Introduction

Cocoa beans constitute only 10% of the fresh weight of the cocoa fruit. On the other
hand, the 90% by weight (mainly cacao pod husk) is discarded as cocoa waste. This by-product
is underexploited and is considered an undesirable waste of the cocoa/chocolate industry.
Usually, they are left to rot which can cause environmental problems (Vriesmann, Amboni, &
Petkowicz, 2011). Each ton of dry beans produced generates approximately 10 tons of cacao pod
husks. The production of dried cacao beans per year is estimated to be 4,876 MT in the
Philippines. Thus, 48,760 MT of cacao pod husks are generated annually in the Philippines
alone. Among the places in the country, around 3,850 MT of cacao beans is generated in Davao
region (PSA, 2013) Cacao pod husks (Theobroma cacao L.) have been investigated as a new
source of pectins. Pectins have been isolated from cacao pod husks by aqueous and acid
extractions (Vriesmann, Amboni, & Petkowicz, 2011; Vriesmann, Teofilo, & Petkowicz, 2011)
Pectins extracted from several byproducts are widely used as gelling, thickening, and
stabilizing agents and have positive effects on human health, including lowering cholesterol and
glucose levels, reducing cancer and stimulating the immune response (Mohnen, 2008).
Commercial pectins normally come from citrus peels and apple pomace ( ). The increasing
demand for pectins with different properties indicates the need to find alternative pectin sources,
and cacao pod husks are a potential, economical candidate. The worldwide production of pectin
is around 42,000 MT ( ).
Phenol
Cocoa
Pectin
Polyphenol
Animal feed

Abiola, S.S. and Tewe, O.O. 1991. Chemical evaluation of cocoa by-products. Tropical Agriculture
(Trinidad)
, 68:335336.

Design Requirements
This design project shall develop a cost-efficient, energy-efficient and environmentally
friendly for the high yield production of pectin, phenolic compound and animal feed. The design
targets to exploit all feedstock materials and achieve zero waste. The plant will process
approximately 38,500 MT of cacao pod husk obtained from Davao region. The pectin must meet
the specification according to ______. Also, the polyphenol to be produced must meet the
_______. For the animal feed, despite the theobromine content

Polyphenol Recovery
Ion Exchange

Features
[+]Advantages/[-]Disadvantages
-basis of separation is the [ ] Low running cost
electrostatic attraction between [ ] Little energy

the solute and dense clusters of Total:

Adsorption

charged groups
-surface phenomenon generally [ ]
described as an enrichment of Total:
compounds from fluids on the

Evaporation

surface of solid particles

-vapor from a boiling liquid [ ] Highest purity due to low
solution is removed and a more pressure
concentrated solution remains

[]
Total:

Process
Wet Milling

Features
[+]Advantages/[-]Disadvantages
- Water is used in wet [ ]
grinding to aid in size Total:

Dry Milling

reduction
- Process where particle size [ ]
of substances is reduced Total:
without liquid