Effect of filtrating medium resistance on cassava pulp dewatering

Open Access JournalCassava pulp dewatering by applying pressure on the grated pulp was carried out. Pulp particles were constrained while the liquid was free. The cassava pulp cake was compressed. Experimental equipment was designed to obtain the applied pressure from various devices and the final moisture content of resulting cake was compared. Hydraulic jack press reduced the moisture content of cake to the acceptable level for gari production at a pressure of 69000 N/m2 and to a moisture content of 40%- 45%wet basis, Pulp particles capable of creating resistances within the filtering medium were identified

Evaluation of cassava mash dewatering methods

Open Access JournalUsing different cassava maturity age of 9, 12 and 15 months, evaluation study was carried out on cassava mash dewatering methods. Dewatering tanks with square and cylindrical shapes were made with steel for the experiment. Pressure devices from screw bolts, hydraulic jack press and rope / stick methods were used to squeezed cassava juice from the mash in the tanks. TMS 4(2) 1425 variety of cassava was used. Cylindrical tank containing a 12 months old sample with hydraulic jack gave mash cake with moisture content of the sample at 44% wet basis in the shortest time

Instrumented rig for cassava harvesting data acquisition

In the design of a viable and appropriate cassava tuber harvester, the lifting coefficient of cassava tuber was determined to be a function of lifting force, lifting time, speed of lifting, weight of the tuber and soil surrounding the tuber.  This paper described the design, construction and operation of an instrumented rig which allows the simulation of cassava tuber harvesting in the field.  The rig consisted of the gantry, chain block, chains, hook/fisher, variable speed electric motor, 5 kN load cell and DI-1000U data logger.  The developed rig was tested in a matured cassava field located at the experimental farm of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Ilorin, Nigeria in 2012.  The rig effectively uprooted cassava tuber in the field in about 10 seconds and gave the maximum force of 678 N at soil moisture content of 11.96% db and uprooting speed of 8 mm/s.  The developed rig should be utilized to generate force required to harvest cassava tubers at various soil moisture content and speed of uprooting at various soil types.  The data generated could be utilized as base line data for the development of viable hand held and tractor drawn cassava harvester

Determination of juice removal difficulty from mash cake in cassava mash dewatering operation

Open Access JournalCassava processing equipment operators have limited knowledge; this militates against the success recorded in the research so far in cassava mash dewatering. New dewatering schemes to make food processing economical to handle are in progress. Common dewatering processes use a variety of mechanical means such as screw presses and belt presses. Experiments were conducted using three samples of TMS 4(2) 1425 variety while evaluating the difficulty of separating juice from mash cake. Average specific cake resistance (α) of 5×1011 m/kg was obtained confirming that it is moderately easy to dewatering

Preventing occupational ailments and disorders associated with cassava mash dewatering techniques

Open Access JournalMethods in use to reduce the cyanide level in cassava were found to be dangerous to the processors. To reduce occupational hazards, cassava processors sometimes wear protective coverings such as hand gloves, overall, mouth/nose hood, eye goggles which are not comfortable. Each of the steps in cassava processing stages exposes workers to various occupationally related ailments and disorders of ergonomic origin. The operators of dewatering tools are at the risks of suffering from different ailments.The traditional processors still depend on the old technique and resources. Workers are often exposed to cyanide and many are scared of the toxic effect of cassava juice. To prevent the occupational related ailment, mash process handling machine was developed and evaluated. The obtained result by use of the machine confirms the operators’ protection. The obtained mash cake was found to meet the stake holders’ requirement of 47-50% moisture content wet bases without human contact

Engineering research to improve cassava processing technology

Cassava is an important food crop, and equipment development for processing it in the developing world requires more research as industrial processing of cassava is still limited. Research efforts made by local engineers need scientific improvement to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aimed at poverty reduction over a stipulated period of time with globally defined measurable indicators of progress. The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), the Report of the Commission for Africa (popularly referred to as the Tony Blair Report), and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) are targeted at re-positioning Africa in the world economy. The need for rapid cassava processing equipment and new equipment development to significantly improve stages involved in its production process is highlighted in this paper

Strength and elastic properties of cassava tuber

In this study, some engineering properties of cassava tuber samples were determined experimentally under five moisture content levels of 70 %, 65 %, 60%, 55 %, and 50 %wet basis. The properties measured were tensile strength, compressive strength and elasticity. Three experimental tools were designed and fabricated using spring balance, hose-clips, and 12Volts motor with reels and rope for the investigations. The IITA improved cassava variety TMS 4(2) 1425 was used in the experiments. Results of the tests indicated that all the properties measured were influenced by the moisture contents of the tuber

Cassava mash dewatering parameters

A study was conducted to evaluate the parameters affecting the dewatering of cassava mash during processing. First, studies on the pressure distribution within the mash during the dewatering were carried out. Experimental equipment consisting of tyre tube filled with water, a copper tube, and a pressure gauge was designed and fabricated to measure pressure used in expressing the juice contained in the grated cassava mash. It also included a cylindrical dewatering tank made of galvanized steel plate and a sack which was used as control. The tank had 7mm holes drilled at the base to allow the flow of juice. The volume of juice was measured using a measuring cylinder and the stopwatch measured the time. IITA TMS 4(2) 1425 variety of cassava at three levels of maturity age of 9, 12 and 15 months was utilized in the study. The dewatering pressure is from hydraulic jack used to press the grated mash. The dewatering parameters investigated were pressure drop, face area of the filter medium and mash resistance. The results showed that mash resistance varied with the age of the cassava with the highest value of 54,000,000,000 mkg recorded. Medium Resistance also varied with the age, 33,000,000,000m was the highest value recorded for 15 months old sample. 0.00371m3 volume of filtrate was obtained from the 12 months old sample with 0.0945 kg mash cake deposit on the filtering medium as the highest deposit. The Kozemy constant value for TMS 4(2) 1425 variety of cassava was found to be 11400000 and Porosity 0.0181, the result presents the distribution and values of identified parameters numerically for equipment designers use

Effect of speed and back pressure on the performance of screw press in dewatering of cassava mash

A cassava mash process handling machine was developed and tested. Studies were conducted on the effect of screw speed at 20rpm to 100rpm at 20rpm interval. Back pressure was induced by the use of spring of 100N, 200N and 300N. Using a TMS 4(2)1425 variety of cassava, the performance of the screw press unit of the machine was evaluated. The operating parameter of the machine at 40-50 rpm produce a mash with an average moisture content of 52% moisture content wet basis. With the back pressure set at 200N as the machine standard