The main objectives of the study were to produce inulinase from carob extract by Aspergillus niger A42 (ATCC 204447) and to model the inulinase fermentation in the optimum carob extract-based medium. In the study, carob extract was used as a novel and renewable carbon source in the production of A. niger inulinase. For medium optimization, eight different variables including initial sugar concentration ( Bx), (NH 4 ) 2 HPO 4 , MgSO 4 .7H 2 O, KH 2 PO 4 , NH 4 NO 3 , yeast extract, peptone, and ZnSO 4 .7H 2 O were employed. After fermentations, optimum medium composition contained 1% yeast extract in 5 Bx carob extract. As a result of the fermentation, the maximum inulinase activity, maximum invertase-type activity, I/S ratio, maximum inulinase-and invertasetype activity rates, maximum sugar consumption rate, and sugar utilization yield were 1507.03 U/ml, 1552.86 U/ml, 0.97, 175.82 and 323.76 U/ml/day, 13.26 g/L/day, and 98.52%, respectively. Regarding mathematical modeling, the actual inulinase production and sugar consumption data were successfully predicted by Baranyi and Cone models based on the model evaluation and validation results and the predicted kinetic values, respectively. Consequently, this was the first report in which carob extract was used in the production of inulinase as a carbon source. Additionally, the best-selected models can serve as universal equations in modeling the inulinase production and sugar consumption in shake flask fermentation with carob extract medium. K E Y W O R D S Aspergillus, carob extract, flexible models, fungal inulinase, optimization 1 | INTRODUCTION Developments in the field of biotechnology play an important role in the effective use of all kinds of agricultural products and waste in the world. The agricultural products which are rich in food additive and sugar but limited in evaluation potential are used in the production of high added-value products by biotechnological processes. 1,2 The enzyme industry is the result of a rapid development seen primarily over the past four decades thanks to the evolution of modern biotechnology. This development allowed the introduction of enzymes into true industrial products and processes, for example, within the detergent, textile, and starch industries. 3 Inulinase (2,1-β-D-fructanohydrolase EC 3.2.1.7) targets on the β-2,1 linkage of inulin and hydrolyzes it into fructose. Inulin and inulinase can be used for production of either ultra-high fructose syrups, with D-fructose content over 95% by exo-enzymatic hydrolysis, or for production of oligofructose syrups by endo-enzymatic hydrolysis. 4 Inulinases are classified into endo-and exoinulinases, depending on their mode of action. Endo-inulinases (2,1-β-D-fructan fructanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.7) are specific for inulin and hydrolyze it by breaking bonds between fructose units that are located away from the ends of the polymer network, to produce oligosaccharides. Exoinulinases (β-D-fructohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.8) split terminal fructose units from the nonreducing end of the inulin mo...