COPRA WASTE - A NOVEL SUBSTRATE FOR SOLID-STATE FERMENTATION

Solid-state fermentations were carried out to evaluate the feasibility of copra waste being used as a solid substrate for production of gluc oamylase enzyme by Aspergillus niger NCIM 1245. The waste supported mo uld growth and enzyme activity, and under optimised conditions enzyme units as high as 194 IU/g dry fermented substrate were produced when f ermentation was carried out for 96 h at 30 + 1 degrees C with an initi al substrate pH and moisture of 4 . 5-4 . 7 and 65%, respectively. Add ition of inorganic nitrogen enhanced the enzyme yields without affecti ng dry matter loss significantly.