Solid-state fermentation of wheat pieces by aspergillus oryzae: Effects of microwave pretreatment on enzyme production in a biorefinery

Abstract

Production of hydrolytic enzymes is crucial to operate successful cereal-based biorefineries, where macromolecules in cereals (such as starch, protein, and phosphorus), are converted into their monomers (glucose, free amino nitrogen, and free phosphorous, respectively) for the production of different value-added products. In this study, effects of microwave pretreatment on enzyme production during solid-state fermentations of wheat pieces by Aspergillus oryzae were studied. Results showed that microwave pretreatment for a duration of 30 seconds increased glucoamylase and protease activities from 20 and 143 U/g (db, dry basis), in the control experiment, to 32 and 179 U/g (db), respectively. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. © 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.