Optimization of inulinase production by a newly isolated Aspergillus tubingensis CR16 using low cost substrates.

Production of an extracellular, thermostable inulinase was carried out by a newly isolated strain of Aspergillus tubingensis CR16 using wheat bran and corn steep liquor (CSL) under solid state fermentation (SSF). Response surface methodology (RSM) involving Box Behnken design (BBD) was employed for the optimization of process parameters viz. time period of fermentation, % moisture content, inoculum size and pH of the medium. Maximum yield of inulinase was 257±11.4 U/g, obtained by inoculating 5 g of wheat bran with 10(9) spores/ml, at initial 71.2% moisture content and pH 6.1 after 103 h of fermentation along with 1358.6±0.8 U/g of invertase activity. Crude inulinase showed maximum activity at 60 °C and pH 5.0. The enzyme was found to be thermostable retaining about 90% of its activity for 4.5 h at 60 °C. Fructose was produced as an end product of inulin hydrolysis proving that the enzyme produced was exoinulinase.