Effect of Nitrogen Sources on Penicillium chrysogenum Biomass and Amylase Production Using Cassava Whey

Industrial wastes like starchy wastes cause environmental pollution especially of waterways however, they can be used for biosynthesis of enzymes (amylases) thereby reducing their pollution impact on the environment. Amylases are starch degrading enzymes that have great importance in biotechnology and starch processing industries. This study aimed at optimizing Penicillium chrysogenum biomass and amylase production in cassava whey media using organic and inorganic nitrogen supplementations. Biomass yield of P. chrysogenum, amylase activity, reducing sugar, titratable acidity and pH values were determined using standard techniques during submerged fermentation with cassava whey. The highest P. chrysogenum biomass (5.0 ± 0.02 g/L) yield and amylase production (8.0 ± 0.04 mU/g) were obtained with ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) at 8 d while the least biomass and amylase yield 3.0 ± 0.40 g/L and 1.71 ± 0.01 mU/g respectively were obtained from the unsupplemented media. The present study showed that cassava whey, a cheap agro-waste may be a good substrate for amylase production when supplemented with ammonium nitrate using P. chrysogenum