Application of Statistical Design for the Production of Cellulase by Trichoderma reesei Using Mango Peel

Optimization of the culture medium for cellulase production using Trichoderma reesei was carried out. The optimization of cellulase production using mango peel as substrate was performed with statistical methodology based on experimental designs. The screening of nine nutrients for their influence on cellulase production is achieved using Plackett-Burman design. Avicel, soybean cake flour, KH2PO4, and CoCl2·6H2O were selected based on their positive influence on cellulase production. The composition of the selected components was optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The optimum conditions are as follows: Avicel: 25.30？g/L, Soybean cake flour: 23.53？g/L, KH2PO4: 4.90？g/L, and CoCl2·6H2O: 0.95？g/L. These conditions are validated experimentally which revealed an enhanced Cellulase activity of 7.8？IU/mL. 1. Introduction The food and agricultural industries produce large volumes of wastes annually worldwide, causing serious disposal problems. This is more in countries where the economy is largely based on agriculture and farming practice is very intensive. Currently, these agrowastes are either allowed to decay naturally on the fields or are burnt. However, these wastes are rich in sugars due to their organic nature. They are easily assimilated by microorganisms and hence serve as source of potential substrates in the production of industrially relevant compounds through microbial conversion. In addition, the reutilization of biological wastes is of great interest since, due to legislation and environmental reasons, the industry is increasingly being forced to find an alternative use for its residual matter [1]. One of the agrowastes currently causing pollution problems is the peels of the mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit. Mango is one of the most important fruits marketed in the world with a global production exceeding 26 million tons in 2004 [2]. It is cultivated or grown naturally in over 90 countries worldwide (mainly tropical and subtropical regions) and is known to be the second largest produced tropical fruit crop in the world [3]. The edible tissue makes up 33–85% of the fresh fruit, while the peel and the kernel amount to 7–24% and 9–40%, respectively [4]. In fact, mango peel as a byproduct of mango processing industry could be a rich source of bioactive compounds and enzymes such as protease, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, carotenoids, and vitamins C and E [5]. While the utilization of mango kernels as a source of fat, natural antioxidants, starch, flour, and feed has extensively been investigated [6, 7], studies on peels are