Solid state fermentation utilizing agro-industrial waste for microbial pigment production

Abstract

Microbial pigments due to their better biodegradability and higher compatibility with the environment offer promising avenues for various industrial applications like food, cloth, painting, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, plastics, etc. Nevertheless, the current bacterial pigment productions are not effective to meet their industrial needs. Current research on microbial pigments signify that genetic engineering for strain improvement, optimization of bioprocess modeling and utilizing cheap agro-industrial residues as substrates are key developmental strategies to maximize pigment production. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) has been reassessed as an alternative to submerged fermentation and could be a possible strategy for the cost-effective production of microbial pigments. The investment for SSF is usually lower than that of submerged fermentation, since it uses waste agricultural residues. This chapter summarizes the effective way to produce microbial pigments in agro-industrial waste (SSF) for its wide-ranging industrial applications and commercial viability.