A bioprocessing mode for simultaneous fungal biomass protein production and wastewater treatment using an external air‐lift bioreactor

A pilot plant investigation for bioprocessing has been undertaken to develop a simple, non‐aseptic, low‐cost single process for production of fungal biomass protein (FBP) and wastewater treatment using starch processing wastewater. It has been confirmed that the newly developed external air‐lift bioreactor was very suitable for bioconversion of starch materials and FBP production by the microfungi Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus arrhizus. Bioproduct yields of 8.5 g dm−3 of FBP that contained 46–50% protein were obtained within a comparatively short retention time. A fungal biomass productivity in a range of 0.85–0.92 g dm−3 h−1 and removals of total suspended solids and 95% COD were achieved in batch, semi‐continuous and continuous processes. The operation modes of the semi‐continuous and continuous processes demonstrated a high biological dynamics in fungal biomass productivity and COD reduction. The semi‐continuous process appeared to be the most practical mode.