Scp

SINGLE-CELL SINGLE-CELL PROTIENPROTIENBeing investigated as solution to world Being investigated as solution to world

food problemfood problem

Presented by Presented by Mohamed AbdulazimMohamed Abdulazim

SupervisorSupervisorProf. Eman ElmasryProf. Eman Elmasry

IntroductionIntroduction

The development of SCP was really The development of SCP was really the beginning of biotechnology. the beginning of biotechnology.

Prior to this the industrial Prior to this the industrial fermentation was mainly focused fermentation was mainly focused on antibiotics and other products on antibiotics and other products which did not have to compete. which did not have to compete.

The development was brought up The development was brought up by the oil companies rather than by the oil companies rather than the food companies. the food companies.

People in third world and developing countries are People in third world and developing countries are suffering from menace of protein deficiency in their suffering from menace of protein deficiency in their diets resulting in serious protein malnutrition diets resulting in serious protein malnutrition problems. problems.

The situation, accompanied with rapid population The situation, accompanied with rapid population growth demands exploration of new & un-growth demands exploration of new & un-conventional protein sources to fortify human foods. conventional protein sources to fortify human foods.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Saccharomyces cerevisiae is very promising and is very promising and cost effective source of single cell protein due to its cost effective source of single cell protein due to its bigger size, easy harvesting, lower amount of nucleic bigger size, easy harvesting, lower amount of nucleic acids and good blend of essential amino acids. acids and good blend of essential amino acids.

Its protein quality & chemical score is comparable Its protein quality & chemical score is comparable with soybean or egg protein. with soybean or egg protein.

The yeast is highly significant as an alternative The yeast is highly significant as an alternative source of protein to cover the increasing demands source of protein to cover the increasing demands due to rapidly escalating population. due to rapidly escalating population.

Single Cell Protein (SCP) sources that can be derived from algae, yeasts, fungi and bacteria can be used as food supplements for animals or humans.

Most targeted areas of SCP would apply towards animal feed

Single Cell Protein (SCPs) sources such as mycoproteins can serve as food substitutes such as meat replacement products similar to Tofu

QuornQuornTMTM similar to Tofu, is used as a flexible meat similar to Tofu, is used as a flexible meat substitute produce that has been marketed as products substitute produce that has been marketed as products such as such as chicken pieces, turkey and beef substitute products. .

Other products marketed also include fish fillets, deli Other products marketed also include fish fillets, deli meat substitutes, pies and pastries and ready made meat substitutes, pies and pastries and ready made meals.meals.

Definition Definition

The term single cell protein (SCP) refers The term single cell protein (SCP) refers to dead, dry cells of micro-organisms to dead, dry cells of micro-organisms such as yeast, bacteria, fungi and algae such as yeast, bacteria, fungi and algae which grow on different carbon sources.which grow on different carbon sources.

The name "single cell protein" was used The name "single cell protein" was used for the first time by the M.I.T. professor for the first time by the M.I.T. professor Carol Wilson to give a better image than Carol Wilson to give a better image than "microbial protein."microbial protein.

SCP production SCP production ProcessProcess

Following basic steps are involved in SCP Following basic steps are involved in SCP production process. production process.

PREPARATION of suitable medium with PREPARATION of suitable medium with suitable carbon source. suitable carbon source.

CULTIVATION of suitable strain of micro CULTIVATION of suitable strain of micro organism. organism.

PREVENTION of contaminations.PREVENTION of contaminations. SEPARATION of microbial biomass with or SEPARATION of microbial biomass with or

without product. without product.

Production of SCPProduction of SCP

Production of SCP Production of SCP from hydrocarbons from hydrocarbons or waste of or waste of petroleum industry, petroleum industry, from wood, from wood, sewage, natural sewage, natural gasgas

SCP FROM WOOD : SCP FROM WOOD :  Cellulose from natural sources and waste

wood is an attractive starting material for SCP production because of its abundance.

The association of cellulose with lignin in wood makes it intractable to microbial degradation

Thermal or chemical pretreatment, used in combination with enzymatic hydrolysis, is usually required.

Systems using cellulolytic organisms appear to have promise, but economic viability has yet to be Achieved

SCP FROM SCP FROM CARBOHYDRATES : CARBOHYDRATES : 

Whole milk whey or deproteinised whey is a Whole milk whey or deproteinised whey is a carbohydrate source, which creates disposal carbohydrate source, which creates disposal problems. problems.

(High BOD) Problems associated with whey for (High BOD) Problems associated with whey for SCP production are usually insufficient SCP production are usually insufficient substrate, seasonal supply variations and its substrate, seasonal supply variations and its high water content (>90%) which makes high water content (>90%) which makes transport prohibitively expensive. transport prohibitively expensive.

While most organisms do not grow on lactose While most organisms do not grow on lactose as a carbon source, strains of the yeast as a carbon source, strains of the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus readily grow on Kluyveromyces marxianus readily grow on lactose.lactose.

SCP FROM NATURAL GAS : SCP FROM NATURAL GAS : 

Methane was initially considered as a SCP raw Methane was initially considered as a SCP raw material because, as a gas product, material because, as a gas product, purification problems after fermentation purification problems after fermentation would be minimal.would be minimal.

