2. WHAT ARE SINGLE CELL PROTEINS ?
SCP are dried cells of microorganisms
which can be used as protein-rich food
supplements by humans and animals
They are used as animal feed & can be
used for human feed as protein
supplement.
Also called ‘Novel Food’ & ‘Minifood’.
3. HISTORY OF SCP
• In 1950’s British Petroleum initiated production of SCP on commercial basis.
• Pruteen was the 1st commercial SCP used as animal feed additive
• Pruteen was produced from bacteria Methylophilus methylotrophus cultured on
methanol & had 72 % protein content.
• Earlier known as ‘Microbial Protein’.
• In1966 M.I.T Professor Carroll L.Wilson renamed it as “Single Cell Proteins”
5. SCP PRODUCTION IN INDIA
• National Botanical Research Institute
(NBRI).
• Central Food Technological Research
Institute (CFTRI)
• In CFTRI, SCP is produced from algae
cultured on sewage
6. PRODUCTION OF SCP
Single Cell Protein production involves following steps:
1. Selection of Suitable Strain
2. Fermentation
3. Harvesting
4. Post harvest treatment
5. Processing of SCP for food
7. STEP- 1
SELECTION OF SUITABLE STRAIN
• It a very critical step as the quality of protein depends
totally on the microbe that is used for the production.
• Thus careful selection of the strain should be done.
• Care should be taken that the selected strain should
not produce any toxic or undesirable effects in the
consumer.
8. STEP -2
FERMENTATION
• Is done in a large chamber either of glass or
stainless steel called “Fermentor”
• Fermentation should be done under sterilized
conditions
• Controlled conditions as necessary e.g.
Temperature, Pressure, pH, Humidity etc
• Usually fed-batch cultures are used for the
fermentation of microbes
9. STEP -3
HARVESTING
• When the colonies of microbes are fully developed,
they are then harvested
• The bulk of cells are removed from the fermenter by
decantation.
10. STEP -4
POST HARVESTING
• After harvesting, the cells are subjected to a variety of
processes.
• Post harvesting treatments includes steps like
separation by centrifugation, washing, drying, etc.
11. STEP -5
FINALPROCESSING OF SCP
• Pure protein isolation can be done by disrupting
the cell wall through crushing, crumbling,
cycles of freezing & thawing, grinding &
thermal shocks.
• Nucleic acid can be remove by-
By treatment with Nacl 10%
By Chemicals e.g. NaoH
Thermal shocks
Enzymes Treatment e.g. ribonucleases
12. USES OF SCP
• As protein supplemented food -source of vitamins, amino acids,
minerals, crude fibers, etc
• As health food-controls obesity ,provides instant energy
• Therapeutic and natural medicines - reduce body weight, cholesterol,
stress , lowers blood sugar level in diabetic
• In cosmetics-important role in maintaining healthy hair (vitamin A and
B), many herbal beauty products (biolipstics and herbal face cream)
• Poultry and cattle feed - excellent, convenient source of protein and
other nutrients
13. CONCLUSION
• At present SCP production is in its infancy. One of the ways to enhance productivity
and quality is genetic improvements of micro-organisms.
• Using microbial biomass as a food source deserves serious consideration because of
insufficient world food supply and high protein content of most microorganisms.
• Microbes have shorter generation time, allow easy transformation, utilize many
substrates, have no requirements in arable lands or any particular season to grow and
have the possibility of continuous production in any part of the world.
