Microbial conversion of vanillin from ferulic acid extracted from raw coir pith

Abstract

Coir pith, an agro-industrial residue, is resistant to natural degradation, and its accumulation causes environmental pollution. Ferulic acid, a precursor of vanillin, was extracted from the raw coir pith by chemical pre-treatment such as alkaline hydrolysis, acidification, and liquid–liquid extraction method. The obtained ferulic acid (1.2 g/50 g) was analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and used as a substrate for biotransformation by Aspergillus niger to vanillic acid, which, in turn, was fermented by using Phanerochaete chrysosporium to vanillin. The quantity of vanillic acid detected by HPLC on the third day of incubation was 0.773 g/L, while the optimal yield of vanillin on the subsequent third day of incubation was 0.628 g/L. Thus, the chemical extraction of ferulic acid from coir pith ensued bioconversion into vanillin. These products are highly valuable and economical to be used in industries such as pharmaceuticals, health, cosmetics, and neutraceuticals.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Coir pith
• ferulic acid
• vanillic acid
• vanillin
• aspergillus niger
• phanerochaete chrysosporium

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to immense contribution of Dr. U.S. Sharma, former Director of Central Coir Research Institute, Kalavoor and Dr. Anita Das Ravindranath, Director, Central Coir Research Institute, Kalavoor for providing guidance and the facility to carry out the work. The technical support provided by Mr. Jayaraj is also acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.