Thesis (M.Sc. (Microbiology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / In nature, saccharification is done by a variety of microorganisms, secreting a variety of cellulase in addition to other proteins. Co-culturing enables the production of more efficient enzyme preparations that would mimic the natural decomposition of lignocelluloses. During the decay of banana (Musa paradisiaca) pseudostem, a potential feedstock for second-generation biofuels, there may be a number of microorganisms producing cellulolytic enzymes, and other factors, which in combination might decompose the lignocelluloses more efficiently. The aim of the study was to establish a microbial co-culture for the production of highly active cellulase preparations. Banana pseudostems (BPS) and microbial samples from decaying banana pseudostems were collected in the Mopani District Allesbeste Nursery, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Fungi and bacteria were isolated using CMC agar plates. The best cellulase producing fungi and bacteria were tested for cellulase activity in monocultures and in various combinations (fungi-fungi, fungi-bacteria, bacteria-bacteria, fungi-live bacterial cells and fungi-dead bacterial cells) in submerged fermentation, using Avicel™ as a carbon source. Solid-state fermentation was also performed using banana pseudostem as a carbon source. Zymography was done in studying the variety of cellulase in the secretions from co-cultures/ mixed cultures. Identification of the bacterial and fungal isolates from decomposing banana pseudostems was also done using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) or DNA sequencing. A mixed culture of fungi in combination with dead bacterial cells was the best combination to produce higher levels of endoglucosidase and β-glucosidase activities in both submerged fermentation and solid-state fermentation. During SmF, endoglucosidase was (0.229 after 144 h) and β-glucosidase (4.519 after 96 h) activities and SSF, endoglucosidase (12.793 after 48 h) and β-glucosidase (37.45 after 144 h). Endoglucosidase zymography showed that monocultures and co-cultures produced four active bands for endoglucanase, except for the monoculture Trichoderma longibrachiatum 1B that produced a faint or unclear band. The current study demonstrated that three fungal strains namely, T longibrachiatum 1B, Aspergillus fumigatus 5A, and Aspergillus flavus 2A and one bacterial strain Enterobacter asburiae 1 are capable of producing a variety of endoglucanases. It seems that a combination of fungi with dead cells could significantly improve endoglucosidase and v β-glucosidase activities. The use of A. fumigatus in mixed cultures is highly recommended in order to produce high levels of β-glucosidases, no matter the combination used. / Foodbev Seta

O engaço de bananeira, suporte que sustenta o cacho de bananas, normalmente é descartado após a colheita da fruta, seja nas casas de embalagens (packing houses) ou em centros distribuidores, onde é considerado verdadeiro resíduo pelo grande volume gerado e por não ser aproveitado. Por essa razão e por constituir-se em material fibroso, o engaço foi avaliado para produção de polpa celulósica. O engaço in natura apresenta cerca de 93% de umidade e células de parênquima em abundância; em termos de composição química, o engaço apresenta 7,4% de lignina, 47,8% de extrativos totais, e 47,6% de holocelulose. Nesta pesquisa, a performance do engaço como matéria-prima para produção de polpa celulósica foi avaliada, usando o CaO como fonte álcali. Foram utilizadas lavagem e pré-extração aquosa (100 ºC, por 100 minutos) como pré-processos com o propósito de reduzir a grande quantidade de extrativos no bagaço do engaço de bananeira. O bagaço original e os materiais obtidos após os pré-processos foram submetidos à polpação com CaO com 8, 10, 12 e 14% de CaO, à temperatura de 120 ºC por 120 minutos em digestor rotativo. Para comparação foi utilizado o processo soda de polpação, sob as mesmas condições, usando-se 12% de NaOH como carga alcalina. Os resultados mostraram que a aplicação da lavagem e pré-extração aquosa ocasionaram a redução de cerca de 40% da massa inicial do bagaço. Considerando-se as condições de polpação e também a composição química do engaço de bananeira, os pré-processos avaliados não apresentaram um significativo efeito no processo de cozimento. Para a polpação do engaço, o processo de polpação cal pode ser considerado uma alternativa técnica para produção de polpa celulósica, apresentando níveis de deslignificação similar ao do processo de polpação soda. / The banana stem, grain stalk that supports the banana fruits, is normally discarded after the fruit harvesting, either in the 'packing house' or in the delivering centers, where it is considered a residue due to the great volume generated. For this reason and for being a fibrous material, stem was evaluated for pulp production. The stem in natura presents 93 % of humidity and parenchymatic cells in abundance; in terms of chemical composition the stem presents 7,4% of lignin, 47,0 % of total extractives and 45,6% of holocelullose. In this research, the performance of the stem as raw material for pulp production was evaluated, using the CaO as an alkali source. Washing and aqueous pre-extraction (100 ºC and 100 minutes) were considered as a pre-process in order to reduce the amount of extractives on the banana stem bagasse; the original bagasse and the materials obtained after the pre-processes were submitted to the CaO pulping with 8, 10, 12 and 14 % of CaO, at 120 ºC temperature during 120 minutes in rotating digester. For comparison, a soda cooking was carried out, under the same conditions using 12% of NaOH as alkaline charge. The results showed that the aplication of washing and aqueous pre-extraction caused a reduction of about 40% in the initial mass of bagasse. Considering the pulping conditions and also the chemical composition of the banana stem bagasse the pre-process evaluated did not show a significant effect on the cooking process itself. For the banana stem pulping, a CaO process can be considered a technical alternative for pulp production, with delignification rates similar to the NaOH process.

