Aspergillus awamori MK788209 cellulase: production, statistical optimization, pea peels saccharification and textile applications

Background: The demand for low-cost cellulolytic enzyme synthesis is rising in the enzyme market. This work aims to produce cellulase by utilizing various agricultural wastes and investigating the use of enzyme in saccharification and textile industries.

Results: Solid state fermentation (SSF) was applied to produce industrial enzymes, particularly cellulase, through utilizing Molokhia (Corchorus olitorius) stems by Aspergillus awamori MK788209 isolate. Two stages of statistical factorial designs Plackett-Burman (PB) and Central Composite Design (CCD) were applied to enhance the A. awamori MK788209 cellulase production from Molokhia stems (MS). The fold increase of enzyme production by PB followed by CCD was 2.51 and 4.86, respectively. Additionally, the A. awamori MK788209 culture filtrate was highly effective in saccharifying various agricultural wastes, particularly pea peels (PP) (yielding 98.33 mg reducing sugar/ml), due to its richness in cellulase, laccase, xylanase, pectinase, and amylase. By optimizing the three main variables; pea peel weight, culture filtrate volume added, and saccharification time by CCD, the sugar recovery from PP was enhanced, leading to a 3.44-fold increase in reducing sugar recovery (338 mg reducing sugar /ml). Furthermore, the A. awamori MK788209 culture filtrate showed high efficacy in textile applications, enhancing the roughness, weight loss, white index, and printing capability of treated cotton fabrics.

Conclusions: A. Awamori MK788209 produced cellulase which was effective in PP saccharification. The enzyme was also capable of enhancing cotton fabric properties.