16.9 Koji Fermenters for SSF for Production of Different Chemicals

257

done by this culture during SSF process where coffee husk was used as substrate.

Production of 2,5-dimethylpyrazine (2,5-DMP) and TMP by Bacillus natto and

Bacillus subtilis, respectively, on soybeans in SSF was reported [32].

16.8.6

Bio-Pigment Production

Higher cost of production of natural pigments has been solved by the use of

microorganisms for the synthesis of bio-colorants due to their easy availability,

higher yield, cost efficiency, and convenient downstream processing. Pigments

possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties.

Kaur et al. studied bio-utilization of fruits and vegetables waste to produce

β-carotene in SSF. Fruits- and vegetables-processing industries produce huge

waste in the form of peels, seeds, liquid, and molasses. They can be utilized for

the production of biocolors during SSF of microbial strains. Blakeslea trispora (+)

microbial type culture collection (MTCC) 884 in SSF yielded 76% of β-carotene [33].

Sharma and Ghoshal studied optimization of carotenoid production by

Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (MTCC-1403) using agro-industrial waste in a bioreactor

[34]. They observed that bio-colorants are advantageous over synthetic colors as

bio-colorants not only impart characteristic color to the food but also contain

harmless bioactive antioxidant nutrients [35]. Fermentation was carried out in a 3-l

bioreactor and produced more than 100 μg of carotenoids per gram dry biomass of

agro-industrial waste.

16.8.7

Miscellaneous Compounds

Rotary cultures produced elevated yields of crude red and yellow pigments as

compared to stationary cultures. Exo-polysaccharides, such as xanthan and

succinoglycan, are the potential products of SSF. The SSF-based procedure for

the manufacturing of xanthan gum using strain of Xanthomonas campestris was

reported. The EPS was formed on spent grains, apple pomace, grape pomace, citrus

peels, etc. The production of succinoglycan in SSF by Agrobacterium tumefaciens on

various solid substrates, including agar, spent grains, ivory nut shavings, and grated

carrots, impregnated with a nutrient solution was carried out and obtained an yield

of 30 g/kg of soaked substrate. Polymer manufacturing in the horizontal bioreactor

(HBR) was quicker, but the final yield was lower (29 g/l of permeate solution). An

evaluation of SmF and SSF for the manufacturing of bacterial EPS exhibited that

the latter method yielded two to four times more polymer than the former in the

laboratory scale fermenter. The Rhizopus strains formed riboflavin, nicotinic acid,

nicotinamide, and vitamin B6 [36].

16.9

Koji Fermenters for SSF for Production of Different

Chemicals

Conventionally, SSF has been prevalent in Asian countries to manufacture koji from

rice to produce alcoholic beverages such as sake. Industrial koji making equipment