EFFECTS OF BACTERIA FROM DOMESTIC FOOD WASTES ON PROXIMATE, MINERAL AND ANTINUTRIENT’ CONTENTS OF CASSAVA PEELS DURING DECOMPOSITION

Abstract

The effects of forty-one (41) bacteria previously isolated from the decomposition of some domestic food wastes in Akure metropolis (Nigeria) on proximate and antinutrient contents of cassava peels were determined. The bacteria of the genera: Escherichia, Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Kurthia, Aeromonas, Paenibacillus, Listeria, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas and Lactobaccilus were provided by the Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Cassava peels collected from a cassava processing factory in Akure, were washed with tap water to free them from soil particles, dried in the hot air oven at 40oC ± 2oC for 72 hours, milled into powdery form and sterilized using ultraviolet light. Microbial load of the peels was determined by pour plate method. Cassava peels were mixed with sterile distilled water in ratio 1:2, inoculated with bacteria and left to decompose at 28±2oC to determine cassava peels’ biodegradative ability of the bacteria; proximate composition and antinutrient contents were determined at 1 week interval for 8 weeks during the decomposition. The study showed increase in protein, fat and moisture across the test bacteria as decomposition progressed, with their contents as 12.5%-62.48%, 1.29%-90.72% and 14.97%-86.88% respectively. There was a decrease in carbohydrate (43.28%-0.76%), crude fibre (13.86%- 0.16%) and ash contents (6.46%-0.24%) in the presence of the test bacteria as decomposition time increased. The antinutrients quantity decreased as decomposition progressed with, saponin, phytate and oxalate, 301.82 mg/g -2.9 mg/g, 28.84μmol/ml - 3.30μmol/ml, 4.68μmol/ml -0.27μmol/ml respectively. The bacteria greatly utilized the proximate constituents of the cassava peels. It is recommended that biodegradation should be employed to reduce the volume of the organic wastes (pollution) in the Nigerian environment and also to eliminate the resulting health hazard of the wastes.