Effects of natural oils and surfactants on cellulase production and activity

Abstract

Abstract Emulsification of natural oils by a surfactant increases their efficiency as chemical antifoams. The presence of low concentrations of fatty acids or other surfactants have been reported to inhibit or stimulate microbial growth and/or product formation. The effects of different natural oils, Tween 80 and saponin on growth and cellulase production by T. reesei and S. pulverulentum have been investigated. It was found that in general, emulsification leads to higher cellulase activities in both cultures, though there are variations in enzyme levels depending on the presence or absence of Tween 80 and of different oils in growth media as well as the substrates used for cellulase assay.