Scientific Oration of Professor Chair Holder of IPB: Enzymatic Fermentation to Produces Civet Like Coffee
Agro-industry the effort to increase the added value of agricultural products as well as change the traditional farming systems into advanced method or modern. By developing the agro-industry we can promote the welfare of the agricultural sectors as well as attain overall economic growth. Agricultural engineers may engage in any of the productions processes to obtain a diversified agricultural products. In engineering, a process that include the separation, purification and formulation of the crude product, to obtain a pure product which has better quality and has a high economic value.
It was statement of Prof. Erliza Noor, one of the Professor Chair Holders of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology of Institut Pertanian Bogor (FATETA IPB) in his scientific oration in the Campus IPB, Bogor, on 29 October 2016. During which he presented his research results related to the engineering process for agricultural commodities. Membrane technology, one of the separation and purification methods in engineering processes, had been developed and is widely used in agricultural processes. The research program of Prof. Erliza had been focused on membrane materials and engineering processes to enhance the flux, as technology of membrane is more efficient and economical
Research programs implemented by Prof. Erliza has enabled him to produce cyclodextrin from arrowroot starch using the combination of enzymes. The modified starch has important role for chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries. His study has successfully produced cyclodextrins of arrowroot starch amounted to 70-80 g / L.
"Production has been developed up to medium scale. This research had successfully increased the added value of arrowroot starch because cyclodextrin price is much more expensive than starch, "he said.
The other important result of his studies was enzymatic fermentation to produces civet like coffee by solid substrate fermentation. The production of civet coffee is rely on the availability and sustainability of civet life cycles. (without using animal mongoose). Bacteria Stenotropomonas sp MH34 (bacteria xilanolitik), Proteus penneri (cellulolytic bacteria) and Bacillus aerophilus (proteolytic bacteria) that available at civet feces used in solid fermentation of coffee.
"This technology has improved the coffee production and its quality, as it is more hygienic, the caffeine content is about some percent lower, light taste and soft, and rich in antioxidants that content of vitamin C ranges up to 71 percent," he said.
Third important result of his research programs was the process of extraction of limonene from citrus seeds, which contains a considerable amount of limonene. It is essential for good health, used to promote weight loss, prevent cancer, treat cancer, lowering the ratio of LDL cholesterol / HDL, and treat bronchitis. In foods, beverages, and chewing gum, limonene is used as a flavouring. In pharmaceuticals, limonene is added to help medicinal ointments and creams penetrate the skin, "he said.
In addition to the above mentioned three research findings, other study that Prof. Erliza implemented is the design process of cellulose acetate ultrafiltration membrane production by phase inversion method of cellulose pulp from wood of sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria). In this study, cellulose from wood pulp of Sengon was used. the production of hyaluronic acid in the semi-continuous cultivation utilized Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Nano-related applications in the Agro-industry sector, has been the production of nano pigments of seaweed as a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). (Wied).
