GROWTH OF CHAETOMIUM-CELLULOLYTICUM IN SOLID-STATE FERMENTATION OF SUGAR-CANE BAGASSE TREATED WITH WATER AND ALKALI AT SEVERAL LIQUID/SOLID RATIOS

Sugar cane bagasse was water- or alkali-treated at three liquid/solid (L/S) ratios and,its digestibility was measured as microbial protein production of Chaetomium cellulolyticum grown on solid-state fermentation columns. The treatments significantly enhanced fungus growth compared to non-treated bagasse, which was used as a control, although the composition of bagasse did not change greatly. Alkali-treated bagasse reached an average protein content of about 7.6% and the lower the L/S ratio, the higher the protein content. LIS ratio did not have an effect in water-treated bagasse. Protein content of water-treated bagasse was also high, approximately 80% of that one of alkali-treated bagasse. Both treatments look promising to enhance sugar cane bagasse potential as an animal feed.