ABSTRACT
Solid State Fermentation (SSF) or Solid Substrate Cultivation (SSC) is envisioned as a prominent bioconversion technique to transform natural raw materials into a wide variety of chemical as well as bio-chemical products. This process involves the fermentation of solid substrate medium with microorganism in the absence of free flowing water. Recent developments and concerted focus on SSF enabled it to evolve as a potential bio-technology as an alternative to the traditional chemical synthesis. However, agricultural and food-industry residues constitute a major proportion (almost 30%) of worldwide agricultural production. These wastes mainly comprise lignocellulosic materials, fruit and vegetable wastes, sugar-industry wastes as well as byproducts. Agro-residues are rich in many bioactive and nutraceutical compounds, such as polyphenolics, carotenoids and dietary fiber among others. Technologies available for protein enrichment of these wastes include solid substrate fermentation, ensiling, and high solid or slurry processes. Technologies to be developed for the reprocessing of these wastes need to take account of the peculiarities of individual wastes and the environment in which they are generated, reprocessed, and used. Physico chemical and environmental factors such as inoculum type, moisture and water activity, pH, temperature, substrate, particle size, aeration and agitation, nutritional factors plays a major role in enzyme production. The advantages of SSF over Submerged Fermentation (SmF) are indicated. The need for adopting SSF technology in bioremediation of toxic compounds using by-products of food and feeds; agro-products and residues is emphasized. Among the tested by-products, rice bran supported more chromate reductase production. In all the studies, along with chromate reductase production; variation of protein content and chromate reductase activity activity were also observed. Attempts were made to explain the effects and also gauge their implications for large‐scale production.
