METHIONINE-RICH COMPOSITION FOR FEEDING ANIMALS
The present invention relates to a novel liquid or crystalline methionine composition, obtained by means of biomass bioconversion by means of microorganisms that are suitable for producing methionine.
1 - 19 . (canceled)
20 . A feed additive for feeding animals comprising a methionine composition resulting from a fermentation process, said methionine composition comprising:
from 60 to 95% by weight of methionine;
from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and
from 0.05 to 3.5% by weight of isoleucine.
21 . The feed additive of claim 20 , said methionine composition further comprising:
from 1.0 to 6.0% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;
from 0.1 to 2% by weight of total sugars; and
from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of lipids.
22 . The feed additive of claim 20 , wherein said additive is a liquid.
23 . The feed additive of claim 20 , wherein said methionine composition comprises:
from 60 to 80% by weight of methionine;
from 0.5 to 2.0% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and
from 0.20 to 1.5% by weight isoleucine.
24 . The feed additive of claim 21 , said methionine composition further comprising:
from 2 to 6% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;
from 0.5 to 2% by weight of total sugars; and
from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of lipids.
25 . The feed additive of claim 20 , said methionine composition comprising:
from 70 to 90% by weight of methionine;
from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and
from 0.10 to 1.0% by weight of isoleucine.
26 . The feed additive of claim 21 , said methionine composition further comprising:
from 2 to 6% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;
from 0.25 to 2% by weight of total sugars; and
from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of lipids.
27 . The feed additive of claim 20 , wherein said additive is a liquid.
28 . The feed additive of claim 20 , said methionine composition:
from 80 to 95% by weight of methionine;
from 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and
from 0.05 to 5.0% by weight of isoleucine.
29 . The feed composition of claim 21 , said methionine composition further comprising:
from 1.0 to 5.0% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;
from 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of total sugars, and
less than 0.3% by weight of lipids.
30 . A process for preparing a feed additive comprising:
clarifying fermentation medium in which a microorganism that has been modified to produce methionine has been cultured and removing insoluble and soluble organic impurities from said fermentation medium to obtain a liquid crude composition comprising:
from 60 to 80% by weight of methionine;
from 0.5 to 2.0% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and
from 0.20 to 1.5% by weight of isoleucine; and
recovering the feed additive.
31 . The process for preparing a feed additive of claim 30 , wherein the liquid crude composition further comprises:
from 2 to 6% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;
from 0.1 to 2% by weight of total sugars; and
from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of lipids.
32 . The process for preparing a feed additive of claim 30 , said process further comprising:
demmeralizing the liquid crude solution in order to remove cations and anions from said fermentation medium to obtain a demineralized liquid crude composition comprising:
from 70 to 90% by weight of methionine;
from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and
from 0.10 to 1.0% by weight of isoleucine.
33 . The process for preparing a feed additive of claim 32 , said demineralized liquid crude composition further comprising:
from 2 to 6% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;
from 0.25 to 2% by weight of total sugars; and
from 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of lipids.
34 . The process for preparing a feed additive of claim 30 , wherein the feed additive is liquid and said process does not comprise a crystallization step.
35 . The process for preparing a feed additive of claim 30 , further comprising:
crystallizing solid crude methionine from an optionally demineralized, liquid crude composition.
36 . The process for preparing a feed additive of claim 35 , said method further comprising:
separating, optionally washing, and optionally milling methionine crystals in order to obtain a solid crude composition.
37 . The process for preparing a feed additive of claim 35 , wherein said solid crude composition comprises:
from 80 to 95% by weight of methionine;
from 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of N-acetylmethionine; and
from 0.05 to 5.0% by weight of isoleucine.
38 . The process for preparing a feed additive of claim 37 , wherein the solid crude methionine composition further comprises:
from 1.0 to 5.0% by weight of amino acids other than methionine, N-acetylmethionine and isoleucine;
from 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of total sugars; and
less than 0.3% by weight of lipids.