Bioconversion of tannin to gallic acid from powder of teri pod (Caesalpinia
digyna) cover was achieved by the locally isolated fungus, Rhizopus oryzae
, in a bioreactor with a perforated float for carrying solid substrate and
induced inoculum. Modified Czapek-Dox medium, put beneath the perforated fl
oat, with 2% tannic acid at pH 4.5, temperature 32 degrees C, 93% relative
humidity, incubated for 3 days with 3-day-old inoculum was optimum for the
synthesis of tannase vis-a-vis gallic acid production. Conversion of tannin
to gallic acid was 90.9%. Diethyl ether was used as the solvent for extrac
tion of gallic acid from the fermented biomass.