POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR SUGAR INDUSTRIES’ EXCESSIVE MOLASSES’

POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR SUGAR INDUSTRIES’ EXCESSIVE MOLASSES’

In our society, there are number of problems and also there are number of solutions available in the same society. The need is of paradigm shift so that the solution and the problem can be rightly matched. Today all the sugar mills have a disposal problem of excessive molasses’ generated by them. Deepak Kanhere, Pune based engineer has supported a very simple and viable eco-friendly solution on this so called difficult problem.

Due to extended monsoon there was a heavy production of sugarcane and hence the cane harvesting schedule also got extended. With the increase in sugar production significantly, the problem of excessive molasses’ which is a byproduct of sugar arose. When the director of co-operative department permits sugar mills to enhances their capacity then had they not considered the disposal or storage issue of the excessive molasses’ produced by these sugar mills ? One can understand their own profitability and economics involved in the molasses’ based distilleries. Through the process of methanogenisis there are many cogeneration plants running on spent wash which is a byproduct of these distilleries and are generating electricity on Biogas.

What to do with this excess molasses’? This question was raise in an article published by Agro One; looking at the figures in the article we hereby are providing a suitable and sustainable eco-friendly option available for the said problem.

No. of sugar mills in Maharashtra : 161

Indisposed molasses’ available : 1.2 millions M.T.

Referring these figures we can say that every sugar mill has to dispose 7400 M.T. of molasses’ per annum. This simply means disposal of 20 M.T. of molasses’ a day is a concern to every sugar mill.

This illustrates further as mentioned below.

· 1 kg of molasses’ produces 500 liters of Bio gas.

· 20 M.T. of molasses’ will produce approx. 10,000 M³ of Biogas every day.

· 12 M³ of Biogas requires generating 1 KW of electricity.

· Considering the daily production of 10,000 M³ of Biogas, approx. 0.75 MW electricity can be generated by single sugar mill in one day.

· In a whole year one sugar mill can produce approx. 135 MW of electricity that to in a completely decentralized form.

· The slurry disposed by the Biogas plant is excellent liquid manure for organic farming which will further reduce the Salivation effect on land.

· Since daily production of Bio-gas is above 10,000 M³ the same is entitled for Carbon Credit Certification. (C.C.C.) worth Rs. 2.5 crore per annum.

· The revenue generated through C.C.C. is every year vis-à-vis subsidy is one time only.

· The entire plant is eco-friendly and the electricity generated by the sugar mills in a year will resolve the power shortage issue of Maharashtra state up to certain extent.

· With these economics and viability there is no need to beg for any financial support to the government.

If we understand the severity and intensity of the problem then this can be most suitable solution which is putting the government of Maharashtra in a very embarrassed situation.

Economical Biogas Plant for Household

A PORTABLE BIO GAS PLANT FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD

A Pune based engineer Deepak Kanhere has developed a new Biogas model for the citizens of urban area, for whom availing Biogas plant can be a very easy option. Since he has developed an economical Biogas plant just for Rs. 2500/- this can be most easy for the nuclear families.

From last 10 years he has been engaged in research and development of Biogas for which he founded “Shashwat Oorja Private Limited” in January 2008.

While speaking to Maharashtra Times Pune correspondent he reiterated the usefulness of this gadget for every household since it can cater its wet garbage in a range of half kilogram to two kilograms a day.

This compact Biogas plant comprising of 100 liters capacity PVC tank as a digester and 80 liters capacity stainless steel barrel as a gas holder. Besides this it has inlet pipe for feeding and an outlet pipe for slurry disposal. Half inch gas cock is fixed on top of the gas holder which is then connected to a single burner stove by means of a flexible PVC pipe.

Anyone who uses this Biogas plant can use food waste or leftover food, used tea powder, grain flour, peeling of fruits, vegetables in the plant which will roughly deliver 80 liters of Biogas per kilogram of feed material. The slurry disposed by the Biogas plant can be filtered easily and the same water can be reused for next day’s feeding. The filtered biomass is excellent manure which can be used for plants.

While talking to our correspondent he highlighted this as a good opportunity for the Self Help Groups (S.H.G.) of women through which they can generate an additional income for their groups and can further push awareness of this useful gadget to the society. At the same time this Biogas plant can be used in number of schools where the leftover food in the tiffin is taken cared and the produced Biogas can be used in Bunsen burner in the laboratory to carry out various heat related experiments done by the students. With this the school itself can become energy independent. Shashwat Oorja has a firm belief that being a part of society the problem crated by us need to be resolved by the individuals of the same society. And hence we are ready to guide for any such activity with a nominal fees as this is totally an environment friendly project said Deepak Kanhere.