How to Reduce Water Usage in Your Cassava Processing Operation？

Water is essential for cassava washing, peeling, grating, and extraction. To reduce water usage in cassava processing operation mainly relies on four measures: implementing a closed-loop water system, optimizing the cleaning process, upgrading extraction and dewatering technology, treating and reusing wastewater. Next Henan Jinrui will introduce them to you one by one.

cassava processing factory

1. Implement a Closed-Loop Water System with Efficient Collection

The most effective strategy for reducing freshwater intake in cassava processing line is to collect, treat, and reuse process water. This creates a closed-loop system, minimizing waste.

Collection Principle: Generally, engineers provide detailed factory layout drawings which include strategically placed drainage channels and collection pits designed to capture used water from key stages like washing and rinsing. Instead of allowing water to flow away as waste, these channels guide it to a central collection tank or settling pit. This collected water can then be passed through a simple filtration or settling system to remove large solids like soil and starch particles.

Reuse and Recycle: water used in the final rinse can be collected and used for the first wash of the next batch of roots. This simple step can recover up to 70-80% of process water, dramatically cutting your freshwater needs and reducing effluent volume.

2. Optimize Cassava Cleaning and Washing Process

How you use water in cassava processing operation is just as important as how you reuse it.

Dry Cleaning First: Before introducing any water, use cassava dry sieve or air blowers to remove the bulk of soil and sand from the cassava roots. This significantly reduces the amount of water needed in the subsequent wet wash.

cassava dry sieve

Counter-Current Washing Systems: Implement a multi-stage washing system like paddle washer where the cleanest water is used in the final rinse. This rinse water is then collected and reused for the previous pre-rinse stage, and so on. Fresh water is only introduced at the final stage, maximizing its use.

3. Upgrade Cassava Starch Extraction and Dewatering Technology

The extraction process, crucial for cassava starch production, can be water-intensive.

Modern Efficient Extractors: Invest in modern centrifuge sieves or efficient extraction systems that maximize yield with minimal water addition. Older, less efficient methods often require excess water to flush out starch.

centrifuge sieve

Starch Recovery from Wastewater: The wastewater from extraction is rich in cassava starch. Using hydrocyclones or settling tanks to recover this starch not only increases your overall yield but also reduces the organic load of the wastewater, making it easier to treat and reuse.

4. Treat and Reuse Wastewater Effectively

For a truly sustainable cassava processing operation, investing in water treatment is key.

Basic Treatment: Simple sedimentation tanks allow cassava starch and fibrous particles to settle. The clarified water from the top can be reused in less critical processes.

Advanced Treatment: For larger operations, more advanced treatment like anaerobic digesters can treat organic wastewater. The resulting biogas can be used as energy to power the plant, and the treated effluent can be safely discharged or even reused for irrigation, closing the loop entirely.

Ready to design a water-efficient cassava processing plant? Contact us! Henan Jinrui's engineering team will offer you engineering drawings to help you build a closed-loop system. Coupling this with our efficient washing practices, modern technology, and wastewater treatment will transform your cassava processing operation into a model of high efficiency.