CONTINUOUS SEMISOLID CULTIVATION FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CELLULASE BY TRICHODERMA-REESEI MUTANTS USING A POLYURETHANE FOAM CARRIER AND A LIQUID-MEDIUM

The production of cellulase was investigated in semi-solid state cultu re using the immobilized mycelium of Trichoderma reesei mutants on pol yurethane foam impregnated with lactose medium. An extremely high valu e of about 2.6 FPU/ml was reached after the cultivation of T. reesei D -78085 on a 0.5% lactose medium in continuous culture at a pH medium o f 4.0 when a bioreactor with vertical polyurethane foam plates was use d. The enzyme yield on lactose was 520 FPU/g of lactose metabolized in comparison with 160 FPU/g using a stirred tank bioreactor.