Inducing Fungal Pelletization Using Affordable Microparticle

Abstract

Filamentous fungi have been known as one of the potential microorganisms in various industries. One of the isolates with great potential is Mucor irregularis that offer substantial potential to their growth characteristics. In submerged cultures, these microorganisms often aggregate into mycelia, enabling high-density cultivation and enhanced productivity. M irregularis have a high lipid content of 43.46% and a yield of 3.28 g/L. To further lipid-rich biomass production, pelletization is explored to involve the addition of microparticles like magnesium silicate and calcium carbonate. Microparticles have demonstrated the ability to control growth and enhance biomass in various strains. This study investigates the impact of microparticle addition on M. irregularis biomass production and pellet formation. Preliminary tests reveal that the addition of magnesium silicate microparticles (0, 1, 2, and 3 g/L) induces pellet formation, with the 2 g/L treatment yielding optimal results. Microscopic observations confirm that higher magnesium silicate concentrations result in more compact pellets. Biomass production peaks at 72 hours of incubation, reaching 3.09 ± 0.43 g/L, while the largest pellet diameter of 1.27 mm occurs at 48 hours of incubation. This research offers insights into enhancing biomass production and pellet formation in M. irregularis, holding promise for diverse applications.