Methionine-rich composition for feeding animals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel liquid or crystalline methionine composition, obtained by means of biomass bioconversion by means of microorganisms that are suitable for producing methionine.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A feed additive for feeding animals comprising a methionine composition resulting from a fermentation process, said methionine composition comprising:
 from 60 to 95% by weight of methionine;   from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and   from 0.05 to 3.5% by weight of isoleucine.   
     
     
         21 . The feed additive of  claim 20 , said methionine composition further comprising:
 from 1.0 to 6.0% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;   from 0.1 to 2% by weight of total sugars; and   from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of lipids.   
     
     
         22 . The feed additive of  claim 20 , wherein said additive is a liquid. 
     
     
         23 . The feed additive of  claim 20 , wherein said methionine composition comprises:
 from 60 to 80% by weight of methionine;   from 0.5 to 2.0% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and   from 0.20 to 1.5% by weight isoleucine.   
     
     
         24 . The feed additive of  claim 21 , said methionine composition further comprising:
 from 2 to 6% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;   from 0.5 to 2% by weight of total sugars; and   from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of lipids.   
     
     
         25 . The feed additive of  claim 20 , said methionine composition comprising:
 from 70 to 90% by weight of methionine;   from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and   from 0.10 to 1.0% by weight of isoleucine.   
     
     
         26 . The feed additive of  claim 21 , said methionine composition further comprising:
 from 2 to 6% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;   from 0.25 to 2% by weight of total sugars; and   from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of lipids.   
     
     
         27 . The feed additive of  claim 20 , wherein said additive is a liquid. 
     
     
         28 . The feed additive of  claim 20 , said methionine composition:
 from 80 to 95% by weight of methionine;   from 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and   from 0.05 to 5.0% by weight of isoleucine.   
     
     
         29 . The feed composition of  claim 21 , said methionine composition further comprising:
 from 1.0 to 5.0% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;   from 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of total sugars, and   less than 0.3% by weight of lipids.   
     
     
         30 . A process for preparing a feed additive comprising:
 clarifying fermentation medium in which a microorganism that has been modified to produce methionine has been cultured and removing insoluble and soluble organic impurities from said fermentation medium to obtain a liquid crude composition comprising:
 from 60 to 80% by weight of methionine; 
 from 0.5 to 2.0% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and 
 from 0.20 to 1.5% by weight of isoleucine; and 
   recovering the feed additive.   
     
     
         31 . The process for preparing a feed additive of  claim 30 , wherein the liquid crude composition further comprises:
 from 2 to 6% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;   from 0.1 to 2% by weight of total sugars; and   from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of lipids.   
     
     
         32 . The process for preparing a feed additive of  claim 30 , said process further comprising:
 demmeralizing the liquid crude solution in order to remove cations and anions from said fermentation medium to obtain a demineralized liquid crude composition comprising:
 from 70 to 90% by weight of methionine; 
 from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and 
 from 0.10 to 1.0% by weight of isoleucine. 
   
     
     
         33 . The process for preparing a feed additive of  claim 32 , said demineralized liquid crude composition further comprising:
 from 2 to 6% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;   from 0.25 to 2% by weight of total sugars; and   from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of lipids.   
     
     
         34 . The process for preparing a feed additive of  claim 30 , wherein the feed additive is liquid and said process does not comprise a crystallization step. 
     
     
         35 . The process for preparing a feed additive of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 crystallizing solid crude methionine from an optionally demineralized, liquid crude composition.   
     
     
         36 . The process for preparing a feed additive of  claim 35 , said method further comprising:
 separating, optionally washing, and optionally milling methionine crystals in order to obtain a solid crude composition.   
     
     
         37 . The process for preparing a feed additive of  claim 35 , wherein said solid crude composition comprises:
 from 80 to 95% by weight of methionine;   from 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and   from 0.05 to 5.0% by weight of isoleucine.   
     
     
         38 . The process for preparing a feed additive of  claim 37 , wherein the solid crude methionine composition further comprises:
 from 1.0 to 5.0% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;   from 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of total sugars; and   less than 0.3% by weight of lipids.