,86 %). CF did not vary in the treatments with ammonia regarding the control. Total CP (T1=12,34; T2=18,32; T3=22,27 %) and insoluble CP (T1=2,58; T2=4,22; T3=8,72 %) were increased in direct proportion to the ammonia doses. This situation was maintained after 7 days of opening in the total CP (T1=11,98; T2=16,92; T3=18,32 %)
and in the insoluble CP (T1=11,19; T2=15,92; T3=16,34 %). Nevertheless, the retention percentages resulted to be better after 7 days of exposition in the treatments T1 (90,06 %) and T2 (89,70 %) in relation to T3 (79,33 %). It is concluded that the 2,2 % dose was the most convenient and that this byproduct has good characteristics for being treated with ammonia.