Waste management in the Tapioca based starch industry

The tapioca based starch industry is addressed. Presented are the process details, water consumption and wastewater generation and characteristics, solid waste generation and low and non‐waste technologies of production. Bench scale treatability studies were conducted to reach the most viable treatment option for treatment of starch wastewater. A total of five treatment options with recourse to energy recovery were suggested. Efficient utilization of the treated effluent for fish culture has also been suggested. Cost benefit analysis has been worked out for the five alternatives. The treatment alternatives have been ranked based on the criteria of environmental, health and aesthetic risks, annualised cost, land requirements, reuse potential, resource recovery and process reliability and are presented in this investigation.