From Wastes to High Value Added Products: Novel Aspects of SSF in the Production of Enzymes

Abstract

Solid-state fermentation (SSF), a process that occurs in the absence or near absence of water, has been used for the production of various high value added products such as enzymes and other organic components. This paper reviews the recent studies reported on the use of SSF for the production of enzymes: lipases, proteases, cellulases, hemicellulases, ligninases, glucoamylases, pectinases, and inulinases. The microorganisms used for fermentation are mostly fungi, and substrates are waste materials from the agriculture and food industry. This shows the advantages of SSF from an economical and environmental viewpoint. The paper provides an update on several issues, viz. wastes, microorganisms, and issues of scaling up and controlling the process of fermentation in solid state.