Process for obtaining protein-rich nutrient supplements from bacterial fermentation process

A method of producing a protein-rich nutrient supplement having a protein content of 40% to 95% from a bacterial fermentation process, comprising:

• fermenting a gaseous substrate with anaerobic acetogenic bacteria in a fermentation vessel;
• obtaining from the fermentation vessel an amount of a first and second fermentation liquid broths;
• separating the first fermentation liquid broth in a first cell separator to provide a first cell-free permeate solution and a first cell-containing suspension, wherein the first cell-containing suspension is returned to the fermentation vessel;
• separating the second fermentation liquid broth in a second cell separator to provide a second cell-free permeate solution and a second cell-containing suspension, wherein the second cell-containing suspension has a cell concentration of 20 g/L or more;
• providing the first cell-free permeate solution and the second cell-free permeate solution to a processing chamber to produce an oxygenated hydrocarbonaceous compound;
• holding the second cell-containing suspension in a cell-containing holding tank;
• delivering the second cell-containing suspension from the cell-containing holding tank at a delivery rate to one or more rupturing devices, wherein a pH of the second cell-containing suspension from the cell-containing holding tank is adjusted to a pH of 7.5 to 10 prior to rupturing;
• rupturing cell membranes of the second cell containing suspension using the in one or more rupturing devices to generate a homogenate;
• and
• fractionating the homogenate into a first protein-containing portion and a protein-containing cell debris portion using one or more fractionators, wherein the protein-rich nutrient supplement is processed and produced from a portion selected from the group consisting of the first protein-containing portion, the protein-containing debris portion, and combinations thereof.

A method of producing a protein-rich nutrient supplement having a protein content of 40% to 95% from a bacterial fermentation process, comprising:

• fermenting a gaseous substrate with an anaerobic acetogenic bacteria in a fermentation vessel containing a culture medium;
• obtaining from the fermentation vessel an amount of a first and second fermentation liquid broths;
• separating the first fermentation liquid broth in a first cell separator to provide a first cell-free permeate solution and a first cell-containing suspension, wherein the first cell-containing suspension is returned to the fermentation vessel;
• separating the second fermentation liquid broth in a second cell separator to provide a second cell-free permeate solution and a second cell-containing suspension, wherein the second cell-containing suspension has a cell concentration of 20 g/L or more;
• providing the first cell-free permeate solution and the second cell-free permeate solution to a processing chamber to produce an oxygenated hydrocarbonaceous compound;
• adjusting a pH of the second cell-containing suspension to a pH of 7.5 to 10;
• rupturing cell membranes of the second cell-containing suspension in one or more rupturing devices to generate a homogenate;
• fractionating the homogenate into a first protein-containing portion and a protein-containing cell debris portion using a first fractionator;
• obtaining the first protein-containing portion;
• delivering the first protein-containing portion to a second fractionator;
• fractionating the first protein-containing portion into a second protein-containing portion using the second fractionator;
• and
• collecting the second protein-containing portion,
• wherein the second protein-containing portion is produced as the protein-rich nutrient supplement.

A method of producing a protein-rich nutrient supplement having a protein content of 40% to 95% from a bacterial fermentation process, comprising:

• fermenting a gaseous substrate with an anaerobic acetogenic bacteria in a fermentation vessel containing a culture medium;
• obtaining from the fermentation vessel an amount of a first and second fermentation liquid broths;
• separating the first fermentation liquid broth in a first cell separator to provide a first cell-free permeate solution and a first cell-containing suspension, wherein the first cell-containing suspension is returned to the fermentation vessel;
• separating the second fermentation liquid broth in a second cell separator to provide a second cell-free permeate solution and a second cell-containing suspension, wherein the second cell-containing suspension has a cell concentration of 20 g/L or more;
• providing the first cell-free permeate solution and the second cell-free permeate solution to a processing chamber to produce an oxygenated hydrocarbonaceous compound;
• adjusting a pH of the second cell-containing suspension to a pH of 7.5 to 10;
• rupturing cell membranes of the second cell-containing suspension in one or more rupturing devices to generate a homogenate;
• fractionating the homogenate into a first protein-containing portion and a protein-containing cell debris portion using a first fractionator;
• obtaining the first protein-containing portion;
• delivering the first protein-containing portion to a second fractionator;
• fractionating the first protein-containing portion into a second protein-containing portion using the second fractionator;
• collecting the second protein-containing portion;
• delivering the second protein-containing portion to a third fractionator;
• fractionating the second protein-containing portion into a third protein-containing portion using the third fractionator;
• and
• collecting the third protein-containing portion,
• wherein the third protein-containing portion is produced as the protein-rich nutrient supplement.