THE TREATMENT OF OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH FIBER FOR SUBSEQUENT USE AS SUBSTRATE FOR CELLULASE PRODUCTION BY CHAETOMIUM-GLOBOSUM KUNZE

The feasibility of using treated oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fi bre as a substrate for cellulase production by Chaetomium globosum Kun ze was studied using a shaking flask fermentation system. The use of 2 -mm chemically untreated OPEFB fibre increased cellulase production by about two times compared to 10-mm fibre. The effect of the different chemicals (NaOH, HCl, HNO3, EDA and EDTA) on the 2-mm fibre was also i nvestigated. Treatment with these chemicals significantly (P < 0.05) i ncreased the cellulose and reduced the lignin contents. Fermentation u sing OPEFB fibre treated with HNO3 (0.5% v/v) gave the highest cellula se production and this was related to its high cellulose content. Cell ulase production increased further when autoclaved (121 degrees C, 15 psi for 5 min), chemically treated OPEFB fibre was used. When autoclav ed 2-mm OPEFB fibre treated with HNO3 was used as a substrate, the max imum FPase activity and yield obtained were 0.95 U ml(-1) and 120.7 U g(-1) cellulose, respectively. The cellulase produced by C. globosum c ontained a high proportion of beta-glucosidase. The ratio of specific activity of beta-glucosidase to FPase was about 8. The production of a ll three major components of cellulase (endoglucanase, cellobiohydrola se and beta-glucosidase) using pretreated OPEFB fibre were about three times higher than those obtained in fermentations using pure cellulos e (Avicel and carboxymethylcellulose). (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.