Application of Box–Behnken design for the optimization of cellulase production under solid-state fermentation

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass offers an encouraging possibility to satisfy future energy demand since it is an abundant and potential carbon source for the production of a wide range of fuels and value-added chemicals. Most of the proposed processes are currently unable to make economically viable conversion due to incomplete utilization of the biomass feedstock. Optimization of significant process conditions plays a very crucial role in the development of efficient and cost-effective bioconversion processes. The present paper describes the Box–Behnken design based optimization to evaluates the effect of process parameters. A set of combinations of parameter viz. temperature (30 °C), pH (5), inoculum dosages (0.56 g/L), particle size (850 μm), moisture percentage (76) and incubation period (6 days) was found quite effective on cellulase production by Aspergillus niger under wheat bran based solid-state fermentation. It also evaluates the utility of dairy industry waste (whey) and starch hydrolysates in cellulase production.