Cellulases Production by Aspergillus unguis in Solid State Fermentation and Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Dilute Acid-Treated Groundnut Fodder.

Groundnut fodder was utilized as a bioresource for the production of cellulases through solid state fermentation (SSF). Aspergillus unguis was initially grown on modified groundnut fodder for cellulase production and the fodder was hydrolyzed by the crude cellulase extract into fermentable hydrolyzate. The highest titer of Filter paperase (FPase), Carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase), β-glucosidase, and protein content were found to be 11.4, 11.5, 33.3 U/g, and 136.6 mg/g of substrate, respectively. Treatment of groundnut fodder with dilute acid and supplementation of mineral salts, and yeast extract (5% w/v) enhanced cellulase production. The hydrolysis of modified groundnut fodder treated with Tween-80 using the crude cellulase extract resulted in increased production of reducing sugars (40%) at 50 °C compared with control. In conclusion, the addition of Tween-80 at pH 4.8 increased a twofold increase in the yield of reducing sugar.