The Role of Lignocellulosic Composition and Residual Lipids in Empty Fruit Bunches on the Production of Humic Acids in Submerged Fermentations

Innovative production of value-added products using agro-industrial wastes via solid-state fermentation

The prevalence of organic solid waste worldwide has turned into a problem that requires comprehensive treatment on all fronts. The amount of agricultural waste generated by agro-based industries has more than triplet. It not only pollutes the environment but also wastes a lot of beneficial biomass resources. These wastes may be utilized as a different option/source for the manufacturing of many goods, including biogas, biofertilizers, biofuel, mushrooms and tempeh as the primary ingredients in numerous industries. Utilizing agro-industrial wastes as good raw materials may provide cost reduction and lower environmental pollution levels. Agro-industrial wastes are converted into biofuels, enzymes, vitamin supplements, antioxidants, livestock feed, antibiotics, biofertilizers and other compounds via solid-state fermentation (SSF). By definition, SSF is a method used when there is little to no free water available. As a result, it permits the use of solid materials as biotransformation substrates. Through SSF methods, a variety of microorganisms are employed to produce these worthwhile things. SSFs are therefore reviewed and discussed along with their impact on the production of value-added items. This review will provide thorough essential details information on recycling and the use of agricultural waste.

Production of humic acids by solid-state fermentation of Trichoderma reesei in raw oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers

Humic acids (HA) are organic macromolecules of high structural complexity and are primarily obtained from non-renewable carbon sources such as peat and coal. HA is widely used in agriculture but is known to have therapeutic properties, which are still poorly explored. Previous studies have shown the potential of biotechnological processes in the production of HA in submerged fermentation (SF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) using pre-treated fibers of oil palm of empty fruit bunch (EFB) for the cultivation of Trichoderma strains. EFB is an agro-industrial residue that is readily available at a low cost. The present study aimed to study the production of HA by Trichoderma reesei in the SSF of raw fibers of EFBs from two different palm oil producers. Profiles of HA production, cellular protein, pH, glucose, moisture, and oxygen transfer were obtained during SSF by EFB with and without lipids, as well as, images by electron microscopy of fibers. Results showed efficient HA production in the raw fibers of the EFBs. HA production followed the cellular protein (6 g HA per 100 g of fibers) evolution of the fermentations in the absence of lipids, while the composition of lipids greatly affected its production. The best HA production (350 mg HA per 100 g of fibers) was obtained from EFB that was richer in lignocellulosics and the residual lipids were similar to the fractions of palm and kernel oils, while EFB with lower lignocellulosic presented a production 110 mg HA per 100 g of fibers.