GROWTH OF FILAMENTOUS FUNGI FROM PEA PROTEIN RESIDUAL WASTE STREAMS

1 . A method, comprising:

obtaining a liquid waste stream from a pea protein processor;

adjusting the pH of the liquid waste stream to be in a range of 5.5 to 6.0 so as to form a growth media;

growing fungal cells in the growth media such that the fungal cells produce a mycelium mass;

separating the mycelium mass from the growth media; and

concentrating the mycelium mass to obtain a fibrous mycelium mass having a protein content of greater than 40 wt % of a dry mass of the mycelium.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH is adjusted by adding citric acid to the liquid waste stream.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid waste stream comprises 10 wt % to 20 wt % protein, 1 wt % to 3 wt % nitrogen, 15 wt % to 25 wt % carbohydrate, 5 wt % to 10 wt % ash, 2 wt % to 4 wt % starch, 2 wt % to 4 wt % potassium, 2 wt % to 4 wt % chloride, 0.5 wt % to 3 wt % fat, and less than 0.5 wt % crude fiber.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

autoclaving the growth media before growing the fungal cells in the growth media.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein growing the fungal cells comprises:

adding fungal cells into a bioreactor containing the growth media; and

maintaining the growth media at a temperature in a range of 30° C. to 35° C., a stirring rate in a range of 200 rpm to 300 rpm, and an airflow in a range of 0.1 vvm to 5 vvm for a time period,

wherein the pH of the growth media is maintained in a range of 5.5 and 6.0 for the time period.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

diluting the liquid waste stream by a factor in a range of 8 to 12.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

supplementing the diluted growth media with a second media, the second media comprising:

2.67 g L −1 NH 4 Cl;

2 g L −1 KH 2 PO 4 ;

1 g L −1 Na 3 C 6 H 5 O 7 ;

0.2 g L −1 MgSO 4 ;

0.1 g L −1 CaCl 2 ;

5 mg L −1 ZnSO 4 ;

1 mg L −1 Fe(NH 4 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 2 ;

0.25 mg L −1 CuSO 4 ;

0.05 mg L −1 MnSO 4 ;

0.05 mg L −1 BH 3 O 3 ;

0.05 mg L −1 Na 2 MoO 4 ; and

0.05 mg L −1 biotin.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

forming the fibrous mycelium mass into an edible food product.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the edible food product is at least one of a chip, a protein bar, a jerky, a tortilla, a bread, or a cracker.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the edible food product is at least one of a chicken substitute product, a beef substitute product, a veal substitute product, or a fish substitute product.

11 . An edible meat substitute product formed by the process of:

obtaining a liquid waste stream from a pea protein processor;

adjusting the pH of the liquid waste stream to be in a range of 5.5 to 6.0 so as to form a growth media;

growing fungal cells in the growth media such that the fungal cells produce a mycelium mass;

separating the mycelium mass from the growth media; and

concentrating the mycelium mass to obtain a fibrous mycelium mass having a protein content of greater than 40 wt % of a dry mass of the fibrous mycelium mass.

12 . The edible meat substitute product formed by the process of claim 11 , wherein the pH is adjusted by adding citric acid to the liquid waste stream.

13 . The edible meat substitute product formed by the process of claim 11 , wherein the liquid waste stream comprises 10 wt % to 20 wt % protein, 1 wt % to 3 wt % nitrogen, 15 wt % to 25 wt % carbohydrate, 5 wt % to 10 wt % ash, 2 wt % to 4 wt % starch, 2 wt % to 4 wt % potassium, 2 wt % to 4 wt % chloride, 0.5 wt % to 3 wt % fat, and less than 0.5 wt % crude fiber.

14 . The edible meat substitute product formed by the process of claim 11 , further comprising:

autoclaving the growth media before growing the fungal cells in the growth media.

15 . The edible meat substitute product formed by the process of claim 11 , wherein growing the fungal cells comprises:

adding fungal cells into a bioreactor containing the growth media; and

maintaining the growth media at a temperature in a range of 30° C. to 35° C., a stirring rate in a range of 200 rpm to 300 rpm, and an airflow in a range of 0.1 vvm to 5 vvm for a time period, and

wherein the pH of the growth media is maintained in a range of 5.5 and 6.0 for the time period.

16 . The edible meat substitute product formed by the process of claim 11 , further comprising:

diluting the liquid waste stream by a factor in a range of 8 to 12.

17 . The edible meat substitute product formed by the process of claim 16 , further comprising:

supplementing the diluted growth media with a second media, the second media comprising:

2.67 g L −1 NH 4 Cl;

2 g L −1 KH 2 PO 4 ;

1 g L −1 Na 3 C 6 H 5 O 7 ;

0.2 g L −1 MgSO 4 ;

0.1 g L −1 CaCl 2 ;

5 mg L −1 ZnSO 4 ;

1 mg L −1 Fe(NH 4 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 2 ;

0.25 mg L −1 CuSO 4 ;

0.05 mg L −1 MnSO 4 ;

0.05 mg L −1 BH 3 O 3 ;

0.05 mg L −1 Na 2 MoO 4 ; and

0.05 mg L −1 biotin.

18 . The edible meat substitute product formed by the process of claim 11 , wherein the edible meat substitute product is a chicken substitute product.

19 . The edible meat substitute product formed by the process of claim 11 , wherein the edible meat substitute product is a beef substitute product.

20 . The edible meat substitute product formed by the process of claim 11 , wherein the edible meat substitute product is a fish substitute product.