CHAPTER ONE
1.1      INTRODUCTION
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is an extensively cultivated tuber crop and a staple food for millions of people in the tropical regions of Africa, Latin America and Asia. Globally, in terms of annual production, it is the fifth most important food crop after maize, rice, wheat and potato. Despite all the usefulness of cassava, its use as a food source is limited by its perishability, its low protein content and its potential toxicity. Cassava contains two cyanogenic glucosides, linamarin and a small amount of Lotaustralin, which are catalytically hydrolyzed to release toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN) when tine plant tissue is crushed. Several varieties of cassava have been identified and grouped into bitter and sweet depending on the quantity of Linamarin in the tuber. The consumption of cassava and its derived products which contain Large amounts of HCN may be responsible for such visible manifestations as goiter and cretinism, tropical ataxic neuropathy,(Bradbury, 2004).
In some countries such as cote d’ivoire, Benin and Nigeria, people have quickly recognized the need to transform cassava into derived products (fufu, Garri, Tapioca) whose gain is usually higher than the fresh roots. The processing methods used traditionally are sun drying, soaking and fermentation followed by cooking. These processing methods could lead to reduce the cyanide content in cassava products to improve its palatability and convert it into a storable form, Ernesto et al, (1998).
The aim of this study was to estimate the rate of cyanide in three cassava varieties and assess some cassava detoxification processes.       
1.2      AIM OF THE STUDY
The aim of the study is as follows:
i.            To estimate the rate of cyanide in three cassava varieties.
ii.           To assess some cassava detoxification processes.
1.3      STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.
Liberation of hydrogen HCN and cyanogenic glycosides (CNGs) usually occurs after mastication and ingestion and arises from enzymatic degradation of the Latter to produce HCN. Resulting in acute or chronic cyanide poisoning.
Problems associated with chronic exposure to food containing cyanogenic glycosides (CNGs) have been linked to several diseases primarily affecting the central nervous system. Tropical ataxic neuropathy (TAN) describes several neurological symptoms affecting the mouth. Goitre and cretinism attributed to iodine deficiency can be exacerbated by chronic consumption of inadequately processed cassava. Cyanogenic glycoside are converted to thiocyanate during the detoxification process, which reacts with iodine which is subsequently unavailable to the thyroid, increasing the dietary requirement for iondine these statement prompted the need for a project work on the determination of the amount of Hydrogen cyanide present in cassava which can cause/Lead to poisoning of the system.