ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (9), pp. 001-007, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A microbiological technique for the separation of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. fibers
Pilanee Vaithanomsat1*, Poom Phusanakom2, Waraporn Apiwatanapiwat1 and Molnapat Songpim1
1Enzyme Technology and Waste Management Research Unit, Kasetsart Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Product Improvement Institute (KAPI), Kasetsart University, 50, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
2Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Engineering and Manufacturing Company Limited, 99 Moo 5, Ban Ragad, Amphur Bang Bo, Samutprakan 10560, Thailand.
Accepted 29 June 2018
Abstract
This study is related to a process for the separation of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. fibers using living microorganisms. The selected fungal strains, Datronia sp. and Oligoporous sp., were isolated from natural sources in Thailand and were previously shown to be capable of degrading lignin in pulp and paper industrial wastewater. The process described here is comprising the fungal-treated fibrous of H. sabdariffa L. barks in certain conditions. The fungal inoculum size, retting time and retting temperature were important in the experiments and the retting efficiency was based on the visual characteristics of resulting fibers. In addition, the pectinolytic enzymes released from the fungi in retting conditions were shown to correspond to the separation of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. fibers.
Key words: Hibiscus sabdariffa L., fibers, separation, microbiological process.