Chapter One Yam
Chapter One Yam
Chapter One Yam
INTRODUCTION
The world is becoming more complex and more waste are generated everyday due to the
increasing population without making adequate preparation for means of proper disposal thereby
constituting nuisance to the environment liens the need to convert some of these waste (yam
peel) to useful product (ethanol). Yam are grown in limited areas of the tropics, particularly in
the humid parts of West Africa and the Caribbean. The plant requires good well drained soil and
ample and well distributed rainfall. They are labour intensive; require not only starting to support
their vines, all of this increase the stock production. They can produce as much as (90) tones, but
yam are highly prized food and current production fall short of demand, it is unlikely that they
will ever compete with yamfor fuel alcohol purpose, yam is a fermentable starch per hectare.
They require better soil and water, but have a wide range of latitude and attitude and being a
prostrate plant can withstand widely condition. Yam peel conking a high proportion of starch,
and it is possible to obtain relatively high yield of 40-50 tons per hectare without expensive
fertilizer or supplementary irrigation on soil. Soil unsuitable for growing more demanding crop.
Although production level under traditional farming system are around 10 tons per hectare
research, into improved varieties and cultural practices has shown that annual yields of 80-100
tons are theoretically possible. The plant is resistant to pest and can be store in the ground for
several months after maturity until it is needed, once harvested the storage life of the peel which
is not a storage organ or dormancy is limited, and in many countries it is processed for storage by
clipping or flaking and drying large amount of dried yams are exported to Europe from Thailand
and other countries as a source of carbohydrate for animal feed. These characteristics makes it an
excellent small holder crop and one of the most promising sources of starch for alcohol fuel.
Also, the foliage can be used for animal feed (and human food in some culture).
1. Are there clean ethanol (bio-ethanol) that do not have polluting effect on the environment
in Nigeria.
2. Ethanol produce from petroleum (fossil fuel) do have negative effect on the environment.
3. Are there sufficient yams of farmers to cultivate and supply yam for the production of
ethanol.
4. Most people are afraid that utilizing yam peels for the production of ethanol will lead to
food shortage since people also utilize yam as flour.
o PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of the study is to produce ethanol from yam peel (yam waste).
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
To deal with the production of ethanol from yam peel certain question where asked these
include;
The study will focus its attention on the use of yam peel (yam waste) to produce ethanol since
yam peels are easily obtained from all waste dumps in Benin from the dump since they are of no
use to the people that dump them there.
The limitation of this study were lack of sufficient time, unavailability of equipment and
financial constraints.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Yam: The large root of a tropical plant that is cook as food, it is meant to eat.