STUDY OF SOLID STATE FERMENTATION USING COCOA PEEL AND SUGAR CANE BAGASSE

Enzymes can be produced by culturing solid-state filamentous fungi using agroindustrial residues as a carrier and source of nutrients. The present work aimed to study the application of cocoa peel as the main substrate to produce cellulases using the fungus Trichoderma harzianum IOC-3844. Solid fermentation assays were performed by varying the moisture, time and the culture medium’s composition in order to verify the best process conditions. It was also verified the best extraction condition of the enzymes, varying the extraction time, the solid-liquid ratio, the fermented medium’s humidity and the percentage of cocoa peel in the solid medium. The highest CMCase production (8.49 U.gms-1) was observed for 60% of cocoa peel, 70% moisture, at 3 days of culture, 1:20 for solid-liquid ratio and extraction at 60 minutes.