| Author | Sodhi, Navdeep Singh |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. AE-97-17 |
| Subject(s) | Cassava
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The starch content of two cassava varieties, i.e. R-5 and KU-50 was monitored during
storage by five testing techniques namely specific gravity, dry matter, puncture testing, shear
testing and compression testing (both axial and radial). Specific gravity was found by platform
scale method and dry matter was found by drying. The shear testing was done by using shear
set up available with Instron machine. For axial and radial compression testing, cylindrical
samples 30 mm in length and 15 ·mm in diameter were used. Puncture testing was done with
four punctures, different in size and shape, for unpeeled and peeled samples with Instron
machine and an indigenously developed firmness tester.
Estimation of cassava starch content based on the specific gravity gave correlation
coefficients of 0.8377 and 0.8584 for R-5 and KU-50 varieties, respectively. While the method
based on dry matter content resulted in correlation coefficients of 0.8214 and 0.8805 for R-5
and KU-50 varieties, respectively.
The results with Instron testing machine showed a good relationship between firmness
of cassava with starch content. In case of axial testing, the correlation coefficient was 0.9485
and 0.9457 for R-5 and 0.9072 and 0.9067 for KU-50 at 12 and 15 percent compression,
respectively. For radial testing the correlation coefficient was 0.9386 and 0.9047 for R-5 and
0.8977 and 0.9479 for KU-50 at 6 and 9 percent compression, respectively. By shear testing
the correlation coefficients were 0.9159 and 0.9037 for R-5 and KU-50, respectively.
A simple firmness tester, inexpensive and easy to use, was fabricated during the course
of study. Best results were obtained with small size flat shape puncture for peeled samples for
both the varieties. The correlation coefficients were found to be 0.9312 and 0.9342 with
sensitivity of 47.16% and 51.30% for R-5 and KU-50 varieties, respectively. For puncture
testing by Instron machine, the small spherical puncture for peeled samples gave best results.
The puncture testing technique was found to be most sensitive among all testing techniques.
Considering simplicity, accuracy and sensitivity, the firmness testing has been found to
be acceptable and could be commercialized. |
| Year | 1997 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Jindal, Vinod Kumar; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Athapol Noomhorm ;Vincent, Jean-Claude; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | DANIDA; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1997 |