EFFECT OF ALKALINE TREATMENTS AT VARIOUS TEMPERATURES ON CELLULASE AND BIOMASS PRODUCTION USING SUBMERGED SUGARCANE BAGASSE FERMENTATION WITH TRICHODERMA-REESEI QM-9414

Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 was cultured to produce cellulase and bioma ss using as substrates untreated bagasse (non-alkali-treated bagasse w ashed with distilled water), and bagasse alkali-treated at room temper ature and at 100 degrees C, washed with water at pH 2. Avicel (microcr ystalline cellulose) was used as a control substrate. When untreated b agasse and bagasse alkali-treated at room temperature were used, appre ciable cellulase activity was found (0.085 and 0.090 IU/ml, respective ly), but activity was lower than when Avicel was used (0.163 IU/ml). E nzyme yields were 16, 19 and 22 IU/g cellulose consumed, respectively. Cellulase activity was not detected when bagasse alkali-treated at 10 0 degrees C was used. The biomass yield was about 30% lower when bagas se was used as a substrate than when Avicel was used. The yield was hi gher wizen bagasse was alkali-treated than when untreated bagasse was used although the difference was small. The biomass yield was 0.78 g b iomass per g cellulose consumed for alkali-treated bagasse at room tem perature versus 0.50 g/g for bagasse alkali-treated at 100 degrees C, 0.57 g/g for untreated bagasse and 0.67 g/g for Avicel. It was conclud ed that untreated bagasse is as good a substrate for cellulase and bio mass production as bagasse alkali-treated at room temperature. Copyrig ht (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.