2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) (1) Separate and characterize the components: Develop methods to separate the soft tissue fraction from the bone fraction. Characterize meat & bone meal (MBM), and its fractions, in terms of their composition and physical properties. (2) Modify the functionality: Establish the range of functional properties achievable by subjecting MBM protein to varying degrees of hydrolysis and subsequent crosslinking. (3) Apply in fermentation media: Develop and evaluate an MBM hydrolysate for use in industrial fermentation as a source of amino acids and micronutrients. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) (1) Separate soft tissue material from bone material; determine the proximate composition and physical properties of both fractions. Combine amino acid and mathematical analyses to determine the identity and concentration of each of the major proteins. (2) Evaluate methods for the controlled hydrolysis of the protein in whole or fractionated MBM. Emphasize methods purported to inactivate BSE prions, but likely to scale up well and be economical. Evaluate the crosslinking of some hydrolysates. Determine several of the bulk functional properties of the treated protein and compare with those of other commercial proteins. (3) Develop an economical process for production of an MBM or component hydrolysate that matches or exceeds the desirable characteristics of other undefined nitrogen sources for low-cost, non-pharmaceutical industrial fermentation. 3.Progress Report This report serves to document research conducted under Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement #58-1935-7-0742 between ARS and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. See 1935-41440-015-02R. Researchers developed processes for low-cost hydrolysis of feather meal, blood meal and meat & bone meal (MBM) to produce homogenous, soluble products. The three raw materials were hydrolyzed by either alkali or a protease enzyme, to varying extents. The products were produced on a relatively large scale in order to be tested as a component in an algal growth medium. The ADODR, Lead Scientist of the parent project (-015-00D), monitored and coordinated activities with the collaborator through phone and e-mail communication, as well as through joint preparation of a progress report to a third party funding organization. The ADODR will visit the collaborator’s site, though at this time it is not certain whether this visit will occur within this timeframe covered by this annual report. 4.Accomplishments Physical distribution and characteristics of meat & bone meal protein (MBM): Successful non-food applications of agricultural proteins typically have not developed until a particular protein fraction could be isolated and processed into a relatively concentrated, homogenous and soluble form. Rational design of a process for producing such a protein isolate requires knowledge of the host biological matrix, the physical distribution of the protein in the matrix, and the properties of the protein itself. The researchers determined these characteristics using MBM from a wide variety of sources. The results indicate which protein isolation strategies are the most appropriate and suggest that MBM could yield multiple protein isolates with different composition or functional properties. The data produced will facilitate the design of processes that produce value-added derivatives of MBM. (NP306, Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products; Action Plan Component 2, New Processes, New Uses, and Value-Added Foods and Biobased Products; Problem Area 2c, New and Improved Processes and Feedstocks) Hydrolytic solubilization of Meat & Bone Meal (MBM): Some microorganisms and cell culture lines are fastidious and cannot be cultured in a chemically well-defined medium; this problem is traditionally overcome by using complex materials such as fetal calf serum or hydrolysates of animal tissue. MBM protein is attractive as an alternative to these materials for cost-sensitive industrial fermentations. The researchers developed processes for hydrolyzing MBM to produce a homogenous, soluble product on either a pilot plant or large lab scale. Using these processes, they generated the relatively large quantities of hydrolysate needed for fermentation testing under in-house Project 1935-41000-067's Obj. 1.3. (Fermentation manipulation) as well as by outside collaborators. This accomplishment allows investigation on use of MBM protein in industrial fermentation to go forward, potentially developing a new outlet for MBM (NP306, Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products; Action Plan Component 2, New Processes, New Uses, and Value-Added Foods and Biobased Products; Problem Area 2c, New and Improved Processes and Feedstocks) 5.Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations None. 6.Technology Transfer Number of non-peer reviewed presentations and proceedings 2 Review Publications Coll, B., Garcia, R.A., Marmer, W.N. 2007. Diffusion of Protease into Meat & Bone Meal for Solubility Improvement and Potential Inactivation of the BSE Prion. PLoS ONE. 2(2):e245. Garcia, R.A., Flores, R.A., Mazenko, C.E. 2007. Factors contributing to the poor bulk behavior of meat & bone meal and methods for improving these behaviors. Bioresource Technology. 98(15):2852-2858.