Use of psychrophilic anaerobic digestion in sequencing batch reactor for degradation of prions

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use or process of use of a sequencing batch reactor for eliminating prion in specified risk materials and for measuring the efficacy of a sequencing batch reactor to degrade prion proteins in specified risk materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for degrading a prion protein in a specified risk material comprising:
 feeding a specified risk material (SRM) to a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) containing a layer of acclimatized anaerobic sludge; and   degrading prion protein in the SRM by reacting the SRM with the sludge at psychrophilic conditions at a temperature equal to or below 25° C.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the specified risk material comprises animal carcasses. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the anaerobic sludge is derived from swine manure or dairy manure. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the anaerobic sludge is derived from slaughterhouse sludge. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the specified risk material reacts with the sludge at a temperature of 5° C. to 25° C. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the specified risk material reacts with the sludge at a temperature of 20° C. to 25° C. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the specified risk material reacts with the sludge at a temperature of 20° C. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding keratin to the SBR. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the keratin is from feather keratin or hoof keratin. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the keratin is β-keratin or α-keratin. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the feather keratin is from chicken feather. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the hoof keratin is from bovine hoof. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the SBR is an anaerobic digestion sequencing batch reactor. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the SBR is a mesophilic anaerobic digestion sequencing batch reactor.