February 26, 2019

We did some interesting testing with waste from an importer and distributor of tulips.

It seems that the tulips are imported from Holland with the bulbs still attached. That must be done to extend the shelf life. The bulbs are snipped off when the flowers are readied for final delivery.

Disposing of the waste bulbs presents a problem, and there was a possible solution in pressing the bulbs. It turns out that deer like to eat the fiber from the pressed bulbs, and there is a market for deer feed. The press liquor could be used as a soil nutrient, like a fertilizer.

We selected a Model KP-6 screw press for its economy and small scale. Testing in Tampa gave us a process rate of 900 pounds per hour, with 44% by weight being separated as press liquor.

We ran the cake through the press a second time. To our surprise, juice yield was an additional 24%. It seems likely we did something wrong in the first pressing.

The as-received bulbs measured 77% moisture content. Pressing got the press cake down to 69% moisture on first pressing, 65% on second pressing.

The press liquor measured 13.5% solids. Almost all of these must have been dissolved, as we measured 12º to 13º Brix.

Here is a link to a video showing the testing:
TULIP BULBS https://youtu.be/FEqGyqKv6YM

Sadly, the project has not gone ahead. We chalk it up to another technical success but commercial failure.

Issue #312