A Review on the performance of some cassava peeling machines developed

Different operations are involved in the processing of cassava tubers for consumptive or industrial purposes. Most of the operations have been mechanized successfully except the peeling process, which still poses to be a major global challenge to engineers, henceforth, full attention is needed to develop a scientific solution to boost cassava production in the world market. The objective of this work presents some Strengths and limitations, performance evaluations, theoretical models, different functions, future areas of focus, and factors affecting some cassava peeling machines developed like the abrasive peelers, knife-edge peelers, stationary outer-drum peelers, etc. The peeling machines reviewed operated within 40-1500 rpm speed range, have 45-100% peeling efficiency, 2.7-2400 kg/hr throughput capacity, and 0-44% flesh losses. Several factors like the tuber physic mechanical and the machine properties affected the performance of the machines, of which some were the parameters of the theoretical models developed. Generally, increased machine speed increased the flesh losses and the throughput capacity, but the peeling efficiency increased in some machines and got decreased in others. The mechanical and the chemical methods combined in some of the works could not yield the desired result, it rather increased food losses. From the study, cassava peeling machine with a 100% peeling efficiency and 0% flesh losses, that is capable of giving the desired result has not been developed yet, hence, an artificial intelligence and biosensing technology should be considered in future developments. Keywords: Cassava Peeling Machine, Peeling efficiency, throughput capacity, flesh losses, and Cassava