The objective of this work was to determine the variables that influence the simultaneous production of cellulases and xylanase by Aspergillus aculeatus URM 4953 and A. phoenicis URM 4924, using sugarcane bagasse as substrate. Initial pH, cultivation time, substrate concentration, agitation, inoculum concentration, temperature, sugarcane bagasse type and Aspergillus species were the variables evaluated. It was used the 2(8-4) fractional factorial design, with three replicates in the central point. All analysed variables influenced at least one of the enzyme production. The highest enzymatic activities were: total cellulases, 0.45 UI mL-1; endoglucanase, 0.60 UI mL-1; exoglucanase, 0.17 U mL-1; cellobiase, 6.42 UI mL-1; and xylanase, 30.05 U mL-1. The best conditions for enzyme production were: pH 6.0; cultivation time of 168 hours; residual sugarcane bagasse as substrate; and A. aculeatus URM 4953, which produced simultaneously all the cellulases and xylanase. The variables that influence the simultaneous production of cellulases and xylanase are pH, cultivation time, sugarcane bagasse type, and Aspergillus species.
Aspergillus aculeatus; Aspergillus phoenicis; sugarcane bagasse; cellobiase; endoglucanase; exoglucanase
