Microbial enhance of chitosan production by Rhizopus arrhizus using agroindustrial substrates

Molecules. 2012 Apr 27;17(5):4904-14. doi: 10.3390/molecules17054904.

Abstract

This study investigated the potential of Rhizopus arrhizus UCP 402 for producing chitosan using corn steep liquor and honey as agroindustrial nitrogen and carbon sources. A complete factorial design was used to assess the improved biomass and chitosan production. The results were evaluated using Pareto charts (Statistica 7.0 software). The chitosan obtained was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The cristallinity index (I(C)), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to evaluate the degree of deacetylation (DD %). The morphological aspects of the R. arrhizus were evaluated by measuring the diameter of the colonies by light microscopy. The results obtained showed higher biomass and chitosan yields (20.61 g/L and 29.3 mg/g), respectively, in the selected assays. The characterization of the macromolecular arrangement of chitosan showed a crystallinity index compatible with the literature, and the infrared peaks confirmed a degree of 86%. The experimental data obtained suggest that adding honey to corn steep liquor is a promising way to improve microbiological chitosan production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomass
  • Carbon
  • Chitosan / metabolism*
  • Crops, Agricultural / metabolism*
  • Crystallization
  • Honey
  • Microscopy
  • Nitrogen
  • Rhizopus / metabolism*
  • Rhizopus / ultrastructure
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Carbon
  • Chitosan
  • Nitrogen