Laccase activity from the fungus Trametes hirsuta using an air-lift bioreactor.

AIM To produce high laccase activities from the white-rot fungus Trametes hirsuta in an in-house air-lift bioreactor (ALB). METHODS AND RESULTS Trametes hirsuta was grown in a 6-l ALB. A fed-batch strategy with glycerol as an addition resulted in maximum laccase activity of 19,400 U l(-1), which was the highest reported from the fungus. CONCLUSION The ALB configuration with additional glycerol resulted in high laccase activities. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This study provides useful information on how to produce high concentrations of laccase.