Bio synthesis of citric acid from single and co culture based fermentation technology using agro wastes
Abstract Agro based materials are primarily composed of complex polysaccharides that strengthen microbial growth for the production of industrially relevant value added products. Therefore, in the present study, solid state fermentation (SSF) was carried out using agro based waste materials (apple pomace, peanut shell and a mixture of both apple pomace and peanut shell with 50:50 ratio) as carriers/support for SSF to enhance citric acid production from single and co culture consortia of Aspergillus ornatus and Alternaria alternata. During initial screening trial it was observed that growth media supplemented with apple pomace under SSF process of co culture consortia presenting the preeminent 0.46 0.42 mg/mL of citric acid. On partial optimization co culture showed the maximum citric acid yield (2.644 0.99 mg/mL) in the presence of arginine as a nutritional ingredient at 30 degC in an apple pomace based medium at 50% moisture content with pH of 5 and substrate concentration (25 g) after 48th of solid state fermentation. In conclusion, a suitable addition of fermentative substrate to the SSF medium increased fungal growth, sugar utilization and citric acid production when used in lower concentrations.