Cassava
effluent, is a pale yellow turbid liquid with an earthly but inoffensive odour.
It contains large floating or suspended solids and very small solids in
colloidal suspension (Oboh, 2006). The cassava effluent may contain oil and
grease from the lubricated parts of the grinding machine, in addition to its
normal composition of carbohydrates and organic solids. Its processing is
generally considered to contribute significantly to environmental pollution and
aesthetic nuisance. Cassava wastewater contains carbohydrates (Claude &
Denis, 2010); a compound which encourages the growth of bacteria that feeds on
it.
effluent, is a pale yellow turbid liquid with an earthly but inoffensive odour.
It contains large floating or suspended solids and very small solids in
colloidal suspension (Oboh, 2006). The cassava effluent may contain oil and
grease from the lubricated parts of the grinding machine, in addition to its
normal composition of carbohydrates and organic solids. Its processing is
generally considered to contribute significantly to environmental pollution and
aesthetic nuisance. Cassava wastewater contains carbohydrates (Claude &
Denis, 2010); a compound which encourages the growth of bacteria that feeds on
it.
Impact of Cassava Effluent
The impacts of cassava effluent according to Al-Turki (2010) are dimensional on the
three different environmental media. These impacts include:
three different environmental media. These impacts include:
Land Pollution
The indiscriminate discharge of cassava can lead to
the pollution of soil. Cassava effluent discharged into the land and the
subsequent washing down of the pollutants to successive horizons. These
effluents discharged into the land contain many toxic chemicals, mineral acids,
bases, etc. Which over the period of time get deposited into the soil due to
their retention or their absorption in the soil particles. This may encourage
growth of fungal and bacterial colony in the soil. Also some of the deposited
chemicals may be taken up by the plants/crops growing in such contaminated
soil.
the pollution of soil. Cassava effluent discharged into the land and the
subsequent washing down of the pollutants to successive horizons. These
effluents discharged into the land contain many toxic chemicals, mineral acids,
bases, etc. Which over the period of time get deposited into the soil due to
their retention or their absorption in the soil particles. This may encourage
growth of fungal and bacterial colony in the soil. Also some of the deposited
chemicals may be taken up by the plants/crops growing in such contaminated
soil.
Water Pollution
When cassava effluent enters lakes, streams, rivers,
oceans and other water bodies, they get dissolved or suspended in water whereby
the quality of the water deteriorates affecting aquatic ecosystem. This
pollutant can also seep down and affect the ground water deposits.
oceans and other water bodies, they get dissolved or suspended in water whereby
the quality of the water deteriorates affecting aquatic ecosystem. This
pollutant can also seep down and affect the ground water deposits.
Air Pollution
The evaporation of cassava effluents back into the
atmosphere completing the hydrological cycle can also lead to contamination and
eventually rainfall.
atmosphere completing the hydrological cycle can also lead to contamination and
eventually rainfall.
All the above impacts of
cassava effluent are hazardous to human health, animal lives, plant lives and
the economy shows that proper waste management and control is ultimately needed
with the on-going global concern for sustainable development.
cassava effluent are hazardous to human health, animal lives, plant lives and
the economy shows that proper waste management and control is ultimately needed
with the on-going global concern for sustainable development.
Management of Cassava
Effluent
Effluent
Effective cassava effluent management is a process of
removing all contaminants from runoff (effluent) to make sure it is rendered
harmless. Its objectives is to produce an environmentally safe fluid waste
stream (or treated effluent) suitable for disposal or reuse.
removing all contaminants from runoff (effluent) to make sure it is rendered
harmless. Its objectives is to produce an environmentally safe fluid waste
stream (or treated effluent) suitable for disposal or reuse.
Public sewers are convenient for disposal of cassava.
If they are nearby quantity, strength and character of waste needed to be
considered and authorities consulted for discharged to sewers. If approval is
granted and the cassava effluent meets the criteria set then sewer disposal
would be an obvious choice (i.e. after treatment) in other to achieve
this, Cumbana (2007) suggested that the 4RTD (Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle, Recovery, Treatment and Disposal).
If they are nearby quantity, strength and character of waste needed to be
considered and authorities consulted for discharged to sewers. If approval is
granted and the cassava effluent meets the criteria set then sewer disposal
would be an obvious choice (i.e. after treatment) in other to achieve
this, Cumbana (2007) suggested that the 4RTD (Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle, Recovery, Treatment and Disposal).
Reduce
This is the reduction of cassava effluent at source,
meaning that less waste generation through the use of more efficient practice
to ensure that the cassava effluent released is reduced to its minimal level
through the use of equipment or technology modification process or procedure
modification, redesign of products, substitution/elimination of materials,
improvement in housekeeping, maintenance, training, inventory control, etc.,
can greatly help to reduce waste at source. This is the best preferred
management method.
meaning that less waste generation through the use of more efficient practice
to ensure that the cassava effluent released is reduced to its minimal level
through the use of equipment or technology modification process or procedure
modification, redesign of products, substitution/elimination of materials,
improvement in housekeeping, maintenance, training, inventory control, etc.,
can greatly help to reduce waste at source. This is the best preferred
management method.
Reuse.
This is the use of materials or products in their
original form or a different purpose.
original form or a different purpose.
Recycling
This is the conversion of cassava effluent into
useable materials after some forms of processing. e.g. recycled cassava
effluent as drinking water. This turns waste materials from waste to wealth.
useable materials after some forms of processing. e.g. recycled cassava
effluent as drinking water. This turns waste materials from waste to wealth.
Recovery
This is the recovery of materials or extraction of
energy from cassava effluent.
energy from cassava effluent.
Treatment
Cassava effluent should be treated to ensure that its
toxicity has been reduced to a level where it is no longer harmful to man and
the environment before it is released into the environment.
toxicity has been reduced to a level where it is no longer harmful to man and
the environment before it is released into the environment.
Disposal
This is the last preferred option of the management of
cassava efluent. This option involves eventual disposal of cassava effluent
after all other options have been explored. In contending with this option
however, an engineered land fill is usually required for this option.
cassava efluent. This option involves eventual disposal of cassava effluent
after all other options have been explored. In contending with this option
however, an engineered land fill is usually required for this option.
References
Oboh, G. (2006).
Nutrient enrichment of cassava peels using a mixed culture of saccharomyces cerevisae
and Lactobacillus spp. Solid media fermentation. Electr. J. Biotechnol. 9(1):46-49.
Nutrient enrichment of cassava peels using a mixed culture of saccharomyces cerevisae
and Lactobacillus spp. Solid media fermentation. Electr. J. Biotechnol. 9(1):46-49.
Claude, F. &
Denis, F. (2010). African Cassava Mosaic Virus: Etiology. Epidemiol. Control
Plant Dis. 64(6):404-411.
Denis, F. (2010). African Cassava Mosaic Virus: Etiology. Epidemiol. Control
Plant Dis. 64(6):404-411.
Al-Turki, A. (2010).
Assessment of effluent quality of tertiary wastewater treatment plant at
buraidah city and its reuse in irrigation. J. Applied Sci., 10: 1723-1731.
Assessment of effluent quality of tertiary wastewater treatment plant at
buraidah city and its reuse in irrigation. J. Applied Sci., 10: 1723-1731.
Cumbana, A.E.(2007).
Reduction of cyanide content of cassava flour in Mozambique by wetting method.
Food Chemistry, 101: 894-897l.
Reduction of cyanide content of cassava flour in Mozambique by wetting method.
Food Chemistry, 101: 894-897l.