Biotechnological production of food-grade polyphosphate from deoiled seeds and bran
Kevin R. Herrmann, Jana Fees, Jonas Johannes Christ, Isabell Hofmann, Carolin Block, Dennis Herzberg, Stefanie Bröring, Bernd Reckels, Christian Visscher, Lars M. Blank, Ulrich Schwaneberg, Anna Joëlle Ruff
Abstract
Agricultural products, have a high phytate content that has a hidden potential as a renewable source of phosphate. We present the first biotechnological route for the production of food-grade, organic polyphosphate (polyP) from deoiled seeds or bran, included in a vision for a circular phosphorus economy. The three-step production process includes phosphorus mobilization (e.g., 37 mg PO43−/g bran) using phytase enzymes. Non-genetically modified phosphate starved Saccharomyces cerevisiae is then fed with soluble P-extracts. The yeast intracellularly polymerizes the phosphate to polyP (≥ 30 % mol polyP in yeast per mol PO43− in medium) and polyP-rich yeast extract or pure polyP is purified from the biomass. We demonstrate that the obtained polyP-rich yeast extract is an excellent green surrogate for polyP from fossil P-sources in meat manufacturing. The valorization of phytate–P while producing P-depleted biomass as a demanded feed in livestock production is shown. Our sustainable process enables the production of food-grade polyP from renewable resources and is contributing to the sustainable management of the dwindling nutrient phosphorus.