Research looks to turn manure into building material

The old adage about one man’s trash being another man’s treasure is being proven very true by a food science professor at Iowa State University. Deland Myers is developing a process to turn cow manure into composite boards.Professor Myers, a cereal technologist at I-S-U, says the manure can be converted into composite boards that are as strong and durable as those made from wood. In the process, Myers says the cow patties are first dried, then sterilized, then glue is added and the manure is heated and pressed together.Myers is part of the I-S-U Biocomposites Research Group, which is trying to develop useful products from things like manure, switchgrass and corn stalks. Because of the way cows digest their food, he says manure is a great source of fiber for making boards.Turning the manure into gold may take a while though. Myers says it’ll be some time yet before we’ll be able to pick up this type of recycled wood at our lumber yards.