Production of Industrially Important Cellulases and Pectinases using Lignocellulosic Biomass

Cellulases and pectinases are the two main industrially important enzymes that find significant applications in food, feed, pharmaceutical, textile and environmental sectors. In the present study, Trichoderma asperellum S14 was used for enzymes production in liquid state fermentation and for enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Prior to liquid state fermentation, Trichoderma asperellum S14 was qualitatively screened for the pectinolytic and cellulytic activity by using plate assay method. Alkaline pretreatment (1% NaOH) was used for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomasses including; wheat bran, wheat straw, rice straw, rice husk and sugarcane bagasse. Maximum cellulase activity of 4.3 U/mL was observed at pH 4.8 and 30ºC after 72 hours of incubation from Trichoderma asperellum S14 using alkali pretreated sugarcane bagasse as a substrate. While, maximum pectinase activity 9.2 U/mL obtained at pH 4.8 and 30ºC after 72 hours of incubation from Trichoderma asperellum S14 using alkali pretreated wheat bran. Enzymatic hydrolysis was also performed using crude enzymes extract at 50ºC for 72 hours. Maximum hydrolysis (70%) was observed in case of pretreated sugarcane bagasse using Trichoderma asperellum S14 as fungal source for enzyme production. Lignocellulosic biomasses are considered as the best feedstock used in second generation biofuel production because of their renewable resources as well as inexpensive and environment friendly nature. Present study shows the potential of Trichoderma asperellum S14 to degrade variety of lignocellulosic biomass efficiently and could be used to hydrolyze complex lignocellulosic materials towards the production of second generation biofuel.