Production of cellulolytic enzymes from microorganisms isolated from coconut fiber

Abstract

The worldwide production of microbial enzymes is generally limited by the cost of the substrate used for the cultivation of microorganisms. Thinking of a low-cost and abundant lignocellulosic substrate, coconut fiber is an alternative because it is rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, presenting itself as a promising raw material for the production of an enzyme cocktail, which can be used in the production of second-generation biofuels. The objective of this work was to produce cellulolytic enzymes from microorganisms isolated from coconut fiber. In the production of the enzyme, the kinetic profile of the enzymatic complex was evaluated, analyzing the effects of moisture content, temperature, and pH during solid-state fermentation of coconut fiber, using a microorganism isolated from the bagasse itself. Statistica software was used to evaluate the enzyme complex production parameters. Statistical results indicated that the best humidity, temperature, and pH conditions were 80%, 30°C and 3, respectively, with activities of 119.93 U/g CMCase (endoglucanase) and 89.32 U/g FPase (total cellulases ) over a period of 48 h.