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.