Valorization of pineapple residues and dahlia tubers for Inulinase synthesis using Mucor circinelloides as starter culture during solid-state fermentation

The current study’s experimental work, production of an industrially important enzyme, Inulinase, was studied using Mucor circinelloides (BGPUP-9) as a starter culture during solid-state fermentation (SSF). For SSF, two agro-industrial wastes (pineapple peel and dahlia tuber powder) were used as cost-effective substrates. The experimental settings were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM)-mediated central composite design (CCD), such as pH, incubation time and moisture content. The optimized conditions observed for maximum Inulinase yield (156.1 IU/gds) were identified as 53.79% moisture content, pH 5.75, and 5.5 days of incubation. The quadratic model revealed a high coefficient of determination (R² = 0.9996), which indicates a strong agreement between experimental and predicted values; however, model validation showed an approximate deviation of ~ 9%, which suggests a minor prediction limitations. Results indicate that factors studied during the present investigation significantly affect the production of Inulinase. The methods used during the present study demonstrate a cost-effective and economical protocol for maximized production of inulinase through fungal fermentation using agro-industrial waste substrates, ultimately highlighting the hidden potential of these substrates for industrial application.