Solid-state fermentation for xylanase production by Thermoascus aurantiacus using response surface methodology

We investigated xylanase production by Thermoascus aurantiacus using semisolid fermentation. Multivariant statistical approaches were employed to evaluate the effects of several variables (initial moisture in the medium, cultivation time, inoculum level, and bagasse mass) on xylanase production. The initial moisture content and bagasse mass were the most important factors affecting xylanase activity. The xylanase activity produced by the fungus under the optimized conditions (81% moisture content and 17 g bagasse) was found to be 2700 U per gram of initial dry matter, whereas its value predicted by a polynomial model was 2400 U per gram of initial dry matter. Received: 4 December 1998 / Received revision: 15 March 1999 / Accepted: 16 May 1999