Producton of single-cell protein from cellulose by Aspergillus terreus

Cellulose fermentation studies were conducted with a thermotolerant strain of Aspergillus terreus. Batch cultivation of A. terreus using purified or complex cellulose showed that 80-88% of the available cellulose was utilized in 30-36 h with an average doubling time of 7.5-8.3 h. The protein content in the biomass ranged from 23 to 38%. Semicontinuous cultivation studies, in which 90% of the biomass was withdrawn at the end of growth cycle, indicated that 84% of added cellulose was utilized with the biomass containing 32% crude protein. No loss in cellulose consumption, growth rate, or protein production occurred through two growth cycles. Continuous cultivation of A. terreus showed that 78-84% cellulose consumption occurred over growth temperatures ranging from 35 to 45 degrees C. Maximum specific growth rates (0.14 h(-1)) occurred at 40 and 45 degrees C with a minimum doubling time of 4.9 h.