Assessing the Potentials of Some Agro-Waste Peels Through Proximate Analysis

Abstract

The economic potentials of some agro-waste peels were evaluated using proximate analysis. The substratesinvestigated were pineapple peels, banana peels, plantain peels, cassava peels, yam peels and potato peels. Their bioethanol productionpotentials were evaluated using their % carbohydrate content while their animal feedproductionpotentials were evaluated using their total energy content on a dry weight bases. On comparative assessment, it was deduced that potato peels had the highest bioethanol production potential (84.64% carbohydrate content) while pineapple peels had the least (54.89% carbohydrate content). It was also deduced that potato peels had the highest animal feed production potential (383.04 Kcal/100g) while cassava peels had the least (356.84 Kcal/100g). Minerals were also found to be highest in plantain peels (11.41% ash) and cassava peels (9.85% ash). This research revealedthat all the considered substrates were good sources of carbohydrates and energy when completely dried, although in varying degree.