Biorefinery of exhausted olive pomace through the production of polygalacturonases and omega-3 fatty acids by Crypthecodinium cohnii

Abstract

The market for pectinolytic enzymes is continually expanding. In addition to the food, animal feed, textile and paper industries, pectinases have recently found application in the field of biorefinery. However, the industrial production of these enzymes is associated with high costs. Thus, the search for new source of microbial enzymes with low culture requirements, or from new substrates that allow the development of cost-effective and ecofriendly processes is of utmost importance. In this study, an unusual microbial source was postulated to produce pectinases from an uncommon agro-waste substrate. This study is the first report that reveals the production of pectinases by Crypthecodinium cohnii using as culture media liquors obtained after organosolv pretreatment of exhausted olive pomace (EOP). Results showed that using EOP as substrate, this strain was able to produce 42.15 ± 0.41 U/mL of extracellular polygalacturonase. Additionally, the valorization of EOP as a substrate to produce pectinases can be enhanced through the extraction of lipids rich in omega-3, making it a cost-effective and zero-waste process.