A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Energy, School of Environment, Resources and Development

In Thailand, the biorefinery concept gains more interest due to the availability of the biomass and possible several value added products. Considering the biorefinery concept to the cassava, the root is mainly used in starch and ethanol industry, while the cassava field residues, i.e. leaves, stems, and rhizomes, and the cassava mill waste, i.e. pulp, peel, wastewater, and stillage, are considered for the valorization process. The potential of cassava field residues and mill wastes in Thailand estimated to be around 14.9 million tons, 10.6 million tons for solid mill wastes, and 120 million m3 for liquid mill wastes respectively. The selected options of the valorization process of each waste and residues were analyzed on technical and financial analysis were carried out. A 16 tons per day leaves pellet production capacity is estimated to provide a return on investment at 15.31% with a payback period of 3.72 years. Pyrolysis plants with a capacity of 1,000 kg per hour of cassava rhizome and stem estimated to provide a return on the investment of 19.09, -2.48 % and a payback period at 3.58 and 12.88 years respectively. The butanol production from the cassava pulp hydrolysate was analyzed and found 15.90% of the return of investment and a payback period at 4.06 years.

Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2020