Application of Cocoa Mucilage (Theobroma Cacao) In the Treatment of Wastewater from the Production of Cassava Starch (Manihot Esculenta)

Abstract

The production of cassava starch is an artisan activity that is practiced in a non-technical way, in addition, the water used in the various processes is poured directly into the river. The objective of this work is to apply cocoa mucilage (Theobroma cacao) as a partial substitute for ferric chloride in the treatment of wastewater from the production of cassava starch (Manihot esculenta). After performing the jar test to determine the best cocoa mucilage concentrations, the respective substitutions were established. It was possible to analyze that the treatment with 10 mg L^-1 of cocoa mucilage and 30 mg L^-1 of FeCl₃ was effective in removing the pollutant load from the wastewater, so much so that in the case of TTS it was removed in a 92%, TS 83.04%, BOD₅ 97.21%, COD 93.17%, TKN concentration 92.39%, P 51.81% and cyanide group 90.91%. It was determined that the application of cocoa mucilage is an organic and environmentally sustainable alternative when purifying this type of wastewater.