Process optimization for aqueous extraction of reducing sugar from cashew apple bagasse: A potential, low cost substrate

The present investigation deals with optimization of aqueous extraction of reducing sugar from cashew apple bagaase, a potential low cost substrate. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based Box Behnken Design (BBD) was employed to obtain the best possible combination of liquid: solid, pH, extraction time and extraction temperature for maximum reducing sugar extraction. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows: liquid: solid 3.26 (mL/g), pH 6.42, extraction time 6.30 h and temperature 52.27 °C. Under these conditions, the experimental yield was 56.89 (g/100 g dry substrate), which was well matched with the predictive yield 57.64 (g/100 g dry substrate). Further analysis of sugar was done by HPLC which revealed glucose (34.28 g/100 g dry substrate), fructose (18.57 g/100 g dry substrate) and arabinose (3.42 g/100 g dry substrate).