Wet cassava starch is produced by traditional cassava processors either as a direct product or as a by-product resulting from cassava processing into other products such as garri, fufu e.t.c. Post-harvest loss is high for cassava roots due to the inadequacy of the traditional processing method and inability to convert cassava into less perishable products. To reverse this trend, there is a need to mechanize cassava processing. There is the process technology for production of cassava starch useful for various applications in the user industries. In Nigeria, mechanized cassava processing is still on the developmental stage and the potential is very high.

     There is high demand for cassava starch in Nigeria. It is widely used in industries such as: textile, pharmaceuticals, oil drilling, paper and packaging, gum and adhesives, chemical and household products manufacturing, battery, drinks and beverages, foods and so on.  The desire to conserve foreign exchange and reduce import dependency is the driving force for demand for cassava starch especially as regards its partial substitution for corn starch in user industries.  The demand for cassava starch in Nigeria is in excess of 350,000 tons per annum. The current domestic production capacity to meet the estimated demand for cassava starch is less than 20 per cent. 

      The basic unit operations in cassava starch processing equipment from fresh cassava roots are:

Sorting and Weighing:

 The tubers are sorted to select the wholesome roots for production. The tubers are then weighed.

Washing: Cassava root is washed with sufficient quantity of potable water to remove sand, dirt and other contaminants.

Grating: The root is grated to cassava mash.

Extracting: Cassava mash Will be separated into cassava starch milk and fibers.

Purifying: Cassava starch milk will be purified and concentrated by hydrocycone.

Dewatering: The moisture content of the starch is reduced mechanically to about 38% to prepare for drying operation.

Drying: Using national product - air steam flash dryer to dry wet cassava starch. The content of water is about 12%, and can be packed immediately.

Sieving and Packaging: The flour is sieved and packaged appropriately.

So if you want to know more about cassava starch processing equipment. Welcome to AD Agricultural Products Equipment Co.,Ltd.