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Microbial Inactivation and Spray Drying for the Recovery of Single-cell Protein from Chemically Deconstructed Polyethylene Terephthalate
Summary
Researchers converted chemically deconstructed PET plastic into single-cell protein (SCP) by optimizing microbial inactivation at 140°C for 60 minutes and spray drying parameters, establishing a viable process to transform plastic waste into food- and feed-grade protein biomass.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used polymers in plastics packaging. However, the increasing demand for PET has created challenges in waste disposal. Previous research has shown that PET can be deconstructed using ammonium hydroxide (CDPET). Microorganisms capable of utilizing the product as a sole carbon source can be converted to single-cell protein (SCP). A custom microbial inactivation unit was developed to ensure the safety and stability of generated SCP. Our study evaluated the effect of exposure time (45–60 minutes) at 140 °C with the goal of maximizing microbial inactivation. Our findings suggest that microbial inactivation can be achieved at 140 °C in 60 minutes. Since SCP is generated at relatively low concentrations, spray drying was investigated as a means to achieve rapid drying of heat-inactivated cell biomass. We analyzed spray drying parameters, such as inlet air temperature, feed flow rate, and nozzle pressure, to maximize SCP yield. Overall, the results of this study provide an effective method for recovering SCP from CDPET, with potential applications in the food and feed industries.