Utilisation of Cassava Processing Waste as a Potential Substrate for Ethanol Production by Candida tropicalis

The aim of this study is to investigate the ethanol production from cassava processing waste (CPW), namely (thippi) using fermentation by Candida tropicalis. The experiment was performed by hydrolysis using either acid or enzyme, the step in conversion of cellulosic materials and starch to fermentable sugar and further fermentation by C. tropicalis for the conversion of fermentable sugar into ethanol. The reducing sugars yield by acid hydrolysis was 0.32 g g-¹ CPW. However, reducing sugars in enzymatic hydrolysis was 0.65 g g-¹ CPW. The maximum ethanol yield was obtained using C. tropicalis from enzymatic-hydrolysed sugar at initial reducing sugars 0.32 g g-¹ CPW was 0.226 g g-¹ CPW at 30°C for 36 h of fermentation than acid hydrolysis. Thus, utilisation of CPW for ethanol production in this study could provide the most effective use of cassava resources and lead to technology of development for further utilisation and value addition.