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Solid‐substrate fermentation of alfalfa for enhanced protein recovery
Author(s) -
Bajracharya Rupak,
Mudgett Richard E.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260210403
Subject(s) - cellulase , fermentation , cellulosic ethanol , food science , biomass (ecology) , cellulose , aspergillus niger , pectinase , solid state fermentation , chemistry , single cell protein , antinutrient , extraction (chemistry) , substrate (aquarium) , animal feed , biology , biochemistry , agronomy , chromatography , enzyme , ecology , phytic acid
Solid‐substrate fermentations for extraction of protein from pressed alfalfa residues with Aspergillus sp. QM 9994 aspergillus niger QM 877, and Rhizopus nigricans QM 387 were conducted in shake flasks. Upon reimbibing and second pressing, total protein recovery from alfalfa was increased from 47.2% for control samples and up to 64.5% for fermented samples. Analysis of juice from fermented samples indicated the presence of cellulase as well as pectinase activities. Dialysis cultures of cellulase‐producing fungi showed that total biomass production and solids consumption were much higher than those of a mutant strain lacking the ability to produce cellulase, indicating significant utilization of cellulosic materials in alfalfa. The biomass yields in the former case ranged from 39–47% based on total solids consumption. Since some of the cellulosic and other carbohydrate constituents in alfalfa may be converted into fungal protein, final alfalfa residues following protein extraction in a commercial process would be less bulky for storage and handing and would be more digestible as a nonruminant animal feed.