Fungal consortium-driven valorization of agro-waste for sustainable co-production of industrial enzymes through integrated statistical bioprocess modelling.
IF 2.5 4区 生物学Q3 BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The growing accumulation of agro-industrial residues poses environmental challenges but also offers opportunities for sustainable biotechnological valorization. This study presents an integrated microbial bioprocess to transform agro waste into valuable industrial enzymes using a fungal consortium under solid-state fermentation (SSF). Two compatible fungal strains, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger, were selected for their high enzymatic potential and identified through morphological and molecular approaches. The consortium achieved maximal co-production of α-amylase and cellulase after 48 h, with alkaline-treated substrates. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed notable structural alterations in the substrates after alkali treatment. Among all substrates tested, alkali-pretreated potato peel showed the greatest potential for α-amylase and cellulase co-production. To further enhance process efficiency, statistical bioprocess modeling using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed. Plackett-Burman Design (PBD) screening highlighted pH, inoculum size, and inoculum age as critical factors, which were optimized via Central Composite Design (CCD). The optimized conditions-pH 5.5, inoculum age 4 days, and inoculum size of 3 mL resulted in markedly improved α-amylase and cellulase co-production. Nutritional optimization demonstrated that balanced supplementation with maltose, ammonium nitrate, peptone, and Tween 80 further enhanced synthesis. The statistical models exhibited strong predictive capability with high coefficients of determination, confirming bioprocess reliability. Overall, this study introduces a novel strategy integrating fungal consortium-mediated co-production of α-amylase and cellulase with advanced statistical modeling for efficient agro-waste valorization. The developed platform provides an eco-friendly approach to convert agricultural residues into industrially valuable enzymes, promoting sustainable waste management and advancing circular bioeconomy initiatives.
期刊介绍：
Biotechnology Letters is the world’s leading rapid-publication primary journal dedicated to biotechnology as a whole – that is to topics relating to actual or potential applications of biological reactions affected by microbial, plant or animal cells and biocatalysts derived from them.
All relevant aspects of molecular biology, genetics and cell biochemistry, of process and reactor design, of pre- and post-treatment steps, and of manufacturing or service operations are therefore included.
Contributions from industrial and academic laboratories are equally welcome. We also welcome contributions covering biotechnological aspects of regenerative medicine and biomaterials and also cancer biotechnology. Criteria for the acceptance of papers relate to our aim of publishing useful and informative results that will be of value to other workers in related fields.
The emphasis is very much on novelty and immediacy in order to justify rapid publication of authors’ results. It should be noted, however, that we do not normally publish papers (but this is not absolute) that deal with unidentified consortia of microorganisms (e.g. as in activated sludge) as these results may not be easily reproducible in other laboratories.
Papers describing the isolation and identification of microorganisms are not regarded as appropriate but such information can be appended as supporting information to a paper. Papers dealing with simple process development are usually considered to lack sufficient novelty or interest to warrant publication.
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