Improvement of tannase production under submerged fermentation by Aspergillus niger FBT1 isolated from a mangrove forest

Abstract

Aspergillus niger FBT1, a local extracellular strain for tannase production, was isolated from soil collected from Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve in Perak, Malaysia. This fungus strain was cultivated in an Erlenmeyer flask under a submerged fermentation system. Medium compositions play a very important role in enhancing enzyme production during fermentation. The production of tannase by A. niger FBT1 increased significantly (95%) when the medium compositions and various process parameters were optimized. Incubation for 72 hours (30°, pH 7) in medium complemented with sodium nitrate was found optimal. Additional supplementation with tannic acid (2% w/v) as the sole carbon source strongly increased the yield of the enzyme.