Many of the large-scale distilleries manage their spent wash through concentration-incineration route, in accordance with prevailing MoEF&CC/CPCB guidelines & generate high volume of potash-rich ash. In comparison to other competing technologies for utilisation of such ash (viz., production of PDM or Mixed potassic salts utilizing distillery ash); the present technology enables production of premium grade SOP (100% water soluble - suitable for drip irrigation & foliar application), & thus offers (i) wider product acceptance in national & global context – particularly for high value crops, as well as (ii) relatively better profitability.
- Process involves recovery of FCO grade potash fertilizer(s), using K-rich distillery ash as resource.
- Indigenous potash fertilizer – import substitution & additional economic gain.
Commercial plant is operational since Jan 2024
Applicable for utilisation in distilleries generating potash-rich ash, primary market being India, Thailand, Brazil etc.
Premium grade SOP (100% water soluble - suitable for drip irrigation & foliar application), offers (i) wider product acceptance – particularly for high value crops, as well as (ii) relatively better revenue & profit.
In Indian context, this technology can potentially generate more than 1.5 lakh tpa indigenous potash fertilizer (import substitution) on across-the-sector technology adoption (with more than 100 distilleries generating K-rich ash).
Environmentally safe & benign process; Implementation of the process would lead to better environment with respect to particulate nuisance around the distilleries.
In November, 2022, the process was licensed to M/s DCM Shriram Bio Enchem Ltd. Their plant (60 tpd ash / 4600 tpa potash fertilizer) at Hariawan, Hardoi District, UP, is operational since January, 2024 and the quality of SOP produced is matching with premium grade (imported) Sulphate of Potash.
Distillery incinerator ash, minor process chemicals & reagents.
Generic equipment used in chemical process plant, viz., stirred tanks, evaporators, filters, centrifuges, pumps etc.
Broadly, for a 15 tpd SOP plant, ₹45 crore would be the initial investment towards plant and machinery with a payback period of about 4 years.
Will be made available on request.
