Chemical pretreatment of lignocellulosic wastes for cellulase production by Aspergillus niger FNU 6018

The objective of the research was to find out a source of lignocelluloses that could be converted to simple sugars especially glucose as a raw material in bioethanol production. The bioethanol production is an inefficient process, particularly the delignification process. Some solid wastes such as bagasse, corn straw, paddy straw, and sawdust were used as raw materials of lignocelluloses resource. The raw material was dried, ground into small particles, and delignified by using sodium hydroxide (NaOH), ammonia (NH3), and Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) in different concentration and soaking time. Two kinds of cellulose resources were chosen based on the value of its potency with the best chemical treatment for delignification. These selected cellulose and chemical used for delignification process were then used as substrate of cellulase enzyme production by Aspergillus niger FNU 6018. Results of the research showed that NaOH was the most effective chemical substance used in delignification process. This solvent also could increase the water retention value (WRV) of the lignocelluloses. Bagasse and corn straw were the potential agriculture waste to be used as raw material in bioethanol production. After delignification process, this raw material contained cellulose, lignin, and WRV of 69.46%, 8.79%, and 8.42, respectively. The FP-ase activity (bagasse as substrate) and CMC-ase activity (corn straw as substrate) of the crude enzyme was 0.0226 U and was 0.0606 U, respectively.