SCP from carbohydrates

However, SCP from carbohydrates will aim for a completely different segment of the market. Torula yeast grown on molasses has been marketed for some time at under 300 per ton. At today s prices, a feed grade yeast containing 50% protein would have to be marketed at under 250 per ton to be competitive. 

The diagram below is a flow diagram of an SCP process from carbohydrate, with the letters A-K representing various operations, inputs and outputs. Using the list given, fit in appropriate operations, inputs or outputs at points A-K to complete the flow diagram. 

Any similar carbohydrate source from food processing (such as coconut milk or effluents from fruit canning) can be treated in this way, and there are many examples of development studies producing SCP from them. 

Very little attention has been given to the possibilities for anaerobic production of single-cell protein (SCP) from cheap carbohydrate residues (1,2). The reason for dismissing any anaerobic process is that cel yields, according to classical Embden-Meyerhof catabolism, are only 10 to 15% of the substrate fermented. In contrast, aerobic cell yields of 50 to 60% are easily obtainable. 

Food now is considered a strategic weapon, for it is found that an empty stomach leads to discontent. Hence, the USSR and East Europe have considerable programs for more livestock. It can be seen that any SCP product developed from carbohydrates will fall into a price structure defined by its nutritional value, amino acid profile and quality. The market segment is expected to be very large,but the SCP will have to compete for market penetration with conventional products on a price and cost effectiveness basis. 

Proteins can be commercially produced from different substrates by a series of microbiological syntheses. Yeasts can convert straight-chain paraffins, gas oils, ethanol, or cellulose to single cell proteins, SCP. SCP can also be obtained by converting paraffins, gas oils, methanol, ethanol, methane, or cellulose with bacteria sugar, starches, and other carbohydrates... 

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