CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

This study was carried out to determine the yield, physical properties and chemical composition of sweet orange leaf protein concentrates and bagasse extracted using three different methods. Heat coagulation, alum precipitation and acid coagulation methods were used for the extraction of sweet orange leaf protein concentrates. Thereafter, the yield, physical properties and chemical composition were determined. The results obtained showed that the yield obtained via the three methods are 2.675% for acid coagulation, 6.60% for alum precipitation and 7.838% for heat coagulation. The chemical analysis performed on the leaf protein concentrates and bagasse, CP, EE and Ash content from LPC obtained from acid and alum precipitation were statistically the same (p<0.05). The CP and EE of Bagasse (17.48% and 4.50% respectively) were lower (p<0.05) than the CP and EE obtained from all three methods. For the minerals, potassium content from alum precipitation (1351 mg/kg) and heat coagulation (2148 mg/kg) were not significantly different (p<0.05).

The experiment was conducted to determine the yield, physical and chemical composition of leaf protein concentrates and bagasse obtained from oil palm leaf using three different processing methods. The process of extraction were heat coagulation, acid coagulation, and alum precipitation methods. The leaf protein concentrates and bagasse
obtained were further analysed for their chemical and mineral compositions. The yield of LPC and bagasse obtained from acid coagulation, alum precipitation, and heat precipitation were comparable. But, the yield of OLPC was not significantly (p>0.05) different in the acid and alum processing methods, but was significantly (p<0.05) different for the heat processing method. Result, from the chemical analysis shows that the CP and EE of acid coagulation method were significantly (p<0.05) different from alum and heat processing methods. At the same time, the MC and NFE of OLPC for heat were significantly (p<0.05) different from alum precipitation method and acid coagulation method. From the results obtained from this study, Oil palm leaf protein concentrates obtained using heat coagulation, acid coagulation and alum precipitation methods were comparable but heat coagulation would be preferable as a result of its high Ca (633.0), Cu (15.67), Mn (66.83), Zn (108.77), Na (3.46), Mg (501.63), P (417.67), Fe (154.30)
and Cl (1.307) values.

The nutritive value of rice straw biodegraded with Pleurotus tuberregium (PTR) were studied through analysis of their chemical composition, cell wall components, and in vitro fermentation characteristics. Chemical analysis showed an increase in the crude protein from 4.375 at (0% for 8 weeks) to 9.625 (at 0 % for 8 weeks), and increases from 3.500 (at 15% POS for 4 weeks) to 9.625 (at 15% POS for 6 weeks). Fungal treatment decreases crude fiber from 37.00 % in 0% POS rice straw treatment at 8 weeks to 27.00% in 0 weeks of biodegradation. The neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and hemicellulose was significantly different (p<0.05). A significant higher (80.33) OMD was obtained in rice straw after 8 weeks of biodegradation, and the gas volume produced was not significantly different after 24 hours of Biodegradation. It is therefore concluded from this study that P. tuberregium treatment on rice straw with 0% and 15% POS improved the potential feeding value of the resultant substrate. Therefore, the product of fungal treatment has a good potential as feed resources for ruminants.