Production of fermentable sugars from cocopeat through fungal solid-state fermentation

Fermentable sugars produced from cocopeat (CP) as a raw substrate can be utilized as second-generation biofuels and other value-added products. Hence, in this research, enzymatic hydrolysis through solid state fermentation is employed to convert the lignocelluloses into fermentable sugars. Efficiency of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae in hydrolyzing cocopeat were compared. It was discovered that A. niger was more efficient in converting the substrate into sugars. Two physical parameters, initial media pH and moisture content (%) were selected for the optimization of fermentable sugars production from cocopeat. In the optimization analysis using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) by Central Composite Design (CCD), the highest sugars concentration produced was 3.781 mg/mL at pH 9 and moisture content of 40%. These results provide preliminary data for up-scale fermentable sugars production from cocopeat.