Influence of airflow intensity on phytase production by solid-state fermentation.

Phytase production by Aspergillus niger F3 by solid state fermentation (SSF) on citrus peel was evaluated at pilot scale under different aeration conditions. The best airflow intensity was 1 VkgM (Lair kg medium(-1) min(-1)), which allowed to produce 65 units of phytases per gram in dry basis (65 Ug(-1) d.b.) as it removed the metabolic heat generated by the microorganism, Agitation did not improve heat removal. Airflow intensity was considered as scale-up criterion. When the airflow intensity was maintained at 1 VkgM for SSF with 2 and 20 kg of medium, the kinetics parameters for biomass and enzyme concentration at the end of fermentation differed by less than 2. The air flow intensity was required to maintain the temperature and cool the SSF and to provide oxygen for microbial growth. Air flow intensity is a key a factor that must be considered when scale-up of SSF is attempted.

The behavior of kinetic parameters in production of pectinase and xylanase by solid-state fermentation.

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) is defined as the growth of microbes without a free-flowing aqueous phase. The feasibility of using a citrus peel for producing pectinase and xylanase via the SSF process by Aspergillus niger F3 was evaluated in a 2 kg bioreactor. Different aeration conditions were tested to optimize the pectinase and xylanase production. The best air flow intensity was 1 V kg M (volumetric air flow per kilogram of medium), which allowed a sufficient amount of O2 for the microorganism growth producing 265 U/g and 65 U/g pectinases and xylanases, respectively. A mathematical model was applied to determine the different kinetic parameters related to SSF. The specific growth rate and biomass oxygen yield decreased during fermentation, whereas an increase in the maintenance coefficient for the different employed carbon sources was concurrently observed.