Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part C (2025)

The growing interest in sustainable biotechnological applications has led to the exploration of agro-industrial waste as a resource for producing fungal chitosan, a versatile biopolymer with various industrial applications. Chitosan derived from fungi offers numerous advantages over crustacean chitosan, including non-allergenic properties and the potential for higher yields. This research focuses on optimizing the fermentation parameters for enhanced fungal chitosan production using agro-industrial waste as a substrate. The aim is to identify the ideal conditions that promote fungal growth and chitosan synthesis while reducing the environmental footprint associated with traditional sources. The fermentation process was optimized by varying parameters such as pH, temperature, inoculum concentration, and substrate composition, specifically focusing on agro-industrial waste materials such as rice husk, wheat bran, and sugarcane bagasse. The effect of these parameters on fungal biomass, chitosan yield, and its biochemical properties were analyzed through various analytical techniques, including FTIR, HPLC, and yield measurement. Our findings indicate that the optimal conditions for fungal chitosan production were a pH of 5.5, a temperature of 28 °C, and a fermentation period of 7 days with a substrate composition of 50% wheat bran and 50% rice husk. These conditions resulted in a significant increase in chitosan yield compared to conventional substrates. This research demonstrates the potential of agro-industrial waste as an effective and sustainable source for fungal chitosan production, contributing to both environmental sustainability and the circular economy. Further investigation into the downstream processing of fungal chitosan and its applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture is recommended.