Solid state fermentation of waste pomace from olive processing

Typical samples of the solid waste (50% moisture) from olive oil processing were subjected, after an alkaline pretreatment, to delignification by Phanerochaete chryosporium, Phlebia radiata,Pleurotus ostreatus or Dacrymyces stellatus. The fermented material was then saccharified by Trichoderma spp to provide a substrate for the yeasts, Candida utilis or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Success was judged by the level of crude protein generated, and a combination fermentation involving Phan chryosporium, T reesei and S cerevisiae increased the level of crude protein from 5.9% in the raw pomace to 40.3% in the fermented material. It is suggested that this solid-state fermentation process could be used to manufacture an animal feed for the poultry industry in Jordan. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.