At Rajshree Sugars, we have implemented various environmental protections by adopting innovative technologies and infrastructure, meeting the effluent norms set by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
In conventional sugar plants, raw water is used for sugar processing, and surplus condensate is dumped as waste. However, at Rajshree Sugars, we use excess condensate generated from sugarcane, which contains 70% water, for sugar processing. Additionally, around 300 m³ per day of second body condensate is sent to the distillery plant to reduce its water consumption.
We have installed an Effluent Treatment Plant with a capacity of 825 m³/day, featuring an anaerobic digester, aerators, and a clarifier—the first of its kind. This plant treats the effluent generated from sugar processing. The treated water meets the norms set by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and is used for our R&D cane field irrigation. The treated water is analysed through an online monitoring system connected to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board Water Quality Watch Centre and the Central Pollution Control Board for close monitoring of the parameters.
Our 20.5 MWh Cogeneration plant features a 110 Ata, 545°C high-pressure boiler with a triple extraction cum condensing turbine. Flue gas from the boiler passes through an electrostatic precipitator to remove dust particles before being released through a 90-meter chimney. This emission meets the norms set by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and is continuously monitored through an online system connected to the Care Air Centre of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. Emission levels are well within the norms, i.e., <150 mg/NM³.
Additionally, we have installed an air-cooled condenser in place of the conventional, water-intensive surface condenser, saving around 600 m³ of raw water per day.
Our distillery plant operates with zero discharge, incinerating all effluent in the Incineration Boiler after concentrating it through stages like Integrated Evaporation, Flubex, and Finisher, from 15 Brix to 60 Brix. The concentrated spent wash is burned in the spent wash-fired boiler, with coal as a supportive fuel. The steam generated is used for power generation, and the low-pressure steam meets the distillery process's power and steam requirements.
Flue gas from the spent wash-fired boiler contains fine particles, which are filtered out by a bag filter system, reducing dust concentration to meet the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board norms of 150 mg/NM³. The flue gas is then released through a 76-meter chimney, with emission levels continuously monitored by an online system connected to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
During the processing of concentrated spent wash, acidic condensate with high biological load is separated and treated through an Anaerobic Digester, Extended Aeration Tank, and Clarifier. This treated condensate is then used for molasses dilution in the fermentation process.