Single Cell Protein

This presentation explains the concept of the use of Single Cell protein as an alternative food source. It lists the source, production, advantages and disadvantages of the SCP.

1. Submitted To: Submitted By:
SOS in Biotechnology Deepti Maheshwari
M.Sc.( 3
rd
Semester)

JIWAJI UNIVERSITY
SINGLE CELL PROTEIN

2. CONTENTS :
INTRODUCTION
WHY THE NEED FOR SCP AS FOOD SOURCE?
 WHY OPT FOR SINGLE CELL PROTEIN ONLY ?
 MICROORGANISMS USED AS SCP.
 SUBSTRATE FOR SCP PRODUCTION.
 PROCESS OF SCP PRODUCTION.
APPLICATIONS OF SCP
DISADVANTAGES OF SCP.
REFRENCES.

3. INTRODUCTION :
SINGLE CELL PROTEIN (SCP) refers to the dried cells
of microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, molds, algae, fungi,
actinomycetes) that are used as protein sources in human
foods or animal feeds.
The term SCP was coined by Professor Carroll Wilson at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) in
May, 1966.
SCP is not a pure protein , but refers to the whole
cells of microorganism that also contains carbohydrates,
lipids, nucleic acids, mineral salts and vitamins.

4. WHY THE NEED FOR SCP AS
FOOD SOURCE ?
 SCP is required to cope up with the:
 Prevalence of acute food shortage in the developing
countries (Asia, Africa and Latin America).

 Inadequacies in the quality of food, as the diets of people
in these countries are generally low in calories and
unbalanced in other nutrients.
 Incompetence of conventional agriculture leading to
protein deficit food.

5. WHY OPT FOR SINGLE CELL
PROTEIN ONLY ?
Admirable features of microorganisms:
Rapid growth rate and productivity.
High protein content (soya beans have approximately 40%
protein content).

Process occupies a little land area.
Production is independent of seasonal variations.
Strain selection and further development are relatively
straightforward.

Microbe Protein percentage
Bacteria 50-80
Yeast 45-55
Filamentous fungi 30-55
Algae 45-65

6. MICROORGANISMS USED AS SCP :
MICROORGANISM GROWTH

CONDITIONS
PROS CONS
Bacteria
Examples:
• Bacillus megaterium
• Bacillus subtilis
pH
5-7
Temp.

35-45°C
 Protein content
maximum.
 High quality protein.
 Yield is higher.
 High content of nucleic
acid.
 Small size.
 Unpleasant odour.
Filamentous
Fungi
Examples:
• Aspergillus niger
• Aspergillus oryzae
pH
5-6 or
below


Temp.
25-35°C
 Produce carbohydrate
hydrolysing enzymes.
 Recovery by simple
filtration methods.
 Protein content is low
(lack of sulphur amino
acid).
 Growth rate is slower.

7. MICROORGANISM GROWTH
CONDITIONS
PROS CONS
Yeasts
Examples:
• Saccharomyces
cerevisiae
• Candida utilis
pH

5-7
Temp.
25°C

 Source of vitamin A, E, B
group.
 Low nucleic acid
content.
 Low toxicity potential.
 Low concentration of
sulphur containing amino
acid.
Algae
Examples:
• Spirulina sp.
• Porphyrium sp.
pH

11
Temp.

25°C
 Photosynthetic microbe

thus averts the need to
add carbon as food
source.
 Lysine content is high.
 Cell wall is stable thus can
not be digested in
mammals.

8. SUBSTRATE FOR SCP PRODUCTION:
 Substrate is the biomass on which the microorganism grow.
Choice of substrate depends upon:
 Its cost.
 Ease of availability.
 Oxygen requirement during fermentation.
 Heat produced and the level of fermenter cooling required.
 Downstream processing costs.

CARBON SUBSTRATE
Waste Products Agricultural Sources High Energy Carbon Dioxide
Sources
 Whey
 Molasses
 Begasse
 Lignin
 Cellulose
 Hemicelluloses
 Methanol
 Ethanol
 Gas oil

9. CARBON SUBSTRATE MICROORGANISMS
Molasses
(Waste product)
Candida utilis
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Lignocellulosic Waste
(Agricultural waste)
Agaricus bisporus
Cellulomonas species
Carbon Dioxide Spirulina species
Chlorella species
Methanol
(High energy source)
Methylomonas methylotrophus
Hyphomicrobium species

10. PROCESS OF SCP PRODUCTION :

11. THE PEKILO PROCESS :
Developed in Finland at Finnish Pulp and Paper Institute in
1974.
First commercial continuously operating process.
Microorganism used is filamentous fungi Paecilomyces variotii
Uses Spent Sulphite Liquor as the main substrate, consisting
of monosaccharide and acetic acid.
Produces 10,000 tons of SCP per year from two 360m
3
sized
fermenter.
Dried Pekilo protein consists of 59% crude protein.

12. Fig: Diagram displaying production of Pekilo Protein

13. APPLICATIONS OF SCP :
1)Source Of Healthy Food :
Provides with high amount of protein.
Provides with vitamins, amino acids,
minerals, fibers, etc.
Provides with instant energy.
 Example:
Spirulina is a part of diet of US Olympic
team.
2) Source Of Cattle Feed :
An excellent and convenient source of protein and other nutrients for
feeding the cattle.

14. 3) Medicinal Uses:
Strengthens immune system.
Reduces cholesterol level in body and reduces the body weight.
Lowers blood sugar level in diabetic patients.
Healthy for eyes and skin.
Displays anti-cancer properties (presence of
ß-carotene).
4) Source Of Waste Disposal :
Disposes off waste produced during various processes

by using them as raw material.

15. DISADVANTAGES OF SCP:
 Presence of high nucleic acid content.
Presence of toxins or carcinogenic compounds 
 Sometimes when SCP is taken as diet supplement
it may lead to various health problems.
Single cell protein production is a very expensive
procedure.

16. REFRENCES:
Waites Michael J., Morgan Neil L. , Rockey John S., and Higton
Gary.2001. Industrial Microbiology:An Introduction. Blackwell Science,
Oxford.219-223.

Stanbury Peter F., Whitaker Allan, and Hall Stephen J. 1995. Principles
Of Fermentation Technoogy. 2
nd
edition. Butterworth- Heinemann,
Oxford.93, 123-125.
Goldberg Isreal, 1943.Single Cell Protein (Biotechnology monographs;
vol. 1).Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg.11-67, 109.
Nasseri A.T., Amini S. Rasoul, Morowvat, M.H., and Ghasemi Y.
Single Cell Protein: Production and Process. American Journal of Food
Technology, 2011. 1-8.
Srividya A.R., Vishnuvarthan V.J., Murugappan M., Dhakae Prajakt
Gopal. Single Cell Protein: A Review. International Journal Of
Pharmaceutical Rearch Scholar, 2013.473-475.