Solid-State Cultivation of Aspergillus niger–Trichoderma reesei from Sugarcane Bagasse with Vinasse in Bench Packed-Bed Column Bioreactor

Solid-state cultivation (SSC) is microbial growth on solid supports under limited water conditions. Citric acid is a microbial aerobic metabolic product with several industrial applications, with production potential that can be obtained by SSF. Several wastes from agro-industries are used in SSF, such as sugarcane bagasse and vinasse. Cultures of mixed fungi or co-cultures are used in this SSF in order to complement the inoculum’s xylanolytic enzymes for action on the lignocellulosic material (bagasse). Thus, this study aims to evaluate the effect of inoculum ( Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma reesei consortium) in the production of citric acid from sugarcane bagasse impregnated with vinasse using bench packed-bed reactors (PBR). The results show the importance of T. reesei and A. niger in inoculum at a ratio of 50:50 and 25:75, suggesting the use of solid support due to the complementation of the hydrolytic enzymes. The highest concentration of citric acid, approximately 1000 mg L −1 , was obtained for 100 mm of bed height in 48 and 72 h, with maximum glucose yield in citric acid (2.2 mg citric acid mg glucose −1 ). k L a indicates that maintaining solid moisture and liquid film thickness is important to keep the oxygen transfer in SSC.