GLUCOSAMINE AND METHOD OF MAKING GLUCOSAMINE FROM MICROBIAL BIOMASS

1 . A method of obtaining glucosamine from fungal biomass, the method comprising:

producing glucosamine suitable for animal and/or human consumption, from fungal biomass through

(a) providing a chitin-containing fungal biomass, which fungal biomass has not been pretreated to release components of the fungal biomass;

(b) reacting the non-pretreated fungal biomass in 5% HCl at a reaction temperature of from about 90° C. to about 160° C. and for a period of time sufficient for said reaction to convert at least about 50% of the chitin in the fungal biomass to glucosamine; and

(c) separating the glucosamine from the acidic solution.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the glucosamine into a food supplement composition.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the commercial-scale amount of the glucosamine is produced from the non-pretreated fungal biomass in a single acidic reaction.

4 . A method comprising:

producing a commercial-scale amount of a glucosamine and levulinic acid composition suitable for human consumption by

(a) providing a chitin-containing fungal biomass which fungal biomass has not been pretreated to release proteins, lipids and/or polysaccharides therein;

(b) reacting the non-pretreated fungal biomass in a 5% HCl solution, at a reaction temperature of from about 90° C. to about 160° C. to produce levulinic acid and to convert at least about 50% of the chitin in the fungal biomass to glucosamine during said reaction; and

(c) separating the glucosamine and levulinic acid from the HCl.

5 . The method of claim 4 further comprising forming the glucosamine into a food supplement composition.

6 . A comprising:

a food supplement comprising glucosamine derived from whole fungal biomass and levulinic acid.

7 . A comprising:

a food supplement comprising glucosamine derived from whole fungal biomass and 0.001 to about 1.0 wt. percent melanoidins.