Photobiological effect of Laser or LED light in a thermophilic microbial consortium.

Cellulose has a highly diversified architecture and its enzymatic complexes are studied for achieving an efficient conversion and a high level of efficiency in the deconstruction of cellulolytic biomass into sugars. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of Laser or LED light in the cellulolytic activity (CMCase) and on the proliferation of the thermophilic microbial consortium used on the degradation process of a lignocellulosic biomass of green coconut shell. The irradiation protocol consisted of six Laser irradiations (λ660 ηm, 40 mW, 270 s, 13 J/cm) or LED (λ632 ± 2 ηm, 145 mW, 44 s, 13 J/cm) with 12- h time intervals in nutrient deprivation conditions. After irradiation, the consortium was inoculated into a lignocellulosic biomass (coconut fibers). Non- irradiated consortium was also inoculated and acted as control. Cell proliferation and endoglucanase activity were quantified during the experimental time. Experiments were carried out in triplicate. The results showed an increase of 250 % of thermo-cellulolytic microorganisms for the LED group and 200% for the Laser group when compared to the control. The enzymatic index (red Congo method), showed a statistically significant difference in the process of degradation of the lignocellulosic biomass between the Laser and LED groups compared to the control group [p < 0.0029; p < 0.029, respectively] 48-hs after the inoculation of the microorganisms. At the end of 72-h, this significant difference was maintained for both irradiated groups (p < 0.0212). Based upon the protocol used on the present study, it is possible to concluded that LED light enhanced cell proliferation of the thermophilic microbial consortium while the Laser light increase the enzymatic index of the lignocellulosic biomass of green coconut shell.

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