Selection of methylotrophic microorganisms for the formation of single cell protein

Abstract

Methanolassimilating microorganism were isolated from 27 soil samples Thirtyone (26 bacteria and 5 yeasts) out of 385 isolates were found to be methylotrophs Fungal and actinomycetes isolates did not grow on methanol as a sole carbon source The growth parameters of yeast and bacterial isolates in shake flasks cultures widely varied from one isolate to another The methylotrophic bacterial strains 14B16 11B11 01B01 and 10B11 showed the highest specific growth rates being 0083 0059 0058 and 0057 h(t) respectively Pichia sp 2y17 gave a short exponential phase as compared with bacterial isolates The methylotrophic bacterial strain 14B16 gave the highest biomass and protein productivity (11330 and 7388 mg 100 ml culture respectively) Effective yield of tested yeast was found to be of a low value Microbial growthwas highly affected by the high concentration of form aldehyde