TITLE:
The Potential Use of Cassava Peel for Treatment of Mine Water in Mozambique
AUTHORS:
Estêvão A. Pondja Jr., Kenneth M. Persson, Nelson P. Matsinhe
KEYWORDS:
Cassava Peel, Bioremediation, Adsorption, Filtration, Mine Water
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.8 No.3,
March
16,
2017
ABSTRACT: In the
last decade, Mozambique became one of the top coal producers in Africa. The
coal mines are in Moatize district in the center of the country, inside the
lower Zambezi river basin. Pollution due to mining activities has negative impacts in agriculture, fishing, water supply, and
presents risks to public health. Mozambique is one of the largest
cassava producers in the world. More than 1.5 million tons of cassava peel are
generated in the country and this agro-waste is discarded. The aim of this
study is to discuss the possibility of using cassava peel to treat mine water.
Cassava peel can be used as carbon sources for sulfate reducing bacteria in
bioremediation, as an adsorbent and as a filter medium. An integrated method is proposed for treatment of mine water in
Moatize. It was suggested that applying cassava peel generated in
developing countries for treatment of mine water could be a good solution to
protect the environment against mining pollution.