Mycelial Protein Production by <i>Aspergillus niger</i> Using Banana Peels

Abstract

The ability of Aspergillus niger to produce mycelia protein from pretreated banana peels as substrate was studied with yeast nitrogen base glucose broth as control. Banana peels gave the highest yield of mycelia protein with optical density of 0.28 (O.D) compared to the yeast nitrogen base glucose broth 0.08 (O.D). The residual glucose content in the banana peel medium decreased from 1800 µg/ml on the first day to 320 µg/ml on the 7^th day. In the yeast nitrogen base glucose broth, it decreased from 2440 µg/ml on day one to 420 µg/ml on the 7^th day. The mycelia protein from banana peals had a crude content of 20.4% and a lipid content of 33.3%. The results indicate the possibility of using banana peels as substrates for mycelia protein production with A. niger.