Production of Cellulase using Trichoderma atroviride ATCC® 28043™ by Solid State Fermentation from a Novel Mixture of Coir, Vegetable and Fruit Peels

Lignocellulosic bio-ethanol owes close to 40% of its production cost to the expensive cellulase production processes. Trichoderma atroviride ATCC® 28043™ is a filamentous fungi with previously reported cellulolytic activities. In this work, we have performed an optimized Solid State Fermentation (SSF) in an aerated tray reactor to produce cellulases (Koji type fermentation) using coir, potato peels and Sapodilla peels as the substrates. In an optimized 10 day SSF process the activities of FPases was 1.665 IU/mL, CMCase was 12.7 IU/ml, Xylanase was 676 IU/mL and Beta-glucosidase was 2825.9 IU/mL. Optimum conditions for saccharification were determined. The enzymes concentrated using a tangential flow filtration apparatus were used to saccharify ammonia pre-treated rice straw. The release 0.33 g glucose/g rice straw after 48 h at 50°C was obtained using cellulase loading of 35 FPU/g rice straw. The 43.67% saccharification of rice straw with 91.6% yield was obtained using produced cellulases.