Cassava cell wall disruption methods: A review

Abstract

Cyanogenic compounds such as linamarin, lotaustralin and linustatin are found in roots of cassava (Manihot Esculenta, Crantz). Those compounds are located in cell vacuoles while their hydrolytic enzyme, the linamarase is present in cell wall. Once the cell wall is disrupted, the cyanogenic compounds are hydrolyzed by the linamarase, producing glucose, acetone and hydrocyanic acid under favorable conditions.  The main condition for cyanide production and elimination is the disruption of cassava cell wall, to promote the contact of cyanogenic glycosides and the linamarase. The cell wall disruption can be obtained by mechanical methods that are: shear grating, grating by pounding and grating by impacting. Cell wall disruption can also be done by solid-state fermentation or submerged fermentation that are chemical methods. It can finally be done by the combination of mechanical method for cassava division, followed by fermentation in hot water.