Recent advances in solid-state fermentation

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) has built up credibility in recent years in biotech industries due to its potential applications in the production of biologically active secondary metabolites, apart from feed, fuel, food, industrial chemicals and pharmaceutical products and has emerged as an attractive alternative to submerged fermentation. Bioremediation, bioleaching, biopulping, biobeneficiation, etc. are the major applications of SSF in bioprocesses which have set another milestone. Utilization of agro-industrial residues as substrates in SSF processes provides an alternative avenue and value-addition to these otherwise under- or non-utilized residues. Innovation is the key to success and it is imperative to be up-to-date with the changing demands of the industries and meet their needs for better product and services. Better understanding of biochemical engineering aspects, particularly on mathematical modeling and design of bioreactors (fermenters) has made it possible to scale-up SSF processes and some designs have been developed for commercialization, making the technology economically feasible, In future, SSF technology would be well developed at par with SmF if rationalization and standardization continues in current trend. This review describes the state-of-art scenario in totality on SSF although the focus is on the most recent developments of last 5 years or so on SSF processes and products developments. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.