Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026

High-throughput Saccharification Assay for Lignocellulosic Materials
Published on: July 3, 2011
Successive process for efficient biovalorization of Brewers' spent grain to lignocellulolytic enzymes and lactic acid
Nattha Lojananan1, Benjamas Cheirsilp1, Rawitsara Intasit1
1Center of Excellence in Innovative Biotechnology for Sustainable Utilization of Bioresources, International Program of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand.
Abstract:
This study aimed to increase the value of brewers' spent grain (BSG) by using it as feedstock to produce lignocellulolytic enzymes and lactic acid (LA). Twenty-two fungal strains were screened for lignocellulolytic enzyme production from BSG. Among them, Trichoderma sp. showed the highest cellulase activity (35.84 ± 0.27 U/g-BSG) and considerably high activities of xylanase (599.61 ± 23.09 U/g-BSG) and β-glucosidase (16.97 ± 0.77 U/g-BSG) under successive solid-state and submerged fermentation. The processes were successfully scaled up in a bioreactor. The enzyme cocktail was recovered and characterized. The maximum cellulase and xylanase activities were found at pH 5.0 and 50 °C, and the activities were highly stable at pH 4-8 and 30-50 °C. The enzyme cocktail was applied in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of acid-pretreated BSG for LA production. The maximum LA obtained was 59.3 ± 1.0 g/L. This study has shown the efficient biovalorization of BSG, and this approach may also be applicable to other agro-industrial wastes.
Related Concept Videos
Microbes in Food Production
Microbes in Beverage Production
Microbes in the Production of Fermented Foods
Bioreactor Controls-III
Production of Alcohol
Production of Organic Acids

