Conversion of henequen pulp to microbial biomass by submerged fermentation
- Center of Scientific Research of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
Mexico has cellulosic by-products that could be developed as renewable food sources for animal consumption. Sugarcane bagasse and henequen pulp are the most important of these materials because they are abundant, cheap, renewable, and nontoxic, in addition to being underutilized. A significant research and development effort has centered on the production of single-cell protein from sugarcane begasse. Nevertheless, there are no large-scale processes that utilize this substrate as a source of carbon, probably because of the extensive physical or chemical pretreatment that is needed. Henequen pulp is a by-product which is obtained in large amounts in southeastern Mexico in the process of removing fibers from the leaves of agave (sisal). A group has been working on a fermentative process that will increase the protein content of the henequen pulp by microbial conversion. The primary aim is to carry out the conversion without chemical pretreatment of the substrate and without a separation step for cells and residual substrate. A gram-negative cellulolytic bacteria has been isolated which grows well on microcrystalline cellulose, pectin, and xylane and it is able to convert an appreciable fraction of henequen pulp to microbial biomass. In this article, some results on the effect of substrate and nitrogen source concentration, on the protein enrichment of the henequen pulp, as well as the content of essential amino acids of fermented henequen pulp are presented. 4 figures.
- OSTI ID:
- 6059844
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-820580-
- Journal Information:
- Biotechnol. Bioeng. Symp.; (United States), Vol. 12; Conference: 4. symposium on biotechnology in energy production and conservation, Gatlinburg, TN, USA, 11 May 1982
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SINGLE CELL PROTEIN
PRODUCTION
WOOD WASTES
FERMENTATION
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
FIBERS
LEAVES
MEXICO
RENEWABLE RESOURCES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
LATIN AMERICA
MICROORGANISMS
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
SOLID WASTES
WASTES
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)