BIODEGRADATION WASTE OIL PALM EMPTY BUNCH (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) BY LIGNOCELLULOLYTIC FUNGI

Research has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of lignocellulolytic fungi biodegradation, either single or consortium, as well as the effective dose of inoculum in the process of biodegradation of waste oil palm empty fruit bunches. This research used experimental methods to Completely Randomized Design (CRD) 4 x 3 factorial in three replications. The first factor were species of fungi, Rhizopus oryzae (j1), Penicillium citrinum (j2), Aspergillus nidulans (j3) and consortium of Rhizopus oryzae, Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus nidulans (j4). Second factor was inoculum dosage (D), 0% (d0), 5% (d1) and 10% (d2). The results showed that Rhizopus oryzae, Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus nidulans singly gave the result by decreasing 35.78%, 27.02% and 21.60% C/N ratio, while a consortium of Rhizopus oryzae, Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus nidulans gave the result by decreasing 23.40% C/N ratio. Decrease in C/N ratio suggests that Rhizopus oryzae and Penicillium citrinum either single or consortium is more effectiveused in the process of palm oil empty fruit bunches waste biodegradation. In addition, 5% was the most effective inoculums dosage during the biodegradation process by decreasing 33.73% C/N ratio 30 days.