Growth of fungal strains on coffee industry residues with removal of polyphenolic compounds

Coffee silverskin (CS) and spent coffee grounds (SCG) are abundant residues generated by the coffee industry, but up till now they are practically unutilized being discharged to the environment or burned for elimination. In the present study, the ability of seven different fungal strains from the genera Aspergillus, Mucor, Penicillium, and Neurospora, to grow and release phenolic compounds from these residues under solid-state cultivation conditions was evaluated. All the strains were able to growth on CS and SCG, but Penicillium purpurogenum, Neurospora crassa and Mucor were able to release the highest amounts of phenolic compounds from both residues. Phenolic compounds have wide-range applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries, and thus, the extraction of these compounds could be a valuable alternative for the exploitation of CS and SCG. Additionally, the use of solid-state fermentation to obtain these compounds has a positive environmental impact because the use of chemical solvents is avoided.This study was funded by Portuguese National Fund through FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (grant SFRH/BPD/38212/2007)