Optimisation of Xylanase Production from Rice Straw through Solid State Fermentation

Abstract

The usage of rice straw as a substrate by fungus strains for the enzyme production has been recommended in order to minimise the overall cost enzyme production. Rice straw has a high content of hemicellulose and cellulose that can be potentially utilised for xylanase production. The present work is focused on optimising the production of xylanase using two different types of rice straw, untreated and treated (2.75% NaOH-heat at 121°C, 15 mins) as a substrate to cultivate Aspergillus oryzae via solid state fermentation for 48 hours. One-factor at a time technique is used to optimise two parameters, initial moisture content (50%, 60%, 70%, 80%), and carbon and nitrogen amount (01g, 0.2g, 0.3g and 0.4g. The results obtained show that the optimum condition for xylanase production using untreated rice straw is 50% of initial moisture content, and 0.2g of carbon and nitrogen amount meanwhile for treated rice straw is 60% of initial moisture content, and carbon and nitrogen amount at 0.1g for 48 hours in SSF. Under controlled conditions, xylanase activity by Aspergillus oryzae is found to be slightly higher when using untreated rice straw, 0.543 ± 0.015 U/ml but there is no significant difference when compared to treated rice straw, 0.445 ± 0.061 U/ml.