6533b85efe1ef96bd12c063c

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Grape pulp, grape pips and their mixture: Novel substrates or supports for solid state fermentation

subject

description

Grape marc, comprising of grape pulp and grape pips, is generated in high quantities during ethanol production, but has no significant commercial value. The components of the grape marc, individually or in combination, can serve as substrate or support in solid state fermentation. The potential benefits of sieved fractions (800-3150 µm particle size) was, therefore, evaluated using Trichoderma viride, with or whithout enrichment. Based on sorption isotherm profiles, grape pulp showed the best performance, though its ability to promote biomass formation was the lowest. The latter could be improved by enrichment with glucose. It, thus, offers potential as a reusable support. Grape pips promoted high biomass, without any enrichment, but was low in water retention capacity. The performance of the mixture of grape pulp + grape pips (1:1, w/w) was in between that of the individual fractions. Data also indicated that the mycelial fragments frozen at -20°C up to 15 days can be used as an inoculum.