Effect of combined pretreatment of lignocellulose and the kinetics of its subsequent bioconversion by Aspergillus niger

This study examined the feasibility oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) as the source of lignocellulose and Aspergillus niger as cellulase-producing fungus respectively. The hydrolysis was performed by growing A. niger on the OPEFB. Prior to hydrolysis, OPEFB was pretreated with NaOH at different percentage and were heated simultaneously at 170 °C to destroy lignin that hindered cellulase from contacting cellulose. A. niger was further grown on pretreated OPEFB and the reducing sugar was determined via dinitrosalicylic acid method with spectrophotometer reading at 540 nm periodically every 24 h for 9 consecutive days. Kinetics study showed that the yield of the reducing sugar is relatively higher for OPEFB pretreated with 1% NaOH due to the reduction of the cellulose crystallinity which further increase the hydrolysis rate.
Source: Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology - Category: Biotechnology Source Type: research