Using spent sulfite liquor for valuable fungal biomass production by Aspergilus oryzae

The recent and increasing interest in bioconversion of lignocellulosic wastes into value-added products has led to extensive research on various microorganisms and substrates. In this study, filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae was cultivated on spent sulfite liquor (SSL) from a pulp mill. The process using an airlift bioreactor (3.5 L working volume) was successfully carried out in 48 h with an airflow of 0.85 vvm (volume air per volume culture per minute) at 35 degrees C and pH 5.5. The cultivation results showed that the fungal biomass concentration was higher in more diluted SSL. The highest and lowest fungal biomass concentrations when spore inoculation was used were 10.2 and 6.5 g/l SSL, in diluted SSL to 60 and 80%, respectively. The range of crude protein and total fat of the fungal biomass was 0.44 - 0.48 and 0.04 - 0.11 g/g biomass dry weight, respectively. All essential amino acids were present in acceptable quantities in the fungal biomass. The results obtained in this study have practical implications in that the fungus A. oryzae could be used successfully to produce fungal biomass protein using spent sulfite liquor for animal feed.