HEAT OUTPUT OF THERMOPHILES OCCURRING ON WOOL

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Abstract
The problem of bacterial heating of baled wool was examined. Up to 109 thermophiles/g dry wool can be present on well aerated wet slipe wool. Optimal conditions for counting these were determined empirically and the heat output per organism was measured at a number of temperatures and shown to be at a maximum at 60oC. The heat production can be maintained for several days and was shown to be sufficient to heat wet slipe wool bales to over 70vC. The population of thermophiles on scoured wool is lower than on slipe wool, and total heat production is correspondingly less. In well aerated broths, at 60"C, populations up to 1.9 x 109 thermophiles/ml were obtained, and the heat output per organism was found to be of the same order as on wool.