Use of the glucose oxidase system for estimation of oxygen transfer rate in a solid-state bioreactor

Air pressure pulsation solid state fermentation of feruloyl esterase by Aspergillus niger

Air pressure pulsation solid state fermentation (APP-SSF) was applied to produce feruloyl esterase (FAE) by Aspergillus niger. With the optimization of some variables by orthogonal design, the optimal condition obtained was 0.2 MPa (gauge pressure) of high pressure intensity, 30 min of low pressure duration and 20s of high pressure duration. Based on the optimized condition, the APP-SSF achieved the reasonable enzyme yield of 881 mU/g at 48 h, which was 58% more than that by static solid state fermentation (static SSF) at 72 h. By comparison of two fermentation methods in temperature, O(2) and CO(2) concentration, and respiration intensity, it was concluded that APP-SSF enhanced heat and mass transfer of fermentation system and strengthened the metabolism of microorganisms. The APP-SSF had a greatly positive effect on FAE production by A. niger, by enhancing mass and heat transfer and activating growth and metabolism.

Novel bioconversion of wheat straw to bio-organic fertilizer in a solid-state bioreactor

In order to increase the eco-efficiency and overall availability of naturally renewable resource, the novel bioconversion of steam-exploded wheat straw to bio-organic fertilizer containing N(2)-fixer, P and K solubilizers was investigated. The conversion was performed in solid-state fermentation (SSF) with periodic air-forced pressure oscillation (PAPO). The results showed that SSF-PAPO was competitive with the conventional solid-state fermentation (cSSF) in biomass accumulation and wheat straw digestion. With solid-liquid ratio 1:3, microbial biomass production at 72 h was high up to 2 x 10(11) cfu g(-1), nearly twice as that in cSSF. The degradation rate of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin after fermentation in SSF-PAPO reached 48.57 +/- 10.66, 84.77 +/- 2.75 and 2.15 +/- 10.11, respectively, which was greater than that of 29.30 +/- 10.28%, 33.47 +/- 4.85% and 0.53 +/- 9.07% in cSSF, correspondingly. The SSF-PAPO system displayed unique advantage, by a novel gas phase control strategy on gas concentration and heat gradient, on the bioconversion of wheat straw to the bio-organic fertilizer.