Production of Cellulase and Xylanase by Aspergillus niger KKS

A fungal strain capable of producing extracellular cellulase was isolated from farmland. It was identified as Aspergillus niger, and named Aspergillus niger KKS. Production of cellulase and xylanase by the A. niger KKS was studied through a shake-flask culture. The effects of culture conditions such as inoculum size, temperature, pH, and medium composition on the cellulase and xylanase production were examined. The optimum temperature and pH for the enzyme production were $30^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0, respectively. The optimized medium was composed of 2.0% (w/v) rice straw, 0.5% (w/v) proteose peptone, 0.5% (w/v) $KH_2 PO_4$, 0.05% (w/v) yeast extract, 0.01% (w/v) $CoSO_4 \cdot 7H_2O$, and 0.05% (w/v) $CuSO$_4$\cdot 5H_2O$. When the strain was incubated with the optimized medium, it gave the activities of endoglucanase, $\beta$-glucosidase, $\beta$-xylosidase, xylanase were 3.80, 4.20, 4.00, 80.0 (IU/mL), respectively. Filter paper and cotton activities were 0.68 and 0.045 (IU/mL), respectively. The results of this study show that A. niger KKS is a potential organism with a wide spectrum of enzyme activities, such as those of $\beta$-glucosidase, $\beta$-xylosidase, and xylanase.