Method for the valorisation of yeast biomass resulting from the production of ethanol

1. A process for recovering a composition rich in yeast proteins from a distillation residue resulting from ethanol production, comprising:

a) preparing a fermentable must comprising at least 40% by weight of wheat starch, less than 10% of vegetable proteins and between 3% and 6% of fibers;

b) enzymatically hydrolyzing the fermentable must to produce a hydrolyzate;

c) fermenting the hydrolysate;

d) distilling the fermented product of step c) to obtain a distillation residue;

e) separating the distillation residue so as to obtain: a first fraction (A) rich in yeast proteins and containing the fibers; a second fraction (B) comprising soluble products of the distillation residue; and

f) drying of the fraction (A) so as to obtain the composition rich in yeast proteins,

wherein the composition rich in yeast proteins comprises a total protein content of between 25% and 35%; a fiber content of between 40% and 50%; a lipid content of between 8% and 12%; a reducing sugar content of less than 2%; and an ash content of less than 3%.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein step a) comprises preparing a wheat starch milk comprising:

removal of fibers by milling and sieving; and

removal of gluten by leaching.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein step a) further comprises introducing the wheat starch milk into the fermentable must.

4. The process of claim 2 , wherein the wheat starch milk comprises at least 75% of starch, 2% to 8% of residual fibers and 3% to 6% of vegetable proteins.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the fermentable must further comprises starch originating from sources other than wheat, and selected from corn, rye, barley, oat, triticale, spelt, millet, sorghum, horse bean, potato, sweet potato, rice, quinoa , chestnut, lentil, chickpea, bean, broad bean, cassava or buckwheat, or mixtures thereof.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the fermentable must further comprises a supplement of fermentable materials comprising sugars resulting from a starch hydrolysis or glucose syrups resulting from a starch hydrolysis.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the fermentable must comprises exclusively wheat starch milk.

8. The process according to claim 1 , said separating is carried out using a decanting device.

9. The process according to claim 8 , wherein said decanting comprises using a horizontal decanter.

10. The process according to claim 1 , comprising drying fraction (A) in a dispersion dryer.

11. The process according to claim 1 , wherein said fermenting is conducted batchwise or continuously.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fermenting is conducted in the presence of a yeast selected from one of Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, Brettanomyces, Schwanniomyces, Candida and Pichia.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fermenting is conducted at a temperature of between 25 and 35° C.