Cassava starch effluent treatment with concomitant SCP production

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Wastewater treatment

Background:

• Cassava starch factories generate effluent with high organic loads.
• Aerobic treatment methods are crucial for managing industrial wastewater.
• Utilizing microbial resources for bioremediation is an active area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of yeast in treating cassava starch factory effluent.
• To assess the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD).
• To determine the protein content of the resulting yeast biomass.

Main Methods:

• Aerobic treatment of effluent using a mixed yeast culture.
• Cultivation of Candida utills and Endomycopsis fibuliger.
• Monitoring of starch and sugar utilization.
• Analysis of protein content in biomass.
• Measurement of COD and BOD reduction.

Main Results:

• Efficient and rapid utilization of starch and free sugars by the mixed yeast culture.
• Achieved 94% removal of COD and 91% removal of BOD.
• Biomass protein content reached 22% (w/w) and remained stable.
• Successful bioremediation of cassava starch effluent.

Conclusions:

• Mixed yeast cultures, specifically Candida utills and Endomycopsis fibuliger, are effective for aerobic treatment of cassava starch effluent.
• This bioprocess significantly reduces organic pollutants (COD and BOD).
• The process yields a protein-rich yeast biomass suitable for potential applications.