Microbial Fat Synthesis from Blackstrap Molasses

This paper deals wit11 the design of a continuous techhology for the microbial simultaneous synthesis of fat and protein from blackstrap molasses. The experimental results of the test carried out with the batch cultive method give values of specific growth rate for the biomass synthesis in the range of 0.34 hr -' and for the fats synthesis stage of 0.1 hr-' . The continuous culture method used allows to define the yield for the fat synthesis being at the level of 15% and for the protein biomass content in the range of 1986. , The influence of the P205 content of the broth and the oxygen transfer rate were listed givlng no significant reply over the yield of fat in the test range. INTRODUCTION The world consumption of oils and fats excluding butter and other fats associated to certain foods is around 50 million tons per year. More than 80% of this figure correspond to the oil obtained from oleaginous seeds, animal fats and fish oil ) cover the rest. On the other hand, the analysis of the more recent trend of demand for more products in the world market show an unstable behavior depending on the final utilization; in addition to this situation a strongly rising tendency of the price is shown for some products. It is perfectly possible to expect that the rising tendency of prices will become steady in the years to come, being impossible to predict any stability of the market due to the close depeddence between the crops condition and the availability of the products. ( ,;? Due to the above mentioned reason,the future situation for those countries which depend on the import to cover their needs will become rather difficult and it seems timely to make this question: will it be possible for the microorganisms to supply a viableialternative as a fat source for human and/or animal use? Those factors which have boosted the use of single cell organisms as a reliable source of protein are practically the same with those which could support their use