Cellulase Production by Aspergillus flavus Linn Isolate NSPR 101 fermented in sawdust, bagasse and corncob

Abstract

  Bagasse, corncob and sawdust were used as lignocellulosic substrates for the production of cellulase enzyme using Aspergillus flavus after ballmilling and pretreatment with caustic soda.  From the fermentation studies, sawdust gave the best result with an enzyme activity value of 0.0743IU/ml while bagasse and corncob gave 0.0573IU/ml and 0.0502IU/ml respectively. The three lignocellulosics gave their maximum enzyme activities at about the twelfth hour of cultivation, suggesting that the 12th hour is the optimum time when the enzyme may be harvested.   Key words:  Aspergillus flavus, cellulase activity, lignocellulosics.