Mixed‐solid substrate fermentation. A novel process for enhanced lipase production by Candida rugosa

Candida rugosa was cultivated in a mixed‐solid substrate containing coconut oil cake (COC) and fine and coarse wheat bran (1:1:1) with an initial water activity (aw) of 0.92. The substrate was modified by adding a mineral solution (5%), corn steep liquor (6%), maltose (2%), peptone (3%), olive oil (10%), gum arabic (0.4%), different fatty acids (0.3%) and Tweens (0.5%). Fermentation in a column fermenter significantly improved the lipase yield to 118.2 Units per gram of dry fermented substrate [U/gds] at 72 h. This result was obtained 24 hours earlier than in our former studies (87.76 U/gds at 96 h) in COC, and the yield showed a 38% increase. Growth was measured indirectly by determining the glucosamine content in the cell wall of the yeast contained in the fermented matter, after its hydrolysis.