Dados do Trabalho

Título

BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE (Hermetia illucens) AS A POTENTIAL SUBSTRATE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PROTEASES THROUGH SOLID STATE FERMENTATION

Introdução

The growing concern with sustainability associated with projections of populational increase makes necessary to search for new food sources. Despite facing cultural barriers, incorporating protein insects into different production chains has proven to be an effective alternative due to its nutritional values and benefits for the environment. Solid-state fermentation has been extensively applied as a biotransformation process that can result in release of bioactive compounds, increases of protein contents, more digestibility and reduction of allergenic factors in varied types of matrices. Furthermore, it is a process widely used for the production of enzymes of industrial interest. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate protease production by Aspergillus tubingensis through solid-state fermentation using black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) flour combined with wheat bran as substrate.

Material e Métodos

An experimental design CCRD 22 was carried out to verify the effects of the following variables: initial moisture (30-60%) and wheat bran (5-20%) on protease production. The fermentation was performed for 72 h and 96 h at 30ºC and an initial inoculum of 107 spores/g.

Resultados e Discussão

The variables showed statistically significant effects (p < 0.10) only for 72 h fermentation, showing 0.90 as a coefficient of determination (R2). In general, intermediate levels of initial moisture and the addition of wheat bran led to higher protease production. The statistical analysis indicated that the most adequate conditions to maximize protease production at 72 h was 45% of moisture and 12.5% of wheat bran, reaching enzymatic activity of 307.75 U/g. At 96 h, the protease production in the central point (303.14 U/g) did not show a significant difference (p > 0.05) compared to 72h, while the highest protease production was detected in assay with 60% of moisture and 12.5% of wheat bran, reaching 425.60 U/g. Although the proteases production at 96 h was higher than that observed at 72 h, the productivities for these assays, 4.43 and 4.28 U/g.h, respectively, were similar. In conclusion, intermediate values of replacing BSF larvae flour with wheat bran can be used as a successful strategy to maximize the production of proteases by A. tubingensis, reaching maximum productivity in short fermentation time.

Conclusão

In conclusion, intermediate values of replacing BSF larvae flour with wheat bran can be used as a successful strategy to maximize the production of proteases by A. tubingensis, reaching maximum productivity in short fermentation time.