Value Addition to Horticultural Solid Waste by Applying It in Biosynthesis of Industrially Important Enzyme: Cellulase

Abstract

Banana (Musa sp.) which is a popular fruit consumed worldwide has a yearly production of over 145 million tons approximately. The peel is generally discarded after consumption of the fruit, which eventually leads to the generation of a significant amount of organic waste causing environmental pollution. Meaningful utilization of this nutrient-rich waste has not drawn much attention. The peel can be biotechnologically converted to value-added products which can reduce environmental pollution to a great extent. Cellulases represent a major group of the industrially important enzyme. Its production has been studied widely by the technique of solid-state fermentation (SSF). The present study deals with the cost-effective biosynthesis of endoglucanase (CMCase) utilizing solid waste, banana peel. Optimization of nutritional parameters was done by the conventional one variable at a time (OVAT) method followed by chemical characterization of banana peel by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). By applying OVAT methodology for optimization of nutritional parameters for cellulase production, the specific activity of endoglucanase (CMCase) was found to be 54 U/mg. EDX analysis showed that, as the solid waste was found to be rich in carbon source, no additional carbon supplement was essential for the growth of cellulase-producing microorganism used for the production of secondary metabolite by SSF.