Techno-Economic Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Cassava Processing for Industrial Starch and Ethanol Production in South East Nigeria

Cassava is Nigeria's most widely cultivated crop and the basis of extensive subsistence food systems across South East Nigeria, yet its industrial processing potential for starch and bioethanol production remains substantially underexploited relative to Brazil, Thailand, and other major producing nations. Realising this potential requires rigorous techno-economic and environmental sustainability analysis to guide investment decisions and policy frameworks. This thesis presents a comprehensive techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment of cassava processing for industrial starch and bioethanol production in South East Nigeria, using Abia and Anambra states as primary study contexts. The research integrates process simulation using SuperPro Designer software, capital and operating cost estimation, sensitivity analysis under Nigerian economic scenarios, and a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment following International Organisation for Standardisation 14040 and 14044 methodology. Primary data were collected from twelve existing cassava processing enterprises across the two states, complemented by engineering cost databases adapted to Nigerian construction and labour cost structures. Results showed that industrial starch production achieves economic viability at a minimum plant capacity of 80 tonnes of fresh cassava roots per day, with payback period of 4.8 years under baseline assumptions. Bioethanol co-production significantly improves the internal rate of return from 14 to 23 percent. Life cycle assessment revealed that wastewater treatment from cassava processing contributes 42 percent of the total environmental burden, identifying it as the priority improvement target. The study provides an investment-grade analytical framework for cassava industrial processing development in South East Nigeria. Keywords: cassava, techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, industrial starch, bioethanol.