Improvement of xylanase production in solid state fermentation by alkali-tolerant Aspergillus fumigatus MKU1 using a fractional factorial design

Optimization of media for the maximum production of xylanase by Aspergillus fumigatus MKUI was carried out using De Meo's fractional factorial design with seven components such as NaNO3, K2HPO4, MgSO4, FeSO4. KCl, peptone and yeast extract. A. fumigatus produced a maximum of 700 U/gds of enzyme after 48 hr of incubation (before optimization). After two steps of optimization, the medium designed favoured a 2.8 fold (1950 U/gds) increase in xylanase production by A. fumigatus. Optimized medium for Aspergillus fumigatus contained (g/l) NaNO3, 15; K2HPO4, 15; MgSO4, 5; FeSO4, 0.009; KCI, 0.5; peptone, 20; and yeast extract, 10.