CELLULASE PRODUCTION INDUCED BY CARBON-SOURCES DERIVED FROM WASTE NEWSPAPER

Inducers derived from waste newspaper (or discarded office paper) were investigated for their use in cellulase production by T. reesei. Partially enzymatically saccharified newspaper was found to be most effective. When 1.0 g newspaper and 0.07 g sorbose were used for cellulase production, the cellulases so produced after 6 days of fermentation saccharified 8.0 g waste white office paper in 9.34% suspension, resulting in 5.4 g fermentable sugars, or 6.3 g fermentable sugars with supplementation of beta-glucosidase. Additional cellulases were produced from the cells and residual newspaper separated from the sixth day fermentation broth, and were effective in saccharifying another 8.0 g office paper. A total yield of 10-11 g fermentable sugars was obtained, from a total of 16 g office paper, being saccharified by the cellulase induced by 1 g partially saccharified newspaper. Effects of metabolizability of the inducers and addition of sorbose on cellulase production, kinetic behaviour of cellulase production, and comparison with commercial cellulases are presented.