Use of Agrowaste (Cassava Peels) to Cultivate Aspergillus niger for Biomass Production

Clinical strain of Aspergillus niger was cultivated using un-supplemented cassava peels to produce fungal biomass in this work. The proximate contents and organoleptic properties (smell, taste, viscosity, colour) of both the fermented and unfermented cassava peels broths were investigated adopting known methods. The total biomass produced was also established through a period of nine days. The result obtained showed the moisture content of the broth reduced from 86.29% to 31.60% at the end of the experiment. Similarly, crude fibre reduced from 10.88% to 8.87%. Also, the starch content reduced from 56.72% to 20.09% and cyanide reduced from 118.86ppm to 20.46ppm. On the other hand, Protein content increased from 6.24% to 11.22% and Ash content also increased from 4.88% to 10.23%. Biomass production increased daily from day one with initial weight of 1.253gm to 6.043gm on the 4th day. The biomass production peaked at day 5 with a weight of 8.266 gm and gradually reduced until a constant weight of 1.890gm was obtained on days 8 and 9. The quantity of biomass produced within the period of study makes the medium; cassava peels a good materials for biomass production which can be used in some industries as raw materials.