Kanpur: Today, National Sugar Institute, Kanpur has organized this webinar on two very important topics relating to “Production of bio-gas or bio-CNG from filter cake” and “Production of potash rich fertilizer from the ash of incineration boilers in molasses distilleries”. Inaugurating the webinar Mr. Sudhanshu Pandey, Secretary (Food & Public Distribution), Government of India said that both the topics are important for obtaining value added products from the waste of sugar factories and distilleries. As on date the potential of producing such products which have assured market and may open a new stream of revenue for the sugar industry has not been adequately harnessed. He congratulated National Sugar Institute, Kanpur for taking the initiative for developing the technologies which may go a long way in improving the financial conditions of the sugar industry.
The by-products of the sugar industry are very important and their commercial exploitation through production of innovative products is the need of hour, said Mr. Subodh Singh, Joint Secretary (Sugar), Government of India. Industry, Institutes and related organizations have to work in cohesion for converting so called “waste to wealth or resource”.
Mr. Vivek Pittie, President, Indian Sugar Mills Association while lauding the efforts being made by the National Sugar Institute desired that Government of India may provide policy support for taking it forward.
Prof. Narendra Mohan, Director, National Sugar Institute, Kanpur while presenting an overview of the technology of production of bio-gas or bio-CNG from filter cake informed that institute has already conducted successful trials at the Experimental Sugar Factory. We produce about 9-10 million tonnes of filter cake every year which may yield about 0.35-0.40 million tonnes of bio-CNG, he added. Likewise, the ash of the incineration boilers in molasses distillery can be converted into potash rich fertilizer which is in great need and is imported to a larger extent. For about 46 billion litres of spent wash produced in molasses based distilleries per year utilization of spent wash may provide 12,88,000 tons of Potassium annually and tentatively one year’s effluents can meet the Potassium requirement of 1.55 million hectare land, he added. Now few distilleries have taken up installation of such plants but it is to be taken forward and should be a made an integral part of the waste management system.
During the webinar, presentations were made by M/s J&F Biogas, M/s Spectrum Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd. and M/s Praj Industries on production of biogas/bio-CNG from filter cake and utilization of residual slurry as bio-fertilizer. We have perfected the technology and only certain challenges with respect to quality of filter cake and supply chain main management need to be addressed, said Mr. Joseph, Director, M/s J&F Biogas. For converting boiler ash to potash rich fertilizer, presentations were made by M/s New Frontier Engineers and M/s Gayatri Fertiplants International Pvt. Ltd elaborating the process of addition to other nutrients and granulation.
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