Bioconversion of sugar cane bagasse for cellulase enzyme and microbial protein production

A pilot scale (10 1) fermenter trial was conducted for the production of cellulase enzyme and single cell protein by growing a cellulolytic mould Aspergillus terreus GN₁ on 1.0% alkali-treated sugar cane bagasse substrate. A maximum crude protein content of 29.8% in the biomass was obtained during 4 days fermentation from the initial alkali-treated bagasse having 3.0% crude protein content. The carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) activity was almost 0 u/ml during the first 24 hr, which increased during 96 hr incubation to 0.52 u/ml, and corresponded with the highest filter paper enzyme (FPase) activity of 0.032 u/ml. There was an alternate decrease and further increase in water soluble carbohydrate during 96 hr incubation, which increased finally to 7.9%. There was no cellulose utilization during the first 24 hr of incubation. However, the cellulose of sugar cane bagasse substrate was utilized subsequently and a maximum of 72.5% of the initial cellulose was utilized up to 96 hr fermentation time.