O engaço de bananeira, suporte que sustenta o cacho de bananas, normalmente é descartado após a colheita da fruta, seja nas casas de embalagens (packing houses) ou em centros distribuidores, onde é considerado verdadeiro resíduo pelo grande volume gerado e por não ser aproveitado. Por essa razão e por constituir-se em material fibroso, o engaço foi avaliado para produção de polpa celulósica. O engaço in natura apresenta cerca de 93% de umidade e células de parênquima em abundância; em termos de composição química, o engaço apresenta 7,4% de lignina, 47,8% de extrativos totais, e 47,6% de holocelulose. Nesta pesquisa, a performance do engaço como matéria-prima para produção de polpa celulósica foi avaliada, usando o CaO como fonte álcali. Foram utilizadas lavagem e pré-extração aquosa (100 ºC, por 100 minutos) como pré-processos com o propósito de reduzir a grande quantidade de extrativos no bagaço do engaço de bananeira. O bagaço original e os materiais obtidos após os pré-processos foram submetidos à polpação com CaO com 8, 10, 12 e 14% de CaO, à temperatura de 120 ºC por 120 minutos em digestor rotativo. Para comparação foi utilizado o processo soda de polpação, sob as mesmas condições, usando-se 12% de NaOH como carga alcalina. Os resultados mostraram que a aplicação da lavagem e pré-extração aquosa ocasionaram a redução de cerca de 40% da massa inicial do bagaço. Considerando-se as condições de polpação e também a composição química do engaço de bananeira, os pré-processos avaliados não apresentaram um significativo efeito no processo de cozimento. Para a polpação do engaço, o processo de polpação cal pode ser considerado uma alternativa técnica para produção de polpa celulósica, apresentando níveis de deslignificação similar ao do processo de polpação soda. / The banana stem, grain stalk that supports the banana fruits, is normally discarded after the fruit harvesting, either in the 'packing house' or in the delivering centers, where it is considered a residue due to the great volume generated. For this reason and for being a fibrous material, stem was evaluated for pulp production. The stem in natura presents 93 % of humidity and parenchymatic cells in abundance; in terms of chemical composition the stem presents 7,4% of lignin, 47,0 % of total extractives and 45,6% of holocelullose. In this research, the performance of the stem as raw material for pulp production was evaluated, using the CaO as an alkali source. Washing and aqueous pre-extraction (100 ºC and 100 minutes) were considered as a pre-process in order to reduce the amount of extractives on the banana stem bagasse; the original bagasse and the materials obtained after the pre-processes were submitted to the CaO pulping with 8, 10, 12 and 14 % of CaO, at 120 ºC temperature during 120 minutes in rotating digester. For comparison, a soda cooking was carried out, under the same conditions using 12% of NaOH as alkaline charge. The results showed that the aplication of washing and aqueous pre-extraction caused a reduction of about 40% in the initial mass of bagasse. Considering the pulping conditions and also the chemical composition of the banana stem bagasse the pre-process evaluated did not show a significant effect on the cooking process itself. For the banana stem pulping, a CaO process can be considered a technical alternative for pulp production, with delignification rates similar to the NaOH process.