Production of α-amylase by Aspergillus oryzae from cassava bagasse and wastewater sludge under solid-state fermentation

The potential of cassava bagasse (from cassava starch production) and biological sludge (biosludge, from an activated sludge treatment system) was investigated for a-amylase production using Aspergillus oryzae TISTR 3605 under solid-state fermentation and the optimum conditions for enzyme production were determined. The optimum conditions for a-amylase production were 48 h of incubation, using a ratio of cassava bagasse and biosludge of 3:2 (w/w) at a moisture content of 60%, with 1 mL inoculum and distilled water as the moisturizing agent. The influence of supplementation with carbon sources (glucose and starch) suggested that only glucose increased a-amylase production and then slightly. However, supplementing with nitrogen sources (peptone and ammonium sulfate) had no positive effect on amylase production. The results suggested that cassava bagasse and wastewater sludge had potential to be used as carbon and nutrient sources, respectively, for microorganisms to produce a-amylase. However, further study is needed to improve the a-amylase yield. (C) 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2012