Statistical Modelling of a Preliminary Process for Depolymerisation of Cassava Non-starch Carbohydrate Using Organic Acids and Salt

A preliminary study on statistical modelling of a process for depolymerisation of cassava non-starch carbohydrate using halide salt assisted phosphoric and pyruvic acids were accomplished. The effects of three independent variables namely; acid concentration, potassium iodide salt and duration were studied using the central composite rotatable design on hydrolysis of the cassava non-starch carbohydrate. Hydrolysate marker, reducing sugar was evaluated as a measure of depolymerisation, consequently used as response in the study. Equations for predicting the response were developed and adequacy confirmed using analysis of variance and residual assessment. The predictive model provides the potentials of using phosphoric acid and pyruvic acid as depolymerisation agent for cassava non-starch carbohydrate in the presence of potassium iodide salt. This would open a new opportunity for depolymerisation of cassava non-starch carbohydrate that is usually used for low premium animal feed or left as dung resulting to environmental pollution.