Optimization of Aeration and Agitation for α-amylase production by Aspergillus flavus from water hyacinth

Mostafa, Enas; Abo Elsoud, Mostafa; Salem, Marwa S.; El-Tabakh, Eman; Sidkey, Nagwa M.

doi:10.21608/ijisd.2021.145562

Optimization of Aeration and Agitation for α-amylase production by Aspergillus flavus from water hyacinth

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ chemical Engineering and Pilot Plant Department, National Research Centre, Egypt

² National Research Centre

³ department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al Azhar University (Girls Branch), Cairo, Egypt

⁴ Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al Azhar University (Girls Branch), Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/ijisd.2021.145562

Abstract

Amylases are a group of commercially important enzymes with various clinical, medical and biotechnological applications. The current study aims to optimize the agitation and aeration (oxygen transfer) conditions for α-amylase production by Aspergillus flavus using water hyacinth extract; as an available waste and very cheap nutritional substance, in a lab scale stirred tank bioreactor (submerged fermentation). Data showed that the maximal cell biomass and enzyme specific activity were reached at low aeration rate (0.5 v/v/m) and moderate agitation speed (200 rpm). The maximum specific amylase production rate has been reached after 24 hrs. In addition, it has been confirmed that scaling-up Aspergillus flavus does not, inversely, affect α-amylase productivity compared with flask level production. Aspergillus flavus has been approved as promising fungal isolate for production of a-amylase using water hyacinth for application in many fields.

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