The ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) process, previously run only in a batch
reactor, has been adapted to run on a twin-screw extruder. The sugar yield
of AFEX material after enzymatic hydrolysis has been increased up to 3.5 ti
mes over that of completely untreated material. The ruminant digestibility
of corn fodder has been increased up to 32% (from 54-71%) over completely u
ntreated material, and 23% (from 63-77%) over material extruded with no amm
onia. Extrusion-treated material proved more digestible by the ruminant at
48 h than material treated in the batch reactor.