Proximate Analyses of Watermelon and Pineapple Wastes as Substrates for Single-Cell Protein Production

The conversion of fruit wastes into single-cell protein is an alternative solution to the worldwide protein deficiency and environmental pollution concerns. In this study, we assessed the proximate analyses of pineapple and watermelon peels as potential substrates for single-cell protein production. Using the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) methods, fruit wastes were collected, dried, and pulverized before analyses for their proximate composition. The components assessed include moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, total ash, and carbohydrate. The results obtained revealed that pineapple and watermelon peels respectively had 2.27 ± 0.00% and 5.15 ± 0.01% of crude protein, 1.05 ± 0.04% and 0.78 ± 0.05% of fibre, 8.32 ± 0.06% and 5.42 ± 0.03% of fat, 27.80 ± 0.05% and 30.24 ± 0.02% of ash, and 56.38 ± 0.01% and 54.75% ± 0.05% of carbohydrate. This result shows that fruit wastes can serve as a good substrate for the cultivation of single-cell protein.