Glucosamine and method of making glucosamine from microbial biomass

Abstract

Glucosamine suitable for human or animal consumption is disclosed. The glucosamine is derived from fungal biomass containing chitin. Various methods of producing glucosamine by acid hydrolysis of fermented fungal biomass are also disclosed.

1 . A method of obtaining glucosamine from fungal biomass, the method comprising:
 producing glucosamine suitable for animal and/or human consumption, from fungal biomass through   (a) providing a chitin-containing fungal biomass, which fungal biomass has not been pretreated to release components of the fungal biomass;   (b) reacting the non-pretreated fungal biomass in 5% HCl at a reaction temperature of from about 90° C. to about 160° C. and for a period of time sufficient for said reaction to convert at least about 50% of the chitin in the fungal biomass to glucosamine; and   (c) separating the glucosamine from the acidic solution.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising forming the glucosamine into a food supplement composition. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the commercial-scale amount of the glucosamine is produced from the non-pretreated fungal biomass in a single acidic reaction. 
     
     
         4 . A method comprising:
 producing a commercial-scale amount of a glucosamine and levulinic acid composition suitable for human consumption by   (a) providing a chitin-containing fungal biomass which fungal biomass has not been pretreated to release proteins, lipids and/or polysaccharides therein;   (b) reacting the non-pretreated fungal biomass in a 5% HCl solution, at a reaction temperature of from about 90° C. to about 160° C. to produce levulinic acid and to convert at least about 50% of the chitin in the fungal biomass to glucosamine during said reaction; and   (c) separating the glucosamine and levulinic acid from the HCl.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising forming the glucosamine into a food supplement composition. 
     
     
         6 . A comprising:
 a food supplement comprising glucosamine derived from whole fungal biomass and levulinic acid.   
     
     
         7 . A comprising:
 a food supplement comprising glucosamine derived from whole fungal biomass and 0.001 to about 1.0 wt. percent melanoidins.