Protein Enrichment of Apple Pomace and Use in Feed for Nile Tilapia

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the protein enrichment of apple pomace by Gongronella butleri through solid-state cultivation and addition of this material as feed for tilapia fry (Oreochromis niloticus). Factorial experimental design was used for the assessment of culture conditions to determine the effects of the source of nitrogen, initial moisture, and granulometry on the protein enrichment of apple pomace. During culture, the consumption of reducing sugars and the production of soluble protein were determined. The best conditions obtained were with urea (5% w/w), initial moisture of 70% and granulometry in the range from 0.85 to 1.70 mm, producing 19.63% of soluble protein. The fry submitted to the diet containing treated apple pomace presented an increase of 44% in body mass, demonstrating that apple pomace biotransformed may represent an excellent food supplement.

Perspective of apple processing wastes as low-cost substrates for bioproduction of high value products: A review

“…AP possesses high moisture content, insoluble carbohydrates, such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, reducing sugars, such as glucose, fructose and sucrose, and is low in protein, essential amino acids, salts, and vitamin C [188,190,65,176,95,7,173]. AP is sold to the farmers at a price of approximately US $1.50/ton [173] and is used as an organic compost in crop fields and as animal feed, although its protein content is low.…”

“…AP is sold to the farmers at a price of approximately US $1.50/ton [173] and is used as an organic compost in crop fields and as animal feed, although its protein content is low. However, when AP is used for animal feed without biological treatment, it can give rise to the phenomenon known as alcoholemia due to the fermentation of AP to produce alcohol in the rumen of the animal causing intoxication [174,175].…”

“…In an attempt, Vendruscolo et al [173] investigated the protein enrichment of AP by G. butleri through solid-state cultivation and application of fermented AP as feed for tilapia fry (Oreochromis niloticus). Factorial experimental design was used for the assessment of culture conditions to determine the effects of the source of nitrogen, initial moisture, and granulometry on the protein enrichment of AP.…”

Bio-processing of agro-byproducts to animal feed

“…High moisture content results in an increase in mycelial production, consequently interfering in the transfer of oxygen. The protein enrichment of apple pomace by Gongronella butleri through solidstate cultivation of apple pomace has been investigated and the resultant protein-rich diet increased 44% of the body mass in tilapia fry, which demonstrates that biotransformed apple pomace may represent an excellent food supplement (Vendruscolo et al, 2009). Apple pomace has been used as the raw material to produce biofeed with enriched enzymes, such as pectinase, cellulase, xylanase, proteinase, and amylase (Zheng & Shetty, 2000;Zhong-Tao et al, 2009).…”

Starch: a potential substrate for biohydrogen production

“…The use of wastes to generate hydrogen energy could reduce the production cost, making hydrogen gas more available and cheaper . However, ethanol, organic acids, biocompounds, animal feed and energy from food wastes would be a value‐added strategy for the treatment of these residues .…”