Studies on the utilization of citrus peel for pectinase production using fungus Aspergillus niger

• Published in: International journal of environmental studies Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 199 - 210
• Main Authors: DHILLON, SATVINDER SINGH, GILL, RAJWANT KAUR, GILL, SIKANDER SINGH, SINGH, MALKIAT
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor and Francis Ltd 01.04.2004; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Aspergillus niger; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Citrus; Citrus peel; Enzyme engineering; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungus; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Pectinase; Production of selected enzymes; Enzyme; Citrus fruit; Pectinase; Citrus peel; Polygalacturonase; Fermentation; Vegetal waste; Fungi; Fungus; Aspergillus niger; Glycosidases; Peeling by product; Production; Hydrolases; Fungi Imperfecti; O-Glycosidases; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0020-7233; 1029-0400
• DOI: 10.1080/0020723032000143346

The fruit processing industries produce a large amount of waste material, which poses considerable disposal problems and ultimately leads to pollution. In the processing of citrus fruits, a large proportion of the produce goes waste in the form of peel, pulp and seeds. Dried citrus peel is rich in carbohydrates, proteins and pectin; pectin acts as the inducer for production of pectinolytic enzymes by microbial systems. Thus, in the present study, dried citrus peel was used as substrate for the production of pectinase (Endopolygalacturonase; EC 3.2.1.15) by fungus Aspergillus niger. Maximum enzyme activity was obtained with 15% substrate, which gives a semi-solid mass, when incubated at 30°C for 120 h.