Comparative study of the efficacy of fungal and diastase induced fermentation of cassava effluents in production of ethanol

The yield of conversion of absolute ethanol (A% by weight) from four varieties of cassava roots namely: NR 8082 – Type I, TMS 92/00057- Type II, NR 87184 – Type III and TMS 30572 – Type IV- were determined using two fungi (Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae) and synthetic diastase as sources of hydrolytic enzymes. Results showed that Type II cassava produced significantly (p<0.05) the highest ethanol percentage by weight (Alc 9.5% by wt) and a best yield of 46%. Sample A₂ combination of enzyme treatment of Type II with Aspergillus niger, had significantly the highest (p<0.05) ethanol percentage by weight followed by A₃, A₁,D₂/R₂, D₄, R₃, D₁, A₄ and R₄ as the least. Aspergillus niger had the high yield of total percentage of conversion (62%) of cassava to ethanol concentration, 22% and 16% respectively for diastase and Rhizopus oryzae.