Pretreatments of Carnauba (Copernicia prunifera) straw residue for production of cellulolytic enzymes by Trichorderma reesei CCT-2768 by solid state fermentation

Abstract

Abstract In this study the effect of pretreatments, such as hydrothermal (HT) with hydrogen peroxide-alkaline (HP-A), acid-alkaline (AA), or alkaline (AL) pretreatments, on the Carnauba ( Copernicia prunifera ) straw residue—a plant native to Brazil that is used to produce wax —as well as the use of the pretreated biomass for the production of lignocellulolytic enzymes (cellulases and xylanases) by Trichoderma reesei CCT2768 using solid state fermentation (SSF) were evaluated. The untreated and pretreated biomasses were characterized by using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy assays. A kinetic study was carried out to estimate the best time for producing cellulases (FPase and CMCase) and xylanases. HP-A pretreatment was the only one that simultaneously reduced hemicellulose (removal of 60.72%), lignin (removal of 50.71%) and pretreatment yield of 59.28%. FPase (0.9 U/g) and CMCase (13 U/g) production in the case of this pretreatment was optimum, while AL pretreatment was ideal for xylanase (99.5 U/g). The use of Carnauba ( Copernicia prunifera ) straw residue coupled with HP-A pretreatment and SSF shows promise for the production of lignocellulolytic enzymes.