Produção de celulases por fermentação em estado sólido em fibra de sisal (Agave sisalana) utilizando Trichod reesei LCB 48.

Abstract

Despite the wide use of cellulases, the high cost has made some expensive processes, studies have been developed in order to produce this enzyme through a process of solid state fermentation from lignocellulosic agroindustrial residues, thereby reducing the production costs of enzyme, and adding value to waste. The objective of this study was to evaluate the enzymatic production of cellulases by the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei LCB 48 by solid state fermentation using sisal fiber as substrate. The characterization of sisal fiber was performed to meet their physical composition, physico-chemical and chemical. The characterization demonstrated that this substrate has the potential to be used in the fermentation for production of cellulolytic enzymes, especially for introducing a satisfactory alfacelulose percentage (58.40%), which is inducer of these enzymes and acid pH optimum for the production of enzymes in solid state fermentation with fungi (4.35). Fermentation was performed using the microorganism Trichoderma reesei LCB 48 with a concentration of 107 spores/g, at a temperature of 28 °C, substrate at 70, 80 and 90% humidity and supplementation with the basic means of inducing enzyme activity of Mandels and Weber. Samples were collected during the process to pH, moisture, reducing sugars and enzymatic activity, expressed as carboxymethylcellulase, until a time of 474 hours. The higher enzyme activity obtained for sisal fiber was 1.21 U/g in 450 hours of fermentation, in a substrate with 70% water content, a positive factor due to reduction of water use in the fermentation process.