Use of Cassava Peel as Carbon Source for Production of Amylolytic Enzymes by Aspergillus niveus

Abstract Aspergillus niveus produced high levels of α-amylase and glucoamylase in submerged fermentation using the agricultural residue cassava peel as a carbon source. In static conditions, the amylase production was substantially greater than in the agitated condition. The optimized culture conditions were initially at pH 5.0, 35°C during 48 hours. Amylolytic activity was still improved (50%) with a mixture of cassava peel and soluble starch in the proportion 1:1 (w/w). The crude extract exhibited temperature and pH optima approximately 70°C and 4.5, respectively. Amylase activity was stable for 1 h at 60°C, and at pH values between 3.0 and 7.0. The enzyme hydrolysed preferentially maltose, starch, penetrose, amylose, isomaltose, maltotriose, glycogen and amylopectin, and not hydrolysed cyclodextrin (α and ß), trehalose and sucrose. In the first hour of reaction on soluble starch, the hydrolysis products were glucose and maltose, but after two hours of hydrolysis, glucose was the unique product formed, confirming the presence in the crude extract of an α-amylase and a glucoamylase. Submitted: February 19, 2009 · Accepted: October 9, 2009 · Published: November 3, 2009 Recommended Citation Silva, Tony Marcio; Alarcon, Ricardo Fernandes; Damasio, Andre Ricardo de Lima; Michelin, Michele; Maller, Alexandre; Masui, Douglas C.; Terenzi, Héctor Francisco; Jorge, João Atílio; and Polizeli, Maria de Lourdes T. M. (2009) "Use of Cassava Peel as Carbon Source for Production of Amylolytic Enzymes by Aspergillus niveus," International Journal of Food Engineering: Vol. 5 : Iss. 5, Article 1. DOI: 10.2202/1556-3758.1629 Available at: http://www.bepress.com/ijfe/vol5/iss5/art1