BIOCONVERSION OF AGAVE BAGASSE TO PRODUCE CELLULOSIC ENZYMES IN SOLID-STATE FERMENTATION

In this paper, we present the most relevant results of our research on thebioconversion of agave bagasse (AB) by various fungal strains to produce cellulaseand xylanase by solid-state fermentation (SSF). Agave bagasse was used as a carbonsource, growth support, and enzyme inducer in an SSF column reactor. Our resultshave shown that agave bagasse possesses excellent qualities as a carbon source,support, and inducer to produce cellulase enzymes with 39,330 IU/kg of AB using thefungus Neurospora sitophila BDJ-1I and 28,600 IU/kg of AB using the fungusAspergillus fumigatus BDJ-1S. The objective of our studies is to find biotechnologicalalternatives to revalue agave bagasse, a byproduct produced during tequilamanufacturing.