Fermentation of cocoa pod husks with Pleurotus salmoneo‐stramineus for food applications

Abstract

Cocoa pod husks (CPHs), the major side‐stream from cocoa production, were valorized through fermentation with Pleurotus salmoneo‐stramineus (PSS). Considering ergosterol as a biomarker for the fungal content, the mycelium accounted for 54% of the total biomass after 8 days in submerged cultures. The crude protein content of fermented CPH (CPHF) increased from 7.3 g/100 g DM in CPH to 18.9 g/100 g DM. CPH fermentation resulted in a high biological value of 86 for the protein. The water and oil binding capacities of CPHF were 3.5 mL/g and 2.1 mL/g, respectively. The particle diameter dv,0,90 of CPHF was 373 μm as compared to 526 μm for CPH. The total dietary fiber was 73.4 g/100 g DM in CPHF and 63.6 g/100 g DM in CPH. The amount of soluble fiber was 2.3 g/100 g DM in CPHF and 10.1 g/100 g DM in CPH; the insoluble fraction accounted for 71.1 g/100 g DM and 53.6 g/100 g DM, respectively. Bread doughs with CPH or CPHF were characterized for texture, color, and farinographic properties. The dough hardness, consistency, and browning index increased with the concentration of CPH, whereas for CPHF, springiness and peak viscosities declined. We demonstrate the upcycling of CPH into nutritious and functional ingredients through PSS fermentation.

Characterization and Implementation of Cocoa Pod Husk as a Reinforcing Agent to Obtain Thermoplastic Starches and Bio-Based Composite Materials

“…Another of the general characteristics of the CPH consists in the conformation of its structure based on the presence of the epicarp, mesocarp, sclerotic zone, and endocarp, which are plant tissues containing cellulose between 19.7 and 35.0%, hemicellulose between 6.0 and 12.8%, lignin between 14.0 and 38.8%, protein between 5.9 and 10.0%, pectin between 2 and 12.6%, and lipids between 1.5 and 2%. In the pericarp, the presence of lignin, hemicellulose, and ash is highlighted, while in the mesocarp, up to 53% of cellulose can be found as the majority macromolecule, including the existence of pectin, protein, and lipids, the latter, which are also present in the endocarp [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Considering such composition, a set of unitary operations can be established to take advantage of the lignocellulosic materials present in such by-products for their extraction and subsequent processing to obtain fiber, paper sector products, nanofibers, lignin, biopolymers, rheology modifiers, biocomposites, and biofuels, among other products and raw materials [ 10 ].…”