PENGARUH PERLAKUAN AWAL HYDROTHERMAL DAN FERMENTASI SUBSTRAT PADAT MENGGUNAKAN TRICHODERMA REESEI TERHADAP DEGRADASI LIGNOSELULOSA DAN SINTESIS ASAM HUMAT DARI LIMBAH TONGKOL JAGUNG (ZEA MAYS L.)

• Main Author: Fajran Fahira J, Nooriliefa
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/83139
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Corn plant (Zea mays) is a cereal crop that consists of grains, husks, leaves, stalks, and cobs, each of which can be utilized into high-value byproducts. Currently, one part of the corn plant, namely the cob, has not been optimally utilized. Corn cobs are one of the agricultural wastes of corn plants that are produced in large quantities, making them abundant and easily available. Corn cobs contain 45% cellulose, 35% hemicellulose, and 15% lignin. These lignocellulose components can be converted into various organic acids, one of which is humic acid, which can be obtained through the solid substrate fermentation process using Trichoderma reesei fungal cultures with variations in initial hydrothermal treatment time of 30, 45, and 60 minutes. This initial hydrothermal treatment is used to break down lignocellulose into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin to make it easier to convert during the fermentation process due to its simpler structure. Trichoderma reesei was chosen because it can break down lignocellulose and increase the formation of organic acids such as humic acid in a relatively short time. In this study, the fermentation process was carried out for 35 days in a closed and dimly lit room so that the microorganisms used could work properly. Data collection was carried out every 7 days to determine the content of each lignocellulose and humic acid component found in the corn cobs. After the fermentation process took place, it was known that there was a decrease in the content of hemicellulose by 20-26%; cellulose by 14-19%; and lignin by 21-25%. Meanwhile, the humic acid content continued to increase until it reached 4.5-5.3% on day 35. In this study, a statistical correlation analysis was also carried out where the results obtained stated that the fermentation process had a significant effect on the degradation of lignocellulose and the synthesis of humic acid