[Production of an acid extract of rice straw]

The chemical composition of rice straw was determined by means of standard analytical procedures. The material showed an adequate content of potentially assimilable carbohydrates for the growth of microorganisms. The optimum result of the rice straw treatment corresponds to a particle size of 60 mesh mixed with 5% H2SO4 in a weight: volume relation of 1:10 and submitted to a temperature of 121 degrees C. Under these conditions a rice straw's acid extract was obtained, containing 20 g/lt of total sugars and 15 g/lt of reducing sugars. This content of sugars is enough to support the growth of microorganisms in aerobic conditions.