INFLUENCE OF FERMENTATION METHOD AND SUBSTRATE PARTICLE SIZE ON THE FERMENTATION OF CITRIC ACID USING ASPERGILLUS NIGER

• Main Author: Patuan Radja Dps, Michael
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/64918
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

This research compared the production of citric acid by submerged fermentation (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) using Aspergillus niger. In this study, tapioca industry waste, cassava bagasse containing high carbohydrate, was used as substrate in fermentation using Aspergillus niger (ITBCC L74). The influence of substrate particle size to citric acid yield for both fermentation methods were evaluated. Furthermore, a variation of precipitating agents CaCl2, Ca(OH)2, CaCO3 were used to separate citric acid product from the fermentation broth in order to determine the effective method for the precipitation of citric acid. The experiments showed the smallest substrate particle size, 60 mesh (<0.25 mm) was able to give the highest citric acid yield compared to the roughly-sliced substrate or coarse powder substrate for both fermentation methods. Solid-state fermentation was determined as the better method compared to submerged fermentation and capable to produce higher citric acid in shorter time. The results of this study indicated the potential for further development of citric acid production by solid-state fermentation using agroindustrial waste in Indonesia.