Consolidated bioethanol production from olive mill waste: Wood-decay fungi from central Morocco as promising decomposition and fermentation biocatalysts

Meknes region is a Moroccan olive-processing area generating high amounts of non-valorized Olive Mill Waste (OMW). Fungi are natural decomposers producing varied enzyme classes and effectively contributing to the carbon cycle. However, structural complexity of biomass and modest performances of wild fungi are major limits for local biorefineries. The objective of current research is to assess the ability of local fungi for bioethanol production from OMW using Consolidated Bioprocessing (CBP). This is done by characterizing lignocellulolytic potential of six wood-decay and compost-inhabiting ascomycetes and selecting potent fermentation biocatalysts. High and diversified activities were expressed by Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum: 9.36 IU. mL(−1) and 2.88 IU. mL(−1) total cellulase activity, 0.54 IU. mL(−1) and 0.57 IU. mL(−1) laccase activity, respectively, and 8.43 IU. mL(−1) lignin peroxidase activity for the latter. F. oxysporum had maximum bioethanol production and yield of 2.47 g.L(-1) and 0.84 g.g(−1), respectively, qualifying it as an important bio-agent for single-pot local biorefinery.