Single cell protein from thermophilic fungi
AssigneeThe Protein Brewery B.V.
InventorsWilhelmus Theodorus Antonius Maria de Laat, Joan Sebastian Gallego Murillio
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a process for producing single cell protein, wherein a thermophilic fungus is grown a fermentable carbon-rich feedstock at a high temperature and at an acidic pH. This allows for a cost effective fermentation process that can to be run under non-sterile conditions and without additional cooling requirements. The process can be used to convert by-products or waste from agriculture or food production, or organic fractions of municipal solid waste into valuable single cell protein that can be applied as dietary source of protein or protein supplement in human food or animal feed.
Claims18
A process for producing single cell protein (SCP), the process comprising the steps of:
- a) growing a thermophilic fungus of the genus Rhizomucor in a medium containing a fermentable carbon-rich feedstock;
- wherein the fungus is grown in submerged culture under non-sterile conditions at a temperature between 45° C. and 62° C. and a pH of less than 3.8, to produce a mycelium with a morphology that is retained on a sieve with a pore diameter of 2 mm;
- and,
- b) recovering of SCP from the medium in the form of biomass of the thermophilic fungus grown in step a) wherein the protein content of the biomass is at least 40% (w/v) on dry matter basis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.