FUNGI ISOLATION AND PRODUCTION OF HIDROLYTIC ENZYMES BY SOLID-STATE FERMENTATION OF Euterpe oleracea RESIDUES
An isolation of filamentous fungi exploiting açaí residues as resource (epicarp, fiber and seed). Together with a selection of strains with the capacity of hydrolytic enzymes production was set for this research on order to obtain hydrolytic enzymes (β-mannanases) by solid-state fermentation (SSF). From 14 filamentous fungi isolated, 8 showed hydrolytic enzymes production. They were observed by the hydrolyzed halo and calculated by Hydrolysis Index (HI) using different carbon sources. Two fungi, coded as A10 and A13, were chosen by their higher hydrolysis halo that reached 1.63 (LBG medium) and 1.40 (açaí medium) of HI values, respectively. SFF was conducted at 30°C, with a humid airflow, using 10% (w/w) of the fiber mixed with epicarp and seed. After 72 h of fermentation, β-mannanase activities of 2.9 U/g by A10 and 4.0 U/g by A13 were obtained. β-mannosidade and cellulases and will also be evaluated. Ofter the process optimization, the crude extract of hydrolytic enzymes produced by solid-state fermentation will be applied in the treatment of açaí residues to produce fermentable sugar for biological digestion and methane production.