Compactin production in solid-state fermentation using orthogonal array method by P. brevicompactum

In the present study, compactin production by Penicillium brevicompactum WA 2315 was studied using solid-state fermentation. Initially, various agro-industrial residues were screened as a support and carbon source. The effect of various process parameters such as initial moisture content, incubation time, effect of additional carbon and nitrogen supplementation were studied by single factor optimization for improved compactin production. Subsequently, levels of supplement components were studied statistically using Taguchi orthogonal array (L-25-orthogonal array). Out of six parameters studied using L-25 array, glycerol was the most significant contributor to compactin production. The supplements at optimized levels resulted in a compactin production of 771 mu g/gds (microgram/gram of dry substrate). Subsequent studies resulted in further improvement of compactin yield by varying the pH of the supplement solution and an initial pH 7.5 resulted in a compactin yield of 815 mu g/gds. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.