Preliminary Investigation of Cellulase Producer Candidate Isolate VT11 Using Coffee Pulp Waste Under Solid-State Fermentation

Abstract

Isolate VT11 is a fungal cellulolytic isolated from vermicomposting oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB). Isolate VT11 has a cellulolytic activity index of 1.0 on 1% CMC, but this isolate has never been used to produce cellulase from coffee pulp waste. The coffee pulp consists of organic components with the highest cellulose content (63%) so that it can be used as a substrate for cellulase production by fungal cellulolytic under solid-state fermentation (SSF). This study aims to know the potential of isolate VT11 as a candidate for cellulase producer. The potential of isolate VT11 as a candidate for cellulase producer was known by the cellulase activity on coffee pulp waste under solid-state fermentation. After that, cellulase was characterized by pH optimization and stabilization. Cellulase production was done by inoculating isolate VT11 in 10 g solid substrate of coffee pulp. The result shows that the isolate VT11 can potentially produce cellulase with the highest enzyme activity of 1.857 U/mL after 96 hours of incubation at 30 °C. Cellulase from isolate VT11 is optimal at pH 4.5 and stable at pH 5-6.5. Based on this result, it is suggested that the isolate VT11 can be used for cellulase production using coffee pulp waste as substrate agro-industrial residues. Further investigation such as species identification of isolate VT11, purification, and characterization of cellulase produced by isolate VT11 was needed.