Lactic acid production from Cassava Mill Effluent (CME) using Rhizopus Oryzae Immobilised in pva-alginate sulphate beads

Cassava mill effluent (CME) is an effluent originated from tapioca tuber. It is produced by peeling off the skin, cutting and starch extraction. CME contains high concentration of starch, hence when it is disposed directly into the river, it will contribute to water pollution due to its high content of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and total solids (TS). In this study, CME was used as a fermentation medium to produce lactic acid. To improve the yield, spores of Rhizopus oryzae were immobilised in PVA-alginate-sulphate beads and fermentation was carried out for 6 days. 2-level factorial design was used in the screening of lactic acid production for different parameter