Abstract
A new post-treatment method of fungal biomass after fermentation is revealed. The post-treatment strategy was utilized to produce pigments as an additional valuable metabolite. Post-treatment included incubation at 95% relative humidity where the effects of harvesting time, light, and temperature were studied. Pigment-producing edible filamentous fungus Neurospora intermedia cultivated on ethanol plant residuals produced 4 g/L ethanol and 5 g/L fungal biomass. Harvesting the pale biomass after 48 h submerged cultivation compared to 24 h or 72 h increased pigmentation in the post-treatment step with 35% and 48%, respectively. The highest pigment content produced, 1.4 mg/g dry fungal biomass, was obtained from washed biomass treated in light at 35 °C whereof the major impact on pigmentation was from washed biomass. Moreover, post-treated biomass contained 50% (w/w) crude protein. The post-treatment strategy successfully adds pigments to pre-obtained biomass. The pigmented fungal biomass can be considered for animal feed applications for domestic animals.
Highlights
For a long time, filamentous fungi have been used for the industrial production of commercially relevant products, including enzymes, antibiotics, feed products, and many others [1]
A single batch of thin stillage was obtained from Lantmännen Agroetanol (Norrköping, Sweden), a dry-grind ethanol plant mostly based on wheat
The harvested biomass was left in 95% Rh for 24 h exposed to air without any nutrition supplied, mimicking a stressed condition, to stimulate pigment production as a valuable secondary metabolite
Summary
Filamentous fungi have been used for the industrial production of commercially relevant products, including enzymes, antibiotics, feed products, and many others [1]. The biorefinery concept, i.e., converting biomass into a spectrum of marketable products and energy [2], is anticipated to improve bioprocesses. Filamentous fungi are being investigated as core biocatalysts in biorefineries, and are useful in creating new sustainable products. The use of food-grade filamentous fungi to obtain nutritional rich biomass and other value-added products is highly interesting for the food, feed, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries [3]. These fungi provide alternative natural sources of products with low environmental impact partly due to their ability to grow on and produce industrial metabolites from different waste streams
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
