Design aspects of solid state fermentation as applied to microbial bioprocessing

Abstract

Solid state fermentation (SSF) refers to the microbial fermentation, which takes place in the absence or near absence of free water, thus being close to the natural environment to which the selected micro organisms, especially fungi, are naturally adapted. SSF has been used in the world for a long time. This technology is commonly known in the East, for traditional manufacture of fermented foods, and in the west, for mould-ripened cheese. It can be defined as a system, in which the growth of selected microorganism(s) occurs on solid materials with low moisture contents and has been identified as a potentially important methodology and technique in biotechnology. Nowadays, SSF is an economically viable, practically acceptable technology for large-scale bioconversion and biodegradation processes. Development of sustainable SSF and bioprocess technology is an emerging, multidisciplinary field with possible application to the production of enzymes, chemicals, bioethanol and pharmaceuticals. SSF offers many advantages over conventional submerged fermentation (SMF) such as, simple and inexpensive substrates, elimination of the need for solubilisation of nutrient from within solid substrates, elimination of the need for rigorous control of many parameters during fermentation, product yields are mostly higher, lower energy requirements, produce less waste water, no foam generation and relatively easy recovery of end products. SSF provides flexibility in terms of the raw materials to be used and their capability to produce various value-added products.