Design and Fabrication of a Digester and Separator for African Breadfruit

The processing of African breadfruit (Treculia africana) is traditionally labor-intensive, involving manual de-pulping and separation of seeds from the pulp. This inefficiency results in high processing time, increased labor costs, and reduced productivity. To address these challenges, this project focuses on the design and fabrication of an African breadfruit digester and separator aimed at improving processing efficiency. The machine integrates a digestion unit, which softens the breadfruit, and a separation mechanism, which efficiently extracts the seeds from the pulp. The design considerations include material selection, power requirements, and ease of operation, ensuring durability and food safety. The system is powered by either an electric motor or a manual crank, making it adaptable for both urban and rural applications. Fabrication involved mild steel and stainless-steel components, ensuring corrosion resistance and mechanical strength. Performance evaluation was conducted to assess throughput capacity, separation efficiency, and energy consumption, revealing significant improvements over manual processing methods. The results indicate that the machine effectively reduces processing time and labor while achieving a high separation efficiency. This project contributes to the mechanization of African breadfruit processing, promoting value addition and increasing the commercial viability of the crop. Future modifications may include automation and integration with drying and packaging units for a fully mechanized processing system.