Optimization of The Parameters For Bio-Processing of Cassava Peel to Increase Fermentable Sugars And Lysine Production

ABSTRACT

Bio-processing of cassava peel for Lysine production was done by characterising the cassava peel for carbohydrate types. The process of enzymatic hydrolysis of the cassava peel was optimised to produce fermentable sugars using response surface methodology. The hydrolysed cassava peel was used as a source of carbon to optimise the conditions for lysine production using mutant Corynebacterium glutamicum (AHP3) strain. Cassava peel is a biomass generated as a result of processing cassava tuber by peeling operations. It is a natural resource that shows heterogeneity in structure and chemical composition. Physical and chemical composition analysis was done using standard methods. It was found that nearly 83 % dry matter (DM) composition of the cassava peel was glucose whiles xylose and arabinose have made up only small amount of 2.31 and 2.35 % respectively. The cellulose and hemicellulose were 6.0 % DM and 2.23 % DM respectively and the residual starch content was 47.16 %. The protein was 2.40 % and the cyanide level was 9.3 mg/kg. The lignin and the ash contents were 1.92% and 6.30% respectively. The high level of residual starch and low amount of lignin make the cassava peel very susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis without laborious pretreatment regimes. Importantly, this study provides a useful base line data for agro-economic evaluation of cassava peel as a feedstock for an integrated biorefinery, because the valorisation of cassava peel is still overlooked and not fully exploited. Additionally, deep understandings of the biomass chemical and physical characteristics need to be known in order to assist in designing safe processing facilities.