Steam Distillation of Volatile Fatty Acids in Rumen Ingesta

Abstract

A suitable apparatus and methods for the steam distillation of VFA from approximately 100 g of rumen ingesta have been described. The VFA were distilled at a pH of 3 from a saturated MgSO4 solution maintained at 105 C. A collection of 600 ml distillate per sample was sufficient to give nearly complete recoveries of VFA present in the samples. The distilled VFA were found to be suitable for gas chromatographic analyses. © 1967, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.