AGRE-0038 Valorization of Sugar Beet Pulp by Solid State Fermentation

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ECLAIR Cluster III - Carbohydrates

AGRE-0038 Valorization of Sugar Beet Pulp by Solid State Fermentation 1 November 1990 - 30 April 1994

OBJECTIVE

The solid state fermentation process (SSF) is well known in traditional food preparations and for such applications as fodder silage and composting.

The basic purpose of the proposed project is to apply SSF, using sugar beet pulp as the main substrate, for the manufacture of medium or high added value products. Previous experiences have shown the feasibility of such an operation for the production of protein enriched pulp and industrial enzymes. The production of pectinases by A. niger, currently being industrialised, has shown significant economical advantages compared to existing processes: deep tank, surface or Koji fermentation. The main advantages are the following:

• high volumetric productivity due to the high concentration of substrate per unit volume of fermenter
• low capital investment
• facility of product recovery and drying
• reduction of chemical and biological oxygen demand
• possibility to recover the secondary metabolites at a high concentration
• low energy consumption.

Sugar beet pulp is an excellent substrate for SSF:

• it has a satisfactory composition, and is a suitable carbon source for microbial utilisation
• it has a rigid and open structure allowing a specific reactor design
• pulp particles are loose and not sticky
• it has a high water holding capacity allowing nutrients to dissolve
• it is available in large quantities at low cost.

Sugar beet pulp is already an excess feedstuff in some European countries. The continuing trend for decreased dairy production in the EC will cause further pressure on sugar beet pulp sales into this market. A new outlet is very important for the future.

The object of the proposed research is to explore the most promising developments in solid state fermentation using sugar beet pulp as a substrate. The main research programme will involve microbiology, fermentation process optimization, engineering and nutritional tests. It will be conducted mainly at pilot plant scale. The anticipated outlets are in the improvement of feed composition for mono and poly gastric animals, saccharification, protein enrichment, and probiotics, and in the production of secondary metabolites such as enzymes, vitamins, and amino acids....

Contacts

Coordinator

• Michel BRUDER / Generale Sucriere FRANCE

EC Scientific Officer

• Ciarán MANGAN / European Commission - DG Research Quality of Life Programme - Unit B1.2 / BELGIUM