Yeast Single-Cell Protein Production Using Potato Processing Waste Water

Four species of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida utilis, Saccharomycopsis flbuligera, and Schwanniomyces castellii were evaluated for their ability to bioconvert potato processing waste water into microbial protein and the resulting single-cell proteins were evaluated as protein sources for rainbow trout, using in vitro analyses. The studies indicated that Schwanniomyces castellii, which utilizes starch dircetly and converts it into cell mass efficiently, was suitable for the bioconversion. In the single-stage continuous bioconversion, the yield S. castellii cell mass, which contained approximately 37% protein, was 77%, at dilution rate 0.25 $h^{-1}$. Reduction of total carbohydrate was 81%. During batch fermentations, cell mass yield was about 72% and total carbohydrate reduction was 81%. Among the yeasts tested, S. castellii possessed the most fragile cell wall and had a favorable amino acid profile for salmonid fish; protein score of 86% (Met). In an in vitro pepsin digestibility test 80% digestibility (23~38% above control) was observed when cells were pre-heated in a steam bath for 30 min. Results presented should be regarded as being preliminary in nature because they were derived from single experiments.