Lakhasly

4.Given the growing focus on green technology and sustainability, the utilization of A. niger extracted from EFB is expected to become increasingly important in driving environmentally friendly and economically efficient industrial innovation.Furthermore, the organism can also produce enzymes, including amylase, pectinase, glucoamylase, protease, cellulase, and phytase, which can be utilized in the food, an- imal feed, textile, and bioethanol industries to reduce reliance on non- renewable resources and promote a circular economy.

4. Conclusions
   This study successfully isolated fungi from oil palm empty fruit
   bunches (EFB) and utilized them for biogas production from EFB. The
   isolated fungus was identified as Aspergillus niger through macroscopic,
   microscopic, and molecular analysis. The fungus demonstrated the
   capability to achieve a percent decomposition of approximately 16 %
   (w/w) by week 3 of the EFB fermentation process. It produced a
   chemical oxygen demand (COD) value of the substrate around 40,000
   ppm by week 5. Adding the substrate to Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)
   increased the methane (CH₄) concentration from 6 % to 60 %. The
   POME-S10 mixture resulted in an 80 % increase in biogas production
   (regarding the CH₄ to CO₂ ratio) compared to POME without substrate
   (POME-S0). The POME 0-S100 mixture exhibited the highest CH₄ to CO₂
   ratio in biogas (±260 %) compared to POME-S0 (±20 %), POME-S4
   (±25 %), POME-S7 (±21 %), and POME-S10 (±100 %). The utiliza-
   tion of EFB as a source of fungal isolates and biogas feedstock on an
   industrial scale has a positive environmental impact and is economically
   viable.
   Aspergillus niger extracted from Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) presents
   significant potential for various industrial applications in the future,
   particularly in the realms of biotechnology and waste management.
   Additionally, this particular strain of A. niger can be utilized to produce a
   range of future products, such as citric acid, gluconic acid, fumaric acid,
   oxalic acid, kojic acid, and itaconic acid. Furthermore, the organism can
   also produce enzymes, including amylase, pectinase, glucoamylase,
   protease, cellulase, and phytase, which can be utilized in the food, an-
   imal feed, textile, and bioethanol industries to reduce reliance on non-
   renewable resources and promote a circular economy. Moreover, the
   use of A. niger in the bioconversion of EFB into high-value products helps
   to reduce industrial waste, thereby supporting environmental sustain-
   ability. Given the growing focus on green technology and sustainability,
   the utilization of A. niger extracted from EFB is expected to become
   increasingly important in driving environmentally friendly and
   economically efficient industrial innovation.