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Single cell protein - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Single cell protein (SCP) typically refers to sources of mixed protein extracted from pure or mixed cultures
of algae, yeasts, fungi or bacteria (grown on agricultural wastes) used as a substitute for protein-rich foods,
in human and animal feeds.

1 History
1.1 Early history
1.2 "Food from oil"
2 SCP Production Process
3 Examples
4 Product Safety and Quality
5 Advantages of Production of SCP
6 References

Early history

Since 2500 BC yeasts have been used in bread and beverage production. In 1781 processes for preparing
highly concentrated forms of yeast were established.[1]

In 1919 Endomyces vernalis yielded fats from sulphite liquor (from paper manufacture), and similarly in
1941 employing Geotrichum.[1]

"Food from oil"

See also: History of biotechnology#Single-cell protein and gasohol projects

In the 1960s, researchers at British Petroleum developed what they called "proteins-from-oil process": a
technology for producing single cell protein by yeast fed by waxy n-paraffins, a product produced by oil
refineries. Initial research work was done by Alfred Champagnat at BP's Lavera Oil Refinery in France; a
small pilot plant there started operations in March in 1963, and the same construction of the second pilot
plant, at Grangemouth Oil Refinery in Britain, was authorized.[2]

The term SCP was coined in 1966 by Carol L. Wilson at MIT.[3][4]

The "food from oil" idea became quite popular by the 1970s, with Champagnat being awarded the UNESCO
Science Prize in 1976,[5] and paraffin-fed yeast facilities being built in a number of countries. The primary
use of the product was as poultry and cattle feed.[6]

The Soviets were particularly enthusiastic, opening large "BVK" (belkovo-vitaminny kontsentrat, i.e.,
"protein-vitamin concentrate") plants next to their oil refineries in Kstovo (1973)[7][8][9] and Kirishi
(1974).[10] The Soviet Ministry of Microbiological Industry had eight plants of this kind by 1989, when,
pressured by the environmentalist movements, the government decided to close them down, or convert to

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Single cell protein - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_cell_protein

some other microbiological processes.[10]

Single cell proteins develop when microbes ferment waste materials (including wood, straw, cannery and
food processing wastes, residues from alcohol production, hydrocarbons, or human and animal excreta).[11]
The problem with extracting single cell proteins from the wastes is the dilution and cost. They are found in
very low concentrations, usually less than 5%. Engineers have developed ways to increase the
concentrations including centrifugation, flotation, precipitation, coagulation and filtration, or the use of
semi-permeable membranes.

The single cell protein needs to be dehydrated to approximately 10% moisture content and/or acidified to aid
in storage and prevent spoilage. The methods to increase the concentrations to adequate levels, and
de-watering process require equipment that is expensive and not always suitable for small-scale operations.
It is economically prudent to feed the product locally and shortly after it is produced.

Microbes employed include yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida utilis=Torulopsis and Geotrichum
candidum (=Oidium lactis)), other fungi (Aspergillus oryzae, Sclerotium rolfsii, Polyporus and Trichoderma),
bacteria (Rhodopseudomonas capsulata).[11] and algae (Chlorella and Spirulina).[1] Typical yields of 43 to
56%, with protein contents of 44% to 60%.[12]

The fungus Scytalidium acidophilum grows at below pH 1, offering advantages of:

1. low-cost aseptic conditions,


2. avoiding over 100-fold dilution of the acidic hydrolysates to pH values needed for other microbes
3. after the biomass is harvested, the acids can be reused.[12]

Commercial production of SCP (Spirulina) includes Cyanotech in Hawaii[13] and Earthrise in California.[14]
TOPRINA- scp made from condidor lipolytica in uk

PRUTEEN-SCP made from methanol

TORUTEIN- SCP made from ethanol using torula yeast.

Some contaminants can produce mycotoxins. Some bacterial SCP have amino acid profiles different from
animal proteins. Yeast and fungal proteins tend to be deficient in methionine.

Microbial biomass has a high nucleic acid content,and levels need to be limited in the diets of monogastric
animals to <50g per day. Ingestion of purine compounds arising from RNA breakdown, leads to increased
plasma levels of uric acid, which can cause gout and kidney stones. Uric acid can be converted to allantoin,
which is excreted in urine. Nucleic acid removal is not necessary from animal feeds but is from human foods.
A temperature hold at 64°C inactivates fungal proteases and allows RNases to hydrolyse RNA with release
of nucleotides from cell to culture broth.

Large-scale production of microbial biomass has many advantages over the traditional methods for

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Single cell protein - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_cell_protein

producing proteins for food or feed.