Disadvantages associated with methane-Disadvantages associated with methane-based processes are related to:based processes are related to:

(a) The greater oxygen requirements (a) The greater oxygen requirements necessary to fully oxidize methane compared necessary to fully oxidize methane compared with paraffin's,with paraffin's,

(b) The low solubility of methane in water and (b) The low solubility of methane in water and (c) the requirement that the Fermentation (c) the requirement that the Fermentation

plant is flame proof as methane-oxygen plant is flame proof as methane-oxygen mixtures are highly explosivemixtures are highly explosive

Microorganisms Used : Microorganisms Used : 

Yeasts and Fungi

Filamentous Fungi used for SCP production are:

Chaetomium celluloliticum, Fusarium graminearum, Paecilomyces varioti which grows on cellulose waste, starch, and sulphite waste liquor respectively and content about 50 – 55 % protein

SCP is produced from yeasts viz. Candida utilis, Candida lipolytica, Saccharomyces cervicea.

Torula yeast (which grows on Ethanol) as a food is obtained through fermentation using molasses as substrate and it has high protein–carbohydrate ratio than forages.

It is rich in lysine but poor in methionine and cysteine.

Saccharomyces consists of high protein with good balance of amino acids and rich in B–complex vitamins.

It is more suitable as poultry feed. Yeast are higher in lysine content.

Strict aseptic conditions are required when using Yeast as a SCP production.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages:

1. High nucleic acid content. 2. Slow growth is observed in

Fungi vis-à-vis than yeast & bacteria.

3. Contamination risk.4. Mycotoxins are also produced.

Bacteria

They have more than 80% protein but are poor in sulphur containing amino acids.

Brevibacterium uses hydrocarbons while Methylophilus methylitropous uses methanol as a substrate.

Disadvantages: It has high nucleic acid content. Recovering the cells is a bit problematic. Endotoxin production should be carefully

tested.

Algae Chlorella, Scenedesmus acutus and Spirulina maxima

are grown for SCP. These have about 60% protein with good amino acid

composition but less in sulphur containing amino acids.

Chlorella and Spirulina are used for commercial scale production in Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Israel, Mexico and USA.

It is spray dried and sold as pills and powders.

Disadvantages: As they are rich in Chlorophyll, it is not advised for

human consumption (except Spirulina). It has low density i.e. 1-2 gm dry weight/litre of

substrate. There is lot of risk of contamination during growth.

SpirulinaSpirulina The United Nations Organization(UNO) in its

World Food Conference of 1974 declared Spirulina as the best food for tomorrow.

World Health Organization(WHO) has hailed Spirulina the greatest super food on the earth.

Upon testing it NASA scientists found 1 kg of Spirulina nutritionally

equal to 1000 kgs of assorted vegetables

PRODUCTION COSTPRODUCTION COST The production cost strongly influenced by the nature of The production cost strongly influenced by the nature of

raw starting material used. raw starting material used.

If starting material used is disposed of as a waste If starting material used is disposed of as a waste

product , then the raw material cost is negative. product , then the raw material cost is negative.

However, if a useful material is used, then starting However, if a useful material is used, then starting

Material used will play a major role in the final cost of Material used will play a major role in the final cost of

SCP. SCP.

Price of SCP varies depending on how it is used, i.e: SCP Price of SCP varies depending on how it is used, i.e: SCP

for human is about 10 times more expensive than SCP for for human is about 10 times more expensive than SCP for

animal feed because it is more highly refined. animal feed because it is more highly refined.

Nutritional Value of SCP Nutritional Value of SCP For the assessment of the nutritional value of SCP, factors such For the assessment of the nutritional value of SCP, factors such

as :nutrient composition, amino acid profile, vitamin and nucleic acid as :nutrient composition, amino acid profile, vitamin and nucleic acid content.content.

Other nutritional parameters which evaluate the quality of a given SCP Other nutritional parameters which evaluate the quality of a given SCP are:are:

The digestibility (D)The digestibility (D) The biological value (BV)The biological value (BV) The protein efficiency ratio (PER)The protein efficiency ratio (PER) The net protein utilizationThe net protein utilization

Uses of SCPUses of SCP

Single cell proteins have application in animal nutrition as:fattening calves, poultry, pigs and fish

breading in the foodstuffs area as: aroma carriers, vitamin carrier,

emulsifying aids and to improve the nutritive value of baked products, in soups, in ready-to-serve meals, in diet recipes and

in the technical field as: paper processing, leather processing

and as foam stabilizers.

Advantages of Advantages of ProductionProduction

It has high protein and low fat content. It is good source of vitamins particularly B-complex. e.g.

Yeasts It can be produced through-out the year. Waste materials are used as substrate for the production of these

proteins. It reduces the environmental pollution and helps in recycling of materials.

SCP organisms grow faster and produce large quantities of SCP from relatively small area of land and time.

These have proteins with required amino acids that can be easilyselected by genetic engineering.

During the production of SCP biomass, some organisms produce useful by products such as organic acids and fats.

It can be genetically controlled. It causes less pollution. Algal culture can be done in space which is normally unused.

SCP's Evaluation and SCP's Evaluation and Future ProspectsFuture Prospects

SCP has a proven record as a source of protein SCP has a proven record as a source of protein which may be obtained with large which may be obtained with large productivities in compact installationsproductivities in compact installations .

new view is that there is a market for products of microbial origin, aimed at animal and direct human consumption as substitutes for meat or even fish, given the increasing depletion of fish stocks.

Aside from this view, the problem of increasing world population and limited food production may not demand SCP production at this time, but remains as a latent issue

The continued research on the production of microorganisms for animal and human consumption will undoubtedly find application in the future.

This research should also incorporate the development of recombinant strains from no conventional GRAS (Generally Regarded as a Safe) yeasts and fungi .

For future success of SCP:

First, food technology problems have to be solved in order to make it similar to familiar foods.

Second, the production should compare favorably with other protein sources

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