Rapeseed meal (RM) is an abundant and cheap by-product of oil extraction process. RM is a rich source of nitrogen, carbon, and
minerals. Thanks to these features, RM has a striking potential for eco-friendly production of high value products in
biotechnological processes.
In this study, the possibility of using a low-cost medium based on the water soluble fraction of RM for laccase production by the
fungus Pleurotus ostreatus has been evaluated and compared with the use of synthetic complex media. RM-based medium
(RMM) led to extracellular laccase production comparable to that obtained in the presence of synthetic media. Moreover, the use
of a raw material highly reduced the production costs. To further reduce cost and improve activity production the effect of the
addition of nitrogen source, pure aromatic compounds and lignosulphonate, a low cost by-product of wood based industries, was
evaluated. The optimized medium led to a laccase production level of more than 100,000 U/L at a cost of about 0.19*10-3
cent€/U. The obtained results demonstrate the effective recycle of a waste to produce an industrially relevant enzyme.