Assessment of Aspergillus niger and Bacillus subtilis Potential in the Biodegradation of Cassava Peels
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70882/josrar.2026.v3i5.297Keywords:
Assessment, Aspergillus niger, Bacillus subtilis, Biodegradation, Cassava peelsAbstract
The processing of cassava for human consumption leads to the generation of large quantities of cassava peel waste. The continuous accumulation of these peels has contributed to environmental pollution, thereby placing significant pressure on waste management systems. This study aimed to assess the biodegradation potentials of Aspergillus niger and Bacillus subtilis, individually and in combination, using cassava peels as the substrate. Cassava peels were obtained from Sokoto Central Market, Nigeria and subjected to biodegradation using laboratory-maintained isolates. Biodegradation efficiency of the isolates was assessed by determining their percentage weight loss, while changes in pH were monitored over a four-week incubation period. The individual treatments exhibited substantial degradation, with A. niger and B. subtilis achieving weight losses of 44.8% and 38.7%, respectively, indicating varying degrees of substrate degradation. The co-treatment produced the highest degradation efficiency, with a weight loss of 55.7% and the lowest residual weight when compared with either organism individually. A progressive decline in pH was observed across all treatments throughout the incubation period, indicating that the biodegradation process was accompanied by a progressive shift from near-neutral to acidic conditions in all treatments. These findings demonstrate the capacity of both microorganisms to utilize and degrade cassava peel biomass, with combined culture exhibiting enhanced degradation when compared with the individual treatments. Therefore, further studies incorporating enzymatic, biochemical and molecular analyse are recommended to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the enhanced combined culture.
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