SEQUENTIAL PEROXIDE-OXIDATION AND ADSORPTION TREATMENT OF CASSAVA PROCESSING WASTEWATER: PROSPECTS AND LIMITATIONS IN AUGMENTATION OF WATER BUDGETING PRACTICES

Cassava processing is an industry common to most West African countries as well as in other tropical countries of the world. The processing of cassava is known for its high consumption of water resources. This study therefore investigates the potential for cassava processing water conservation using combined peroxide-oxidation and adsorption recycling processing technology. A Sequential Peroxide-Oxidation and Adsorption treatment process was established by producing cassava peel carbon and activated carbon from waste cassava peels. This was used in the adsorption of pollutant parameters in oxidized cassava processing wastewater. The study further went on to estimate the volume of water that could be conserved in Nigeria through the employment of the Sequential Peroxide-Oxidation and Adsorption treatment process with the aid of a 3-scenario water-based estimation techniques. The research revealed that the estimated volume of water employed in processing cassava through fermentation process is about 1,525 l/ton while that for non-fermentation process is about 960 l/ton. However, an estimated 104,951.36, 100,195.20 and 95,639.04 million litres of water could be conserved considering each of the three cassava process combination scenarios. The study concluded that if cassava industry could make use of the combined peroxide-oxidation and adsorption recycling processing technology described as in the experimental procedure, substantial volume of water resources could be conserved and recycled for other uses such as irrigation, as well as groundwater recharge thereby improving water budget. Omotosho, O. A. | Agricultural Engineering and Environmental Unit, Institute of Agricultural Research & Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria