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Mycoprotein
In GCSE Biology curriculum, mycoprotein is a protein rich food suitable for vegetarians made by using a type of fungus called fusarium.
The fungus grows in a fermenter...
- On glucose syrup
- In aerobic conditions
The biomass is the harvested and purified to produce mycoprotein.
In GCSE Biology curriculum, there are six conditions of the fermenter:
- A constant supply of air to keep the organisms in suspension (so that they can all come into contact with the nutrient medium) and to provide oxygen for aerobic respiration. Large paddles are usually not used to keep the mixture in suspension because the paddles would break the long, branching fibres of the fungus.
- A temperature probe to monitor the temperature (as the fermenter may get too hot due to the heat energy released from respiration)
- A water cooled jacket - to maintain the correct temperature of the fermenter (cool water is pumped around the fermenter and the warmth from the respiring fungus is removed when the water is pumped out again)
- A pH probe to monitor the pH
- A supply of a nutrient medium - the best nutrient to use is glucose syrup because the fungus can used this directly. However, this is expensive, so normally cheaper nutrients are supplied and the fungus releases enzymes which break the nutrients down into glucose, which the fungus can then use. (carbohydrase breaks down starch, protease breaks down amino acids, and lipase breaks down fats)
- A filter to stop contamination of other microorganisms - this is important because if other microorganisms got into the batch it may be dangerous so the whole batch would have to disposed off, also the other microorganisms would compete with the fusarium for nutrients and oxygen, which would make mycoprotein production less efficient. As well as a filter the equipment should be sterilised before use to reduce the risk of contamination.
There will be a lag time before the fungus starts to grow exponentially, in this time the fungus will be digesting the nutrient medium to enable itself to grow as mentioned in GCSE Biology.
End of the topic!
Drafted by Gina (Biology)