Production of microbial protein from tree bark by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Abstract

SummaryPhanerochaete chrysosporiurn was grown in fermentors on NaOH-extracted maple, pine, and cedar barks at the optimum substrate concentration of 1% (wlv). The yields (mg proteidliter) on maple, pine, and cedar were 1500, 1200, and 880, respectively, which are probably due to the different lignin contents of the barks. Lignin is not utilized. The productivities at 30°C obtained for pine (4.07 x g proteidliter hr) and cedar (2.63 x 10+ g proteidliter hr) barks were greater than for maple (2.63 x g proteidliter hr). The substrate (bark) was the limiting component of the fermentation. Over the 26-38°C temperature range protein productivity increased by a factor of three (1.55 x 10V vs. 4.61 x 10V g proteidliter hr) for maple bark. Low agitation rates resulted in an overproduction of cellulase and reduced levels of microbial protein.