Bioprocess for coproduction of ethanol and mycoproteins

• US 10,655,155 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2015
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3F BIO Ltd.
• Original Assignee: University of Strathclyde
• Inventors: Fazenda, Mariana, Johnston, Craig, McNeil, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Underdahl, Thane
• Application Number:
  US15/518,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20170226551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/38 from distillers' or brewers' waste
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/02 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices for liquid fuel extraction; Biorefineries
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 21/00 Preparation of peptides or proteins single cell protein C12N1/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 2203/00 Fermentation products obtained from optionally pretreated or hydrolyzed cellulosic or lignocellulosic material as the carbon source
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/065 with microorganisms other than yeasts
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/14 Multiple stages of fermentation; Multiple types of microorganisms or re-use of microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/87 Re-use of by-products of food processing for fodder production

Abstract

The present invention relates to the co-production and isolation of mycoprotein and ethanol from carbohydrate feedstock material (e.g cereals). The present invention also provides a fermentation system for the co-production of mycoprotein from a carbohydrate feedstock material.

Claims

1. An integrated method or system for producing and isolating mycoprotein produced by Fusarium venenatum and ethanol from hydrolysed starch feedstock, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing an aqueous fermentable broth comprising a hydrolysed starch feedstock;

b) a first fermentation step comprising fermenting at least a portion of the aqueous fermentable broth with Fusarium venenatum in order to obtain mycoprotein produced by Fusarium venenatum respectively and partially fermented broth;

c) separating the mycoprotein produced by Fusarium venenatum from the partially fermented broth;

d) a second fermentation step comprising fermenting at least a portion of the partially fermented broth, optionally with a portion of unfermented aqueous fermentable broth, with a micro-organism(s) in order to obtain ethanol and a spent fermentation residue; and

e) isolating the ethanol from the spent fermentation residue.

2. The method or system according to claim 1, wherein the mycoprotein and ethanol are produced by aerobic digestion and anaerobic fermentation respectively using Fusarium venenatum.

3. The method or system according to claim 1, wherein the operating conditions are controlled in each of the steps to preferentially favour mycoprotein produced by Fusarium venenatum, or ethanol.

4. The method or system according to claim 1, wherein mycoprotein produced by Fusarium venenatum is fully isolated from the first fermentation step and the second fermentation step to obtain ethanol is carried out using a microorganism other than Fusarium venenatum.

5. The method or system according to claim 1, wherein Fusarium venenatum is used for both the mycoprotein and ethanol fermentation steps.

6. The method or system according to claim 1, wherein mycoprotein produced by Fusarium venenatum and ethanol are produced in a single fermenter where the operating conditions are controlled to produce a desired mixture ratio of mycoprotein produced by Fusarium venenatum and ethanol.

7. The method or system according to claim 1, wherein the initial substrate is a grain material and the integrated process additionally produces a co-product with increased protein content which could be utilised as a source of livestock feed.

8. The method or system according to claim 6, wherein the operating conditions and resulting production mixture ratio or rate of mycoprotein produced by Fusarium venenatum and ethanol is altered to match phasing of energy provision or cost taking into account the higher energy intensity of fermentation under aerobic conditions required to increase the production rate of mycoprotein produced by Fusarium venenatum.

9. The method or system according to claim 3, wherein the mycoprotein produced by Fusarium venenatum is fully or partially isolated between the 2 fermentation steps.