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Enhanced protein and amino acids of corn–ethanol co-product by Mucor indicus and Rhizopus oryzae

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Abstract

Upcycle of co-products from corn–ethanol plant into protein-rich animal feed with balanced key amino acids via solid-state fermentation is a promising approach to economically support both biofuel and animal feed industries. However, there are multiple types of solid-state fermentation microorganisms and growth conditions that have not been tested. In this study, Mucor indicus and Rhizopus oryzae were used to ferment corn-based wet distiller’s grains with solubles (WDGS). The effects of fermentation conditions (temperature, agitation, and moisture) and supplementations (extraneous carbon and nitrogen sources) were evaluated on protein production and amino acids profiles before and after fermentation. The study established best fermentation conditions (23 °C, static incubation for 4 days at 70% initial moisture content) to improve protein content for both R. oryzae and M. indicus. Moreover, urea supplied to R. oryzae and M. indicus improved protein concentration by 35 and 38%, and total amino acids content by 28 and 18%, respectively. The amount of 693.1 and 451.8 mg of additional total amino acids including 262.8 and 227.7 mg of key amino acids (lysine, methionine, tryptophan, and arginine) was synthesized by R. oryzae and M. indicus, respectively, per supply of 536 mg urea in 25 g of WDGS. This study demonstrated the feasibility of urea as a low-cost nitrogen source for amino acid biosynthesis in fungal fermentation of WDGS, which could contribute to the increasing demand for high-value monogastric animal feed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Minnesota Corn Grower’s Association and US National Science Foundation (Award No. 1804702).

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Author notes

  1. Tanner Barnharst and Xiao Sun contributed equally to this manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave, Saint Paul, MN, 55108-6005, USA

    Tanner Barnharst, Xiao Sun, Aravindan Rajendran & Bo Hu

  2. Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, 55108, USA

    Pedro Urriola & Gerald Shurson

Authors
  1. Tanner Barnharst
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  2. Xiao Sun
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  3. Aravindan Rajendran
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  4. Pedro Urriola
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Correspondence to Bo Hu.

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Barnharst, T., Sun, X., Rajendran, A. et al. Enhanced protein and amino acids of corn–ethanol co-product by Mucor indicus and Rhizopus oryzae. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 44, 1989–2000 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-021-02580-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-021-02580-0

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