This paper describes the nutritional requirements for the improvement of growth and sporulation of several strains of Monascus purpureus on solid state cultivation. The findings revealed that glucose enhanced growth of all M. purpureus strains tested but inhibited the sporulation rate. On the other hand, sucrose induced sporulation but inhibited production of cell mass. A combination of glucose and sucrose greatly enhanced sporulation and cell mass production of M. purpureus. Although growth and sporulation rate were related to the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N ratio), the types and concentrations of carbon and nitrogen sources also greatly influenced the growth kinetics. Among the media tested, Hiroi-PDA medium was the most preferred medium for all M. purpureus strains tested for the enhancement of radial growth rate, sporulation, and cell production. Hence, Hiroi-PDA could be suggested as the generic basal medium for the cultivation of M. purpureus. However, individual medium optimization is required for significant enhancement in growth and sporulation of each strain of M. purpureus.

Cosmeceutical formulations containing naturally derived active ingredients are currently preferred by consumers worldwide. Mushrooms are one of the potential sources for cosmeceutical ingredients but relevant research is still lacking. In this study, hot- and cold-water extractions were performed on four locally-cultivated mushrooms—Pleurotus ostreatus, Ganoderma lucidum, Auricularia polytricha and Schizophyllum commune—with the aim to assess the cosmeceutical potential of these mushroom fruitbody extracts. Total phenolics, polysaccharide and glucan content were determined. Antioxidant property of the mushroom extracts was assessed by determining the DPPH radical scavenging, ferric-reducing (FRAP) and superoxide anion (SOA) scavenging activity. Anti-hyaluronidase activity was used as an indicator for the anti-aging and anti-inflammatory property, while anti-tyrosinase activity was evaluated to assess the anti-pigmentation or whitening property of these extracts. Our results showed that total polysaccharide content of P. ostreatus extracts was the highest (235.8–253.6 mg GE/g extract), while extracts from G. lucidum contained the lowest glucan (10.12–10.67%). Cold-water extract from S. commune exhibited substantial tyrosinase inhibition activity (98.15%) and SOA scavenging activity (94.82%). The greatest hyaluronidase activity was exhibited by G. lucidum hot-water extract, with the value of 72.78%. The findings from the correlation analyses suggest that the cosmeceutical properties of these mushrooms can be attributed mainly to the combination of different types of compound such as polysaccharides and phenolics. Overall, cold-water extract of S. commune and hot-water extract of G. lucidum showed the best results and may be further investigated.

The possibility of using a novel proximity type half-pitched, double-flight helical ribbon impeller (HRI) for the improvement of red pigment production by Monascus purpureus FTC5391 was investigated in a 2-L stirred-tank fermenter (STF). For comparison, the fermentations were also carried out in STF equipped with the industrial standard six-bladed Rushton turbines (RT). The selection of aeration and agitation strategies in STF were based on possible attainable oxygen transfer at the start of fermentation using derived empirical power law model to predict the initial volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (k L a). The final pigment concentration, yield, and productivity obtained in optimized fermentation employing a single HRI agitated at 250 rpm and air flow rate of 2.25 L/min (1.5 vvm) was 24.36 UA 500 , 0.47 UA 500 /g glucose, and 0.20 UA 500 /h, respectively. These values were about 76%, 78%, and 96% higher than those obtained in STF fitted with RT, respectively. In terms of impeller power consumption, the HRI system was favorable for batch cultivation of M. purpureus as pigment yield per energy invested was 2.5 times higher than the RT. Keywords Monascus purpureus . Red pigment . Oxygen transfer . Helical ribbon impeller . Power consumption Nomenclature DOT Dissolved oxygen tension (%) C Ã L Dissolved oxygen at saturation (mg/L) C crit Critical dissolved oxygen level in liquid (mg/L) k L a Volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (s −1 ) M Torque reading with load (N m) M 0 Torque reading without load (air stirring; N m) mGrowth associated rate constant of pigment formation (UA 500

Modern microbial solid state fermentation technology for future biorefineries for the production of added-value products HIGHLIGHTS  Novel biorefinery processes using solid state fermentation technology (SSF) was reviewed and discussed.  Future biorefineries based on SSF serve as ideal platforms for the production of added-value products.  Generic fermentation feedstocks provide a complete nutrient for subsequent microbial fermentations. The promise of industrial biotechnology has been around since Chaim Weizmann developed acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation at the University of Manchester in 1917 and the prospects nowadays look brighter than ever. Today's biorefinery technologies would be almost unthinkable without biotechnology. This is a growing trend and biorefineries have also increased in importance in agriculture and the food industry. Novel biorefinery processes using solid state fermentation (SSF) technology have been developed as alternative to conventional processing routes, leading to the production of added-value products from agriculture and food industry raw materials. SSF involves the growth of microorganisms on moist solid substrate in the absence of free-flowing water. Future biorefineries based on SSF aim to exploit the vast complexity of the technology to modify biomass produced by agriculture and the food industry for valuable by-products through microbial bioconversion. In this review, a summary has been made of the attempts at using modern microbial SSF technology for future biorefineries for the production of many added-value products ranging from feedstock for the fermentation process and biodegradable plastics to fuels and chemicals. ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT © 2017 BRTeam. All rights reserved.Journal homepage: www.biofueljournal.com Manan and Webb / Biofuel Research Journal 16 (2017) 730-740 Please cite this article as: Abdul Manan M., Webb C. Modern microbial solid state fermentation technology for future biorefineries for the production of added-value products.