Aspergellus niger as a producer of cellulolytic enzymes from cocoa (Theobroma cacao) meal

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the application of the fungus Aspergillus niger as a producer of the cellulolytic enzymes CMCase, FPase and Xylanase by solid-state fermentation of cocoa (Theobroma cacao). We evaluated the effect of fermentation time (24, 72, and 120 hours) and water activity (0.963, 0.976 and 0.983) on the production of enzymes. Fermentations were performed at 30º C in a bacteriological incubator. The optimization of ideal conditions for enzyme production was carried out using the response surface methodology (RSM). Statistically, the best activity obtained for CMCase was 14.18 U/mL at aw 0.972 and 70.07 hours fermentation, for FPase it was 7.51 U/mL at 0.974 aw and 80.56 hours, while for Xylanase was 11.86 U/mL at aw 0.971 and 64.24 hours.