Evaluation of different sources of carbon and nitrogen in the production of rennet from Mucor miehei

Abstract

The kinetics of biomass production and rennet from fungi Mucor miehei using culture media with alternative substrates as a source of carbon and nitrogen was studied in order to improve the enzymatic activity. An initial screening was performed in order to select the feasibility of each by-product and from these results the crossed effects of the best sources of carbon and nitrogen over enzymatic productivity were evaluated through an experimental factorial 22 design. It allowed us to propose an alternative culture media viable for the rennet production at industrial scale. The fermentations were carried out in a laboratory batch reactor, at 37° C, pH between 6.3-6.5 and 250 rpm. The best culture media was established as that which contained whey both as a source of carbon and nitrogen (media 1) and whey as a source of carbon and corn flour as a source of nitrogen (media 2). Maximum Rennet strength achieved (FC) was 133 3.704 at 90 h in media 1 and 1069.71 at 85 h in media 2.