Coconut waste valorization to produce biochar catalyst and its application in cellulose-degrading enzymes production via SSF

Solid waste management and waste valorization are key concerns and challenges around the globe. Solid wastes generated by food industries are found in a diverse variety, are key sources of enormously valuable compounds, and can be effectively transformed into useful products for broad industrial applications. Biomass-based catalysts, industrial enzymes, and biofuels are some of the very prominent and sustainable products that are developed using these solid wastes. The aims of the current study are therefore centered on the multiple valorizations of coconut waste (CWs) to develop biochar as a catalyst and its application in fungal enzyme production in solid-state fermentation (SSF). Biochar as a catalyst using CWs has been prepared via a calcination process lasting 1 h at 500 °C and characterized through X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope techniques. The produced biochar has been implemented for boosting enzyme production through SSF. In addition, studies have been performed on enzyme production with varying time and temperature, and it is found that the maximum 92 IU/gds BGL enzyme could be produced at a 2.5 mg concentration of biochar-catalyst at 40 °C in 72 h.