Impact of process parameters and plant polysaccharide hydrolysates in cellulase production by Trichoderma reesei and Neurospora crassa under wheat bran based solid state fermentation

Lignocellulosic biomass is a promising feedstock for future renewable fuels. It constitutes a substantial renewable substrate for the production of value-added chemicals. Lignocellulosic materials mostly contain a mixture of polymers such as cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. Utilizing waste lignocellulosic materials such as agricultural residues, grasses, forestry wastes can significantly reduce the cost of raw materials. Optimization of significant process parameters is also a very important stage to develop an efficient and cost-effective bioprocess. The present paper describes the Box-Behnken design based optimization to evaluate the effects of various process parameters viz.temperature, pH, inoculum dosages, particle size, moisture percentage and incubation period on the production of cellulases by T. reesei NCIM 1186 and N. crassa NCIM 1021 under wheat bran based solid-state fermentation. It also portrays the utility of various plant polysaccharide hydrolysates such as boiled bagasse, bagasse, wheat straw, waste newspaper as well as starch hydrolysates in cellulase production.