Hydrolysis of cellulose from palms leaflets of Date palm (phoenix dactylifera) using a new strain of Aspergillus iranicus

Abstract A new strain of Aspergillus iranicus MS-34 isolated from Subaqueous soils of the Djorf Torba dam in Algeria was used for the hydrolysis of palm cellulose from the date palm (phoenix dactylifera), by submerged fermentation on a Mandels medium. Three degrees of pretreatment of the palm using KOH were made: 10%, 20%, 50% and the control with no pretreatment. After ten days of fermentation, a high carbohydrate concentration (197.84 mg/L) was noted in 50% KOH palm pretreatment fermentation. Eventually, the highest enzymatic activity was observed with 20% KOH palm pretreatment hydrolysis, 112.97 IU/mL for endoglucanase activity and 47.62 IU/mL for exoglucanase activity. Besides, glucose and proteins concentration in batch fermentations with 1% CMC medium fluctuated between 86,41 mg/l to 108.85 mg/l. and the protein level was 0.713–0.991 mg/ml. A significant effect of temperature and pH on the enzymatic activity was noticed with an optimal at 50–60°C and at pH 4.0.