Why Cassava Starch is Dehydrated by a Peeler Centrifuge and Potato Starch by a Vacuum Filter?

In the industrial production of starch, dehydration is critical for determining product quality, shelf life, and economic efficiency. A curious divergence in this process is the preferred use of a peeler centrifuge for cassava starch and a vacuum filter for potato starch. Why?

vacuum filter and peeler centrifuge

The Core Difference: Different Granule Sizes Between Cassava and Potato Starch

The primary factor dictating the choice of dehydrating equipment is the significant disparity in starch granule size.

Potato Starch Granules are generally large, with a diameter ranging from 15 to 100 micrometers. They are among the largest starch granules found in common commercial sources. Their substantial size makes them relatively robust and easy to handle.

Cassava Starch Granules are considerably smaller, typically measuring between 5 and 25 micrometers in diameter. Their smaller size gives them different physical behaviors during processing.

This difference in size directly influences how the starch slurry behaves during dewatering, leading to the selection of the most suitable technology for each.

The Gentle Separation for Delicate Granules: Peeler Centrifuge for Cassava Starch

The peeler centrifuge is a batch-operated starch machine that uses high centrifugal force to separate solids from liquids. Its name comes from the peeler knife that automatically unloads the dewatered starch cake after the cycle.

peeler centrifuge for cassava starch

This method is ideal for cassava starch for several reasons:

1. High Mechanical Force for Small Particles: The tiny size of cassava starch granules means they have a high specific surface area, which binds water more tightly. Achieving effective dewatering requires a powerful external force to overcome this. The intense G-force generated by the peeler centrifuge efficiently drives the water out of the compact bed of small granules.

2. Controlled Process and Gentle Discharge: Although the spinning force is high, the discharge mechanism is crucial. The peeler centrifuge carefully scrapes the hard, dewatered cake from the basket wall in a controlled manner. For the smaller, more cohesive cassava starch granules, this method minimizes dusting and granule breakage compared to other centrifugal methods, preserving the starch's quality.

3. Excellent Dewatering Efficiency: The cassava starch peeler centrifuge can achieve a very low final moisture content in a short time, which is essential for the subsequent drying stage and for preventing microbial spoilage.

In essence, the peeler centrifuge provides the necessary "muscle" to effectively dewater the stubborn, small cassava granules while offering a discharge method that protects their physical integrity.

The Efficient Filtration for Large Granules: Vacuum Filter for Potato Starch

A vacuum filter is a continuous operation machine. It consists of a rotating drum covered with a filter cloth, which is under a vacuum. The drum rotates through the starch slurry, and the vacuum sucks the water through the cloth, leaving a layer of moist starch cake on the surface, which is then scraped off.

vacuum filter for potato starch

This process is perfectly suited to potato starch because:

1. Natural Filtration Aid from Large Granules: The large, uniform size of potato starch granules allows them to form a porous and permeable cake on the filter cloth. Water passes through this layer easily, while the granules are too large to pass through the filter cloth pores. This creates a natural and highly efficient filtration process.

2. Continuous Operation and High Capacity: Potato starch processing often occurs on a massive scale. The vacuum filter operates continuously, allowing for high throughput with consistent results, which aligns perfectly with the high-volume production of potato starch.

3. Gentle on Robust Granules: The process of cake formation and removal by a scraper blade is very gentle. Given the larger and more resilient nature of potato starch granules, this method does not cause significant damage or abrasion. The mechanical stress is far lower than that inside a centrifuge, which is unnecessary and potentially more damaging for these larger particles.

Now do you know the difference between peeler centrifuge and vacuum filter? No matter you wanna process cassava starch or potato starch, chat with us! We, Henan Jinrui, provide flexible solutions with capacities ranging from 20 to 40 tph, tailored to meet your specific requirements!