Protein concentrate from starch containing grains: composition, method of making, and uses thereof

• US 8,481,677 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Montana Microbial Products LLC, United States Department Of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: Montana Microbial Products LLC
• Inventors: Bradley, Clifford A., Barrows, Frederic T, Kearns, Robert D, Wasicek, Brian D, Hardy, Ronald W
• Primary Examiner(s): KAM, CHIH MIN
• Application Number:
  US12/424,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 530/300, 530/350, 435/68.1
• US Class Current: 530/300
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 21/00 Preparation of peptides or proteins single cell protein C12N1/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 21/06 produced by the hydrolysis of a peptide bond, e.g. hydrolysate products preparing foodstuffs by protein hydrolysis A23J3/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/818 Alternative feeds for fish, e.g. in aquacultures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of producing a protein concentrate from a starch containing grain and uses thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, the protein concentrate produced is used to prepare an aquaculture feed.

Claims

1. A protein concentrate made according to a process for producing a protein concentrate from a starch containing grain or oil seed, the process comprising:

(i) grinding the starch containing grain to produce a ground starch containing grain;

(ii) slurrying the ground starch containing grain with water to prepare a slurry comprising starch and glucans;

(iii) solublizing starch and glucans comprising the slurry with enzymes to provide a solublized slurry;

(iv) adding a fermentation organism to the solublized slurry;

(v) fermenting the solublized slurry comprising the fermentation organism until fermentation is complete, thereby producing a fermented slurry;

(vi) separating the fermented slurry into solid and liquid fractions;

(vii) recovering the solid and liquid fractions;

(viii) drying the recovered solid fraction at a temperature below that which would denature or damage proteins;

thereby producing the protein concentrate according to a process for producing a protein concentrate from a starch containing grain or oil seed,

wherein the protein concentrate comprises protein in an amount that is in a range that is between about 30% protein to about 70% protein on a dry basis.

2. An aquaculture feed comprising the protein concentrate of claim 1.

3. A method for producing a protein concentrate from a starch containing grain or oil seed having increased protein concentration, the method comprising:

(i) grinding the starch containing grain to produce a ground starch containing grain;

(ii) slurrying the ground starch containing grain with water to prepare a slurry comprising starch and glucans;

(iii) solublizing starch and glucans comprising the slurry with enzymes to provide a solublized slurry;

(iv) adding a fermentation organism to the solublized slurry;

(v) fermenting the solublized slurry comprising the fermentation organism until fermentation is complete, thereby producing a fermented slurry;

(vi) separating the fermented slurry into solid and liquid fractions;

(vii) recovering the solid and liquid fractions;

(viii) culturing an appropriate microbe to provide a cell mass in a culture medium comprising the liquid fraction recovered in step vii, and

(ix) recovering the cell mass with the grain solids;

(x) drying the recovered solid fraction at a temperature below that which would denature or damage proteins;

thereby providing a protein concentrate having increased protein concentration relative to the protein concentration of a protein concentrate made by a method wherein steps viii and ix are omitted.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the appropriate microbe is a member selected from the group consisting of Rhizopus oryzae and Rhizopus microsporus.

5. A protein concentrate made according to a process for producing a protein concentrate from a starch containing grain or oil seed, wherein the protein concentrate has an increased protein concentration, the process comprising:

(i) grinding the starch containing grain to produce a ground starch containing grain;

(ii) slurrying the ground starch containing grain with water to prepare a slurry comprising starch and glucans;

(iii) solublizing starch and glucans comprising the slurry with enzymes to provide a solublized slurry;

(iv) adding a fermentation organism to the solublized slurry;

(v) fermenting the solublized slurry comprising the fermentation organism until fermentation is complete, thereby producing a fermented slurry;

(vi) separating the fermented slurry into solid and liquid fractions;

(vii) recovering the solid and liquid fractions then;

(viii) culturing an appropriate microbe to provide a cell mass in a culture medium comprising the liquid fraction recovered in step vii, and

(ix) recovering the cell mass together with the solids,

(x) drying the recovered solid fraction at a temperature below that which would denature or damage proteins;

thereby providing the protein concentrate having increased protein concentration relative to the protein concentration of a protein concentrate made by a method according to a process for producing a protein concentrate from a starch containing grain or oil seed wherein steps viii and ix are omitted.

6. The protein concentrate of claim 5, wherein the appropriate microbes is a member selected from the group consisting of Rhizopus oryzae and Rhizopus microsporus.

7. A method for producing a protein concentrate with an increased protein concentration from a starch containing grain, the method comprising:

(i) grinding the starch containing grain to produce a ground starch containing grain;

(ii) slurrying the ground starch containing grain with water;

(iii) solublizing starch and glucans with enzymes;

(iv) adding an appropriate microbe selected for cell mass production to the slurry;

(v) fermenting the slurry comprising the appropriate microbe until fermentation is complete, thereby producing a slurry in which soluble sugars have been converted to cell mass;

(vi) separating the slurry in which soluble sugars have been converted to cell mass into solid and liquid fractions;

(vii) recovering the solid and liquid fractions;

(viii) recovering the cell mass with the solid fraction, and drying the recovered solid fraction at a temperature below that which would denature or damage proteins;

thereby producing a protein concentrate with increased protein concentration relative to the protein concentration of a protein concentrate made by an otherwise identical method wherein the appropriate microbe selected for cell mass production is not added.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the appropriate microbe is a member selected from the group consisting of Rhizopus oryzae and Rhizopus microsporus.

9. A protein concentrate made according to a method for producing a protein concentrate with an increased protein concentration from a starch containing grain, the method comprising:

(i) grinding the starch containing grain to produce a ground starch containing grain;

(ii) slurrying the ground starch containing grain with water;

(iii) solublizing starch and glucans with enzymes;

(iv) adding an appropriate microbe selected for cell mass production to the slurry;

(v) fermenting the slurry comprising the appropriate microbe until fermentation is complete, thereby producing a slurry in which soluble sugars have been converted to cell mass;

(vi) separating the slurry in which soluble sugars have been converted to cell mass into solid and liquid fractions;

(vii) recovering the solid and liquid fractions;

(viii) recovering the cell mass with the solid fraction, and drying the recovered solid fraction at a temperature below that which would denature or damage proteins;

thereby producing the protein concentrate with increased protein concentration relative to the protein concentration of a protein concentrate made by an otherwise identical method wherein the appropriate microbe selected for cell mass production is not added.

10. The protein concentrate of claim 9, wherein the appropriate microbes is a member selected from the group consisting of Rhizopus oryzae and Rhizopus microsporus.