Hydrolysis of cassava starch by amylases from maize

Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The hydrolysis of cassava starch by amylases from maize is a significant area of research due to the applicability of these enzymes in various industries such as food processing, biofuel production, and pharmaceuticals. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of amylases derived from maize in catalyzing the hydrolysis of cassava starch. The research involved the extraction and purification of amylase enzymes from maize using standard biochemical techniques. The enzymatic hydrolysis of cassava starch was carried out under controlled conditions of pH, temperature, and enzyme concentration. The progress of starch hydrolysis was monitored by measuring reducing sugar content using the dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method. The effects of varying enzyme concentrations, pH levels, and temperatures on the hydrolysis rate were evaluated to determine the optimal conditions for the enzymatic reaction. The kinetic parameters of the enzymatic hydrolysis process were determined by fitting the experimental data to Michaelis-Menten kinetics and Lineweaver-Burk plots. The results indicated that the maize-derived amylases effectively hydrolyzed cassava starch, with higher enzyme concentrations leading to increased reaction rates. Optimal pH and temperature ranges for the enzymatic hydrolysis were identified, showing that the enzymes exhibited the highest activity under specific conditions. The kinetic analysis revealed the maximum reaction rate and Michaelis constant for the enzymatic hydrolysis, providing insights into the catalytic efficiency of the maize-derived amylases on cassava starch. Furthermore, the stability of the amylase enzymes under different pH and temperature conditions was assessed to understand their robustness and potential industrial applications. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of utilizing maize-derived amylases for efficient hydrolysis of cassava starch, offering insights into improving enzymatic processes in various industrial sectors. Overall, this research provides valuable information on the enzymatic hydrolysis of cassava starch by amylases from maize, highlighting the importance of enzyme optimization for enhancing process efficiency and sustainability in biotechnological applications.