The use of agroindustrial residues is an economical solution to industrial biotechnology. Coffee husk and pulp are abounding residues from coffee industry which can be used as substrates in solid state fermentation process, thus allowing a liberation and increase in the phenolic compound content with high added value. By employing statistical design, initial moisture content, pH value in the medium, and the incubation temperature were evaluated, in order to increase the polyphenol content in a process of solid state fermentation by Penicillium purpurogenum. The main phenolic compounds identified through HPLC in fermented coffee residue were chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and rutin. Data obtained through HPLC with the radical absorbance capacity assay suggest the fermented coffee husk and pulp extracts potential as a source of phenolic acids and flavonoids. Results showed good perspectives when using P. purpurogenum strain to enhance the liberation of phenolic compounds in coffee residues.Keywords: coffee husk; coffee pulp; filamentous fungi; bioprocess design; antioxidant activity; chlorogenic acid.
Practical Application:This study evaluated the influence of solid state fungal fermentation in obtaining polyphenols. Thus, it determined the total phenols content, identifying and quantifying the main phenolic compounds, and it determined the antioxidant activity through the effective concentration (EC 50 ) of the extracts.