title: Solid-state fermentation: an alternative to improve the nutritive value of coffee pulp.
abstract: Coffee pulp was subjected to a solid-state fermentation process, using Aspergillus niger. The initial moisture content of the pulp, as well as the fermentation time and temperature, had a significant effect on the increase in total amino acid content of the material. The increase in total amino acids showed a significant correlation with the dry matter recovered (r = -0.98) and the increase in pH during the process (r = 0.98). With a moisture content of 80%, a pH of 3.5, a temperature of 35 degrees C, and an aeration of 8 liters/min per kg as fermentation conditions, it was found that the maximum concentration of total amino acids was attained after 43 h. The fermented product had a higher total amino acid content and a lower cell wall constituent value (primarily cellulose and hemicellulose) than the original pulp. A growing chicken's ration containing 10% of the fermented product had a feed efficiency (2.14) similar to that of the standard ration (2.19) and was significantly better than that of the diet containing 10% of the original pulp (2.53). The difference observed in feed intake and weight gain between the standard diet and that with 10% of the fermented product is considered to be due to palatability factors which should be studied further.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peñaloza
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Brenes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bressani