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| Figure by Sadia Akhtar |
Single Cell Protein
Single
Cell Protein (SCP) refers to edible unicellular organisms. The protein from
pure or mixed cultures of yeasts, algae and bacteria may be used as ingredients
or substitutes.
Microorganisms
such as yeasts, algae and bacteria can
be cultivated on industrial waste or byproducts as nutrients to yield a large
cell crop rich in
protein.
Importance of Single Cell
Protein:
Mass
cultivation of yeast as well as algae and bacteria offers a possible source of
food supplements or substitutes for human and animal consumption.
Massive
production of microbial cells may provide the way of filling up the protein gap
in the world.
Bacterial
cells grown on hydrocarbon waste from petroleum industry are a source of
protein in France, Japan, Taiwan and India.
Yeast
cell crop harvested from the vats used to produce alcoholic beverages.
The attractiveness of
Single Cell Protein as food supplements or substitutes is apparent from these
following characteristics:
1. Microorganisms grow
very rapidly and produce several tons of proteins in one day.
For example, 1000 lb of yeast produce several tons of
protein per day.
Algae grown in ponds can
produce 20 tons of protein per acre pre year.
This yield is 10-15 times
higher than soybean and 25-50 times higher than corn.
2. The protein content of
microbial cells is very high. Dried cells of Pseudomonas spp. grown on
petroleum products have 69% protein.
Yeast cell have protein
content in a 40-50% range. For algae the range is from 20 - 40%.
3. The proteins of
selected microorganisms contain all the essential amino acids.
4. Some microorganisms
are highly rich in vitamins.
5. The medium for growth
of microorganisms may contain industrial wastes or byproducts, for
example, liquid paraffines from oil
refineries, sulfite liquors from the pulp and paper industry, beet molasses from sugar industry and wood
hydrolysates.
Process of Single Cell
Protein production:
The
process used by British petroleum to produce single cell protein (SCP) from
yeast cells grown in medium containing hydrocarbons (n-Alkanes). n-Alkanes are
distilled for use in the fermenter. Minerals are added. Following fermentation
the cells are separated and harvested by centrifuge and then dried for use as
animal feed.
Advantages of Single Cell
Protein (SCP):
a) have a high rate of
multiplication, algae (2-6 hours), yeasts (1-3 hours), bacteria (0.5 -2 hours).
b) can be easily modified
for varying the amino acids composition.
c) high protein content
in dry weight.
d) can utilize a broad spectrum of raw materials as carbon
source, removing pollutants.
e) ecologically
beneficial.
d) not dependent on time.
Disadvantages of Single
Cell Protein:
a)poor digestibility
b) hypersensitive skin
reaction
c) kidney stone formation
d) possibility for
secondary toxic metabolites presence.
e) high content of
nucleic acids lead to elevated levels of uric acids.
The Daily Youth- tdy24.com Present
"Single Cell Protein"
Written By
Sadia Akhtar
Student of Department of Microbiology
Jagannath University.
Email- sadiabd810@yahoo.com
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