Avaliação potencial de fungos obtidos durante processo de compostagem para produção de celulase (FPASE)

Abstract

Composting is a biological oxidation process in which the microorganisms decompose the lignocellulosic material through the release of extracellular enzymes. Among the enzymes produced during composting stand out the cellulases, which are enzymes of industrial interest. These enzymes can be applied in food, detergent, pharmaceutical, textile, cellulose and paper industries, and in wastewater and waste treatment as well as being used in the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass for the conversion of cellulose into glucose for the production of biofuels. The aim of this work was to isolate fungi with the ability to produce enzyme (cellulase), in addition to monitoring a temperature variation in a composting process. The collections were performed from the 10th day after a set of the compost equipment and repeated every 15 days, totaling seven collections. At the time of the collection, the temperature was measured and samples were taken for fungal isolation. The enzymes production was verified through e agar gel diffusion method, in Petri plates having filter paper, for the determination of the total cellulolytic activity. The determination of the enzymatic rate (ER) was performed by means of the relationship between the substrate degradation halo and the fungal growth halo. The composting tank temperature varied between 36 °C and 43°C. During the collections 36 isolated fungi were obtained, where 6 were obtained in the thermophilic phase. Among the isolated fungi, the ones that stand out most were isolate 02 and isolate 04 of the 5th collection, and isolate 01 of the 4th collection, with ER of 90, 90 and 76, respectively, for a total cellulase activity (FPase). In view of the high ER values obtained, it can be stated that the composting tank represents a source of microorganisms producers of enzymes of industrial interest, which can be applied in the development of enzyme technologies.