Process optimisation for saccharification and fermentation of wheat straw for the production of single cell protein

Present study demonstrates the utilisation of wheat straw for the production of SCP. Different concentrations of sulphuric acid were used at different temperatures to obtain high yield of fermentable sugars from wheat straw. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimise the different variables for the enzymatic saccharification of the hydrolysates produced using acid saccharification. The isolated fermentable sugars were used as fermentation media for production of SCP using saccharomyces cerevisiae and the process of fermentation was optimised using different starter culture concentrations and incubation times. Among the acid saccharification, 0.75% sulphuric acid at 121°C for 30 min resulted in highest amount of fermentable sugars whereas; among the enzymatic saccharification, 3.78% crude enzyme, 4.59 pH, 45°C temperature and 6.93 hours incubation time resulted in highest yield of fermentable sugars. Highest concentration of biomass (SCP) 22.3 ×107 cells/ml was observed using 2.5% starter culture concentration for 20 hours incubation.