Potential of organic Wastes as Culture media for Acetobacter xylinum in Producing Nata Fiber Application for Biotechnology Course

Abstract

Biotechnology cours deals with fermentation reactions involving microorganisms. Among instances of fermentation are those involving nata producing bacteria Acetobacter xylinumas the biofermenter . Acetobacter xylinum use glucose or carbohydrate in liquid media consequently, fruit and vegetable wastes containing glucose and carbohydrate can be used as curture media for acetobacter xylinum. The present study wes aimed to test whether the skin of potatoes, carrots, water melons,pineapples, yellow,purple and white sweet potatoescan be used as culturemedia for Acetobacter xylinum in producing nata and whether are differences in the quality of the nata produced . Methods of nata production followed Saragih (2004). The quality of nata was evaluated based on color, small, and percebtage of fibers. Data was analyzed descriptively using responders evaluation and fiber conten analysis. Results showed that 1) organic wastes from skinof potatoes , water melons, pineapples, carrots and yellow, purple and white sweet potetoes can be used as growing media for Acetobacter xylinum to produce nata. 2) skin of potetoes peoduced the highest quantity of gross fibres ( 2,86%), while the lowest was skin of yellow sweet potatoes ( 1,73%)