Optimization of tannase production from Aspergillus foetidus using statistical design methods

Tannase, an industrially important enzyme, catalyzes the hydrolysis of gallic acid esters and hydrolysable tannins to gallic acid. In this study, the production of tannase from Aspergillus foetidus MTCC 6322 by submerged culture fermentation was undertaken. Statistical design methods such as Plackett-Burman and a factorial central composite design (CCD) were employed for optimization. Two fold increase in tannase activity (30 units/ml/min) was observed in comparison to the medium optimized by the conventional one factor at a time method (15 units/ml/min). In addition, the number of nutrient factors for the production of tannase were significantly reduced from ten to four after optimization.