Microbial-Based Process for High Quality Protein Concentrate

Abstract

The present invention describes a bio-based process to produce high quality protein concentrate (HQPC) by converting plant derived celluloses into bioavailable protein via aerobic incubation, including the use of such HQPC so produced as a nutrient, including use as a fish meal replacement in aquaculture diets.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition containing:
 (a) a feedstock comprising
 (i) milled corn grain and 
 (ii) whole soybean; 
   (b) at least one microorganism;   (c) water; and   (d) a cellulase.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein soybean is soy flour. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the milled corn grain is dried distillers grain with solubles (DDGS). 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one microbe a microorganism selected from the group consisting of  Aureobasidium pullulans, Sclerotium glucanicum, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Ralstonia eutropha, Rhodospirillum rubrum, Kluyveromyces  spp,  Pichia  spp,  Trichoderma reesei, Pleurotus ostreatus, Rhizopus  spp, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one microbe is a yeast. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the milled corn grain is fermented with yeast and the whole soybean is fermented with a separate microorganism. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the whole soybean is fermented with  Aureobasidium pullulans  and the milled corn grain is fermented with a separate microorganism. 
     
     
         8 . A feed or food comprising a dried composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A composition comprising:
 (a) a feedstock comprising
 (i) milled corn grain and 
 (ii) whole soybean; 
   (b) at least one microorganism; and   (c) water,   
       wherein the soybean is exposed to a temperature of at least 50° C. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the milled corn grain is fermented with yeast and the whole soybean is fermented with  Aureobasidium pullulans.    
     
     
         11 . A feed or food comprising a dried composition of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         12 . A method increasing protein content of a fermented product comprising:
 (I) combining in a bioreactor:
 (a) a feedstock containing:
 (i) milled corn grain and 
 (ii) whole soybean, 
 
 (b) at least one microorganism, 
 (c) water, and 
 (d) a cellulase; and 
   (II) incubating said combination for a sufficient time to form a fermented product, wherein the fermented product has a higher protein content than the feedstock from which it is derived.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the milled corn grain is dried distiller's grains with solubles. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein soybean is soy flour. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the milled corn grain is fermented with yeast prior to step (I) and the combination is fermented with the same or a separate microorganism. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the separate microorganism is  Aureobasidium pullulans.    
     
     
         17 . A method of increasing the protein content of a fermented product comprising:
 (I) combining in a bioreactor:
 (a) a feedstock containing:
 (i) milled corn grain and 
 (ii) whole soybean, 
 
 (b) at least one microorganism, 
 (c) water, and 
 (d) a cellulase; and 
   (II) incubating said combination for a sufficient time to form a fermented product, wherein the soybean is exposed to a temperature of at least 50° C., and wherein the fermented product has a higher protein content than the feedstock from which it is derived.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the milled corn grain is dried distiller's grains with solubles. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein soybean is soy flour. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the milled corn grain is fermented with yeast prior to step (I) and the combination is fermented with a microorganism selected from the group consisting of  Aureobasidium pullulans, Sclerotium glucanicum, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Ralstonia eutropha, Rhodospirillum rubrum, Kluyveromyces  spp,  Pichia  spp,  Trichoderma reesei, Pleurotus ostreatus, Rhizopus  spp, and combinations thereof.