Production of microbial protein from waste cellulose by Thermomonospora fusca,a thermophilic actinomycete

The growth characteristics of Thermomonospora fusca, a cellulolytic thermophilic actinomycete, are described in terms of growth on pulping fines, a cellulosic waste of the paper industry. A fermentation was developed which substantially degrades this waste, with the residual product of growth containing about 30% microbial protein. This protein, as shown by a preliminary feeding study with baby chicks and by amino acid analyses, appears to be of good nutritional quality and contains no strongly toxic materials. The extracellular cellulolytic enzymes present in the spent broth are discussed in relation to their potential recovery as a by-product of the fermentation, as is also the possible use of the fermentation as a waste disposal system.