Production and Characterization of Exopolysaccharides from Loss Cooked Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) by Lactobacillus Plantarum

Abstract

The aim of the work was to produce and characterize the exopolysaccharides from loss cooked sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) using fermentation with Lactobacillus. The cooked sweet potato was fermented according to the factorial design with the following factors: the time (21.51h-38.48h) and the amount of Lactobacillus (1.58*106-5*106UFC). Responses were represented by production yield, pH, and titrable acidity. Characterization of the exopolysaccharides was then done by determination of total sugars, solubility index and viscosity. The results show that the pH of unfermented cooked potatoes was between 6.23 to 6.63. The pH of fermented potatoes varies from 3.96 to 4.06. The lactic acid content was found from 7.75 to 9.9% for the fermented samples. The production yields are 1.90% for the samples fermented for 21.5 hours with 3.5*106UFC of bacteria and 5.62% for those fermented for 30 hours with the same volume of inoculum. The average viscosity of the products was 4mPas regardless of the fermentation time. Chemical characterization indicates glucose contents of 68.21 and 94.01% in fermented potato for 24h and 21h respectively. The solubility index gives values of 70.3 ± 0.16 and 88.11 ± 0.23 for fermentation times of 21h and 24h respectively. Results of this work indicated that cooked sweet potatoes ferment for 21h was a promising substrate for production of exopolysaccharides.