Response Surface Optimization for Decaffeination and Theophylline Production by Fusarium solani

Abstract

Coffee processing industries generate caffeine-containing waste that needs to be treated and decaffeinated before being disposed. Five fungal isolates obtained on caffeine-containing mineral media were tested for their ability to utilize caffeine at high concentrations. An isolate identified as Fusarium solani could utilize caffeine as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen up to 5 g/l and could degrade it to an extent of 30-53 % in 120 h. Sucrose that was added as an auxiliary substrate (5 g/l) enhanced the biodecaffeination of caffeine to 88 % in 96 h. The addition of co- substrate (sucrose) not only resulted in higher biodecaffeination efficiency, but also reduced the incubation period from the initial 120 to 96 h. Theophylline and 3-methyl xanthine were obtained as the major metabolites of decaffeination at 96 and 120 h, respectively. Response surface methodology used to optimize the process parameters for maximum biodecaffeination as well as theophylline production showed that a pH of 5.8, temperature of 24 °C and inoculum size of 4.8 × 10(5) spores/ml have resulted in a complete biodecaffeination of caffeine as well as the production of theophylline with a yield of 33 % (w/w). Results thus show that a viable and sustainable process can be developed for the detoxification of caffeine along with the recovery of theophylline, a commercially important chemical.

Electrochemical Oxidation of Theophylline in Organic Solvents: HPLC‐PDA‐ESI‐MS/MS Analysis of the Oxidation Products

“…Also the antioxidant capacity of caffeine and TPh, mainly as HO · scavenger, has been discussed more recently. [5][6][7] On the other hand, the wide pharmaceutical employ of TPh in human and in veterinary medicine, [8] added to the important industrial processes concerning coffee, cocoa and tea, led to its ubiquitous detection in the aquatic environment, as recently reported. [9] Furthermore, several studies reported an acute toxicity to mammals and human, especially when mixed with other pharmaceuticals, [10][11] so that TPh can be considered among the emerging pharmaceutical pollutants of aquatic environment.…”

A novel strain of Aureobasidium sp. TeO12 for theophylline production from caffeine

“…F. solani capable of degrading caffeine was isolated from caffeine-contaminated soil. Response surface optimization for decaffeination and theophylline production by the fungus showed that a pH of 5.8, temperature of 24°C, and inoculum size of 4.8 9 10 5 spores/mL have resulted in a complete biodecaffeination of caffeine as well as the production of theophylline with a yield of 33% (Nanjundaiah et al 2016). Compared with the previous reports, this work shows that resting cells of Aureobasidium sp.…”

“…Until now, several pure fungal isolates belonging to the genus Penicillium, Aspergillus, Stemphylium, Rhizopus, and Fusarium capable of degrading caffeine have been identified. However, only Penicillium citrinum and Fusarium solani produced substantial amounts of theophylline from caffeine biotransformation, as these fungi can produce theophylline in concentrations of 0.78 g/L (molar yield 85%) and 0.33 g/L (molar yield 35.5%), respectively (Patra 2007;Nanjundaiah et al 2016). In view of this background, the study focuses on the isolation and identification of caffeine-degrading fungi to explore their ability in the biotransformation of caffeine to theophylline.…”

Structure-Bioactivity Relationships of Methylxanthines: Trying to Make Sense of All the Promises and the Drawbacks

“…Caffeine is slowly degraded by consecutive removal of the three methyl groups, resulting in the formation of xanthine in almost all caffeine-forming plant species, with theophylline being a mid-product of the process [55]. Caffeine [58], theobromine [59] and theophylline [60] may also be obtained by chemical synthesis.…”