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Research Article
ScienceAsia 25 (1999) : 133-136 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.1999.25.133
Cellulolytic Fungi and the Bioconversion
of Fiber from Agave sisalana
Hunsa Punnapayak*, Mukda Kuhirun and Pornthep Thanonkeo
ABSTRACT: Agave sisalana, a plant thriving in semi-arid regions of Thailand, is an important source of
fiber for the sisal and handicraft industries of the country. Isolations of 94 soil and plant samples from
agave plantations in 3 provinces revealed 52 fungal isolates with cellulolytic activities on both Czapex'
dox with a filter paper and CMC agar media. These isolates were propagated in a liquid medium at 30,
37 and 45oC. The fungal isolate with the highest cellulolytic activity (FP = 0.274 U/ml at 37oC) was
identified as Acrophialophora sp. At 45oC, the fungus also grew and produced detectable cellulolytic
activity, while Trichoderma reesei did not. Bioconversion using the simultaneous saccharification and
fermentation (SSF) involving T. reesei and Saccharomyces cerevisiae gave the highest ethanol yield of
0.30 g/g. Preliminary tests on SSF using Acrophialophora sp. and S. cerevisiae gave the maximum
ethanol yields of 0.11 g/g and 0.17 g/g with agave fiber and filter paper, respectively.
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Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
* Corresponding author.
Received 2 March 1999
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