1. Microorganisms have a high rate of multiplication to hence rapid succession of generation (algae: 2-6
hours, yeast: 1-3 hours, bacteria: 0.5-2 hours)

2. They can be easily genetically modified for varying the amino acid composition.

3. A very high protein content 43-85 % in the dry mass.

4. They can utilize a broad spectrum of raw materials as carbon sources, which include even waste products.
Thus they help in the removal of pollutants also.

5. Strains with high yield and good composition can be selected or produce relatively easily.

6. Microbial biomass production occurs in continuous cultures and the quality is consistent since the growth
is independent of seasonal and climatic variations.

7. Land requirements is low and is ecologically beneficial.

8. A high solar energy conversion efficiency per unit area.

9. Solar energy conversion efficiency can be maximized and yield can be enhanced by easy regulation of
physical and nutritional factors.

10. Algal culture can be done in space which is normally unused and so there is no need to compete for land.

1. ^ a b c Jean Marx, ed. A Revolution in Biotechnology (see Ch. 6 Litchfield). Cambridge University Press.
pp. 1–227.
2. ^ Bamberg, J. H. (2000). British Petroleum and global oil, 1950-1975: the challenge of nationalism. Volume 3
of British Petroleum and Global Oil 1950-1975: The Challenge of Nationalism, J. H. Bamberg British
Petroleum series (http://books.google.com/?id=LVC0VlPOJxEC) . Cambridge University Press. pp. 426–428.
ISBN 0521785154. http://books.google.com/?id=LVC0VlPOJxEC.
3. ^ "Single cell protein (SCP)" (http://www.studentsguide.in/microbiology/industrial-microbiology/single-
cell-protein-scp.html) . http://www.studentsguide.in/microbiology/industrial-microbiology/single-cell-protein-
scp.html.
4. ^ "Nutrition - Single Cell Protein, Twenty Years Later" (http://www.biopolitics.gr/HTML/PUBS
/VOL1/isreali.htm) . http://www.biopolitics.gr/HTML/PUBS/VOL1/isreali.htm.
5. ^ "UNESCO Science Prize: List of prize winners" (http://www.unesco.org/science/psd/prizes/unesco
/unesco_winners.shtml) . UNESCO. 2001. http://www.unesco.org/science/psd/prizes/unesco
/unesco_winners.shtml. Retrieved 2009-07-07. (May have moved to http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images
/0011/001111/111158E.pdf )
6. ^ National Research Council (U.S.). Board on Science and Technology for International Development (1983).
Workshop on Single-Cell Protein: summary report, Jakarta, Indonesia, February 1–5, 1983
(http://books.google.com/?id=lEsrAAAAYAAJ) . National Academy Press. p. 40. http://books.google.com
/?id=lEsrAAAAYAAJ.
7. ^ Soviet Plant to Convert Oil to Protein for Feed; Use of Yeast Involved (http://select.nytimes.com
/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0612FD3C55137B93C2A8178AD95F478785F9) , By THEODORE SHABAD. the
New York Times, November 10, 1973.
8. ^ RusVinyl – Summary of Social Issues (http://www.ebrd.com/projects/eias/38645sume.pdf) (EBRD)

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Single cell protein - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_cell_protein

9. ^ Первенец микробиологической промышленности (http://kstovo.ru/index-name-Content-op-view-


id-41.html) (Microbiological industry's first plant), in: Станислав Марков (Stanislav Markov) «Кстово -
молодой город России» (Kstovo, Russia's Young City)
10. ^ a b KIRISHI: A GREEN SUCCESS STORY? (http://www.cdi.org/russia/Johnson/6607-9.cfm) (Johnson's
Russia List, Dec. 19, 2002)
11. ^ a b S. Vrati (1983). "Single cell protein production by photosynthetic bacteria grown on the clarified effluents
of biogas plant". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 19: 199–202. doi:10.1007/BF00256454
(http://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2FBF00256454) .
12. ^ a b Ivarson KC, Morita H. (1982). "Single-Cell Protein Production by the Acid-Tolerant Fungus Scytalidium
acidophilum from Acid Hydrolysates of Waste Paper." (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov
/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=241888) . Appl Environ Microbiol. 43 (3): 643–647. PMID 16345970
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16345970) .
13. ^ "Cyanotech" (http://www.cyanotech.com/) . http://www.cyanotech.com/.
14. ^ "Earthrise" (http://earthrise.com) . http://earthrise.com.
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Categories: Proteins

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