Enzymatic Potential of Filamentous Fungi as a Biological Pretreatment for Acidogenic Fermentation of Coffee Waste
2022
Joana Pereira | Ana Cachinho | Marcelo M. R. de Melo | Carlos M. Silva | Paulo C. Lemos | Ana M. R. B. Xavier | Luísa S. Serafim
Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are a promising substrate that can be valorized by biotechnological processes, such as for short-chain organic acid (SCOA) production, but their complex structure implies the application of a pretreatment step to increase their biodegradability. Physicochemical pretreatments are widely studied but have multiple drawbacks. An alternative is the application of biological pretreatments that include using fungi <i>Trametes versicolor</i> and <i>Paecilomyces variotii</i> that naturally can degrade complex substrates such as SCGs. This study intended to compare acidic and basic hydrolysis and supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> extraction with the application of these fungi. The highest concentration of SCOAs, 2.52 gCOD/L, was achieved after the acidification of SCGs pretreated with acid hydrolysis, but a very similar result, 2.44 gCOD/L, was obtained after submerged fermentation of SCGs by <i>T. versicolor</i>. This pretreatment also resulted in the best acidification degree, 48%, a very promising result compared to the 13% obtained with the control, untreated SCGs, highlighting the potential of biological pretreatments.
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