Pilot testing of the processing technologies for arrowroot

Malinis et. al. (BU) in cooperation with the provincial office of the Department of Agriculture(DA) and KOLBI a private manufacturer, pilot tested the mechanized system of processing arrowroot in a pilot plant established at Rejano's Bakery in Brgy. Banahaw, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque [Philippines]. The study was conducted from 2004 to 2006. Findings of the study revealed the following: Pilot testing of machines. The mechanical washer for arrowroot showed an average washing capacity of 200-300 kg/hour with washing efficiency of 97.4%. The machine washed arrowroots through its rotating drum with attached brush assembly. The machine used a 1-hp electric motor. The multicrop crusher-juice extractor-mill showed an average extracting capacity of 50-60 kg/hour for whole and chopped rhizomes and 80 kg/hour for granulated rhizomes. The overall extraction efficiency was 86.9%. The juice extraction rate was 300 ml/minute with juice recovery of 51.4%. The machine used a 1.5-hp electric motor. The granulator was used to increase the capacity of extruding and eventually increase the starch recovery from 12% to 18%. The machine had a capacity of 200 kg/hour and operated by a 1-hp electric motor. The centrifuge removed the excess water from the settled starch. Reducing the water content decreased the drying time by 4 hours. The machine accommodated 12 kg per 12 minutes of centrifugation. It had a 14-inch diameter basket made of cloth. A 1.5-hp electric motor operated the machine. The multicrop tray batch dryer accommodated 250 kg/batch of starch. Drying took 4-6 hours at 55 deg - 65 deg C. It was an LPG-fueled dryer convertible to rice hull-fired burner. The overall system had an overall capacity of 1,000 kg of fresh arrowroot for processing daily. Only 2-3 persons were required to operate the machine. During the test, minor problems were observed in the washer, specifically on the clearance of the brush to the cylinder and the brush length. Also, the high silica content of arrowroot cause minor abrasions in the extruder. It was recommended that the grater metal be change into stainless. For the washer, the problems were addressed by improving the clearance and increasing the brush length. The casing of extruder was simplified and made detachable for ease of changing. Economics of the piloted system. Computed costs indicated that the manual process amounted to P33.00/kg excluding drying which was done intermittently. Under the piloted system, cost of operation was computed at P2/kg from washing to water removal through centrifuge and a drying cost of P1.50/kg of fresh tuber. The operational cost amounted to P7 at the buying price of P3.50/kg of fresh arrowroot tubers. Simple economic analysis resulted in ROI of 41.53% with 960 hours/year of annual use. Added value per kg of processed arrowroot was at P2.20/kg. Economics of production at various handling options showed that a hectare planted to arrowroot with estimated harvest of 20,000 kg could generate an estimated income of P70,000 if sold fresh at P3.50/kg. Manual processing with 10% flour recovery at P60.00/kg could generate an amount of P120,000. In the mechanical process, if 120t will be processed in 6 months; added value that could be generated would be P240,000 aside from the P1.2M direct sales. results showed the mechanic viability of mechanizing the system of arrowroot processing, more so, if minor improvements in the machine will be addressed.