Effect of cardboard delignification on the production of protein-enriched fermented fodder in submerged cultures

Since the cardboard (CB) content of lignin is high (14.8%), this might affect the rate of cellulase activity during submerged culture. The effect of delignification of CB on the production of protein enriched fermented fodder (PEFF) was therefore studied with Trichoderma reesei and Phanerochaete chrysosporium in New Brunswick fermenters. The growth rate of T. reesei and P. chrysosporium on delignified CB was much higher than on non-delignified CB. Accordingly, the protein content in delignified CB was 12.8%, whereas it was only 8.9% in non-delignified CB. Although, the apparent loss was higher in delignified CB, the total protein gained due to microbial growth was higher than that in non-delignigfied CB. The addition of Candida utilis to the two molds resulted in more consumption of the delignified CB with higher production of protein (14.5%). © 1994. © 2015 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.