Full factorial design to study fermentative production of inulinase using inulin from kuth (Saussurea lappa) root power by Aspergillus niger van Teighem UV11 mutant

Kuth (Saussurea lappa) as a source of inulin for fermentative production of inulinase has been tested for the first time. Preliminary shake-flask experiments in the fermentative production of inulinase using kuth as the carbon source, in combination with different organic and inorganic nitrogen sources, gave the highest yield of inulinase activity (302 Uml−1) with corn steep liquor as the nitrogen source. The full factorial design using 33 = 27 experiments with varying combinations of kuth and CSL concentrations and agitation rates was tried. The results obtained were analysed using SPSS/PC+ (Version 4•0). This is the first use of a full factorial method for optimising fermentative production of inulinase.