Cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple crop of high socioeconomic relevance, and its industrial processing generates large volumes of by-products with potential for valorization. In this study, cassava cultivated in southern Brazil (Palmital, Paraná) was processed, and the derivatives: starch, fiber, and cassava wastewater (manipueira) were systematically separated and characterized to assess their complementary potential for sustainable material development. The starch showed a type A semi-crystalline structure (XRD) with granules averaging 10.8 μm, low acidity (1.58%), and low ash content (0.13%). Thermogravimetric analysis indicated near-complete decomposition below 380 °C, supporting its use as a clean organic fuel, polymeric matrix, and precursor for biodegradable films. XPS revealed high surface oxygen content (40%), indicating suitability for combustion synthesis. The fibers exhibited a lignocellulosic composition with a rough, fibrillar morphology (SEM), higher mineral content, moderate acidity (2.30%), and multistage thermal degradation, suggesting greater thermal stability and potential applications in activated carbon, composites, and catalytic supports. The manipueira was an amorphous aqueous derivative (99.7% moisture), rich in organic and inorganic compounds, with near-neutral pH (6.54) and major thermal decomposition at 605 °C with 66% mass loss, indicating its potential as a liquid precursor, dispersing medium, or reducing agent in combustion-assisted and sol–gel routes. Overall, the derivatives displayed distinct yet complementary properties, enabling the full valorization of cassava biomass and its processing streams, minimizing waste generation, supporting the development of functional materials through sustainable, low-impact pathways, and reinforcing cassava as a strategic feedstock for circular agro-industrial systems.
Balaba et al. (Fri,) studied this question.