Non-ionic surfactant formulation sequentially enhances the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulignin from sugarcane bagasse and the production of Monascus ruber biopigments.

The effect of a non-ionic surfactant optimized formulation (SOF) obtained from an experimental design was evaluated for different influencing variables in the processing of sugarcane bagasse cellulignin to produce biopigments. The major findings in the saccharification stage using the SOF point that: at same enzyme loading, the highest glucan hydrolysis yield was 63 % (2-fold higher compared to control); the enzyme loading of 2.5 FPU/g resulted in similar yield compared to 10 FPU/g (control); 15 % (m/v) of total solids loading maintained the yield in fed-batch configuration; the hydrolysis yield is maintained at high shear force stress (800 rpm of stirring rate) and temperatures (50-70 °C). Besides, under separate and semi-simultaneous hydrolysis and fermentation, the maximum biopigments production were of 10 AU/mL and 17.84 AU/mL, respectively. The SOF used in this study was found to be a promising additive either in a single or sequential steps to produce biopigments in biorefineries.