Enfinity Technology - The Latest Headway in Biofuel Technology Solutions

It's no secret that the world today is yearning for renewable energy sources that can combat issues like harmful emissions, depleting fossil resources and spiraling fuel prices. Ethanol Industry is being viewed as a viable alternative which is expected to play a critical role in meeting the growing demand for renewable energies and cleaner fuels.

While initiatives are being taken at different levels, the introduction of one of the latest technologies Enfinity is the breakthrough that is likely to take the bio-refinery sector by storm.  Enfinity is the brainchild of Praj Industries which is one of the most trusted names in the bioenergy spectrum, known for delivering the best ethanol plant solutions.

Enfinity Ethanol Technology

Ethanol production process

It is the 2G or second-generation cellulosic ethanol technology that utilizes the available renewable sources for bio-fuel solutions that successfully meet the environmental and energy challenges. The smart Bio-Refinery system based on Enfinity technology is equipped with multi-feed capability and improved biological processing ability.

Unlike the first-generation ethanol production process that depends on food crops, typically corn and sugar cane as raw material, Enfinity uses agricultural wastes like rice husk, palm residue, wheat stalks, corn cobs, and other ligno cellulosic biomass. It utilizes different kinds of enzymes to break these organic wastes into glucose or carbon sugars from which ethanol is extracted. The complete production process encompasses enzymatic hydrolysis, co-fermentation, and distillation and is a thermally integrated system that facilitates optimum energy consumption.

Features of 2G Ethanol Technology

Enzyme Flexibility

●       Proven technology on multiple enzymes

●       High yields with different enzyme strains

Co-Fermentation

Yeast strain for efficient utilization of C5 (pentose) and C6 (hexose) sugars 

●       Higher yield

●       Lower reaction time

●       Higher tolerance to solids

Other HIghlights of the Technology

1.      Optimum Capacity – 1 million liter  per annum

2.      Capability to process multiple feedstock - corn cobs & stover, rice & wheat straw, cane trash, cane bagasse, cotton stalk, empty fruit bunches (EFB)

3.      A holistic approach with an end to end offering; from feedstock processing till end product and wastewater treatment.

4.      Process integration facilitating optimization of energy & water consumption.

5.      Efficient wastewater management with Zero Liquid Discharge system

6.      Operating cost at par with global competition.

7.      The technology is designed to produce Bio-ethanol, Bio-gas with provision for the set-up of Bio-CNG unit

Another Milestone Achieved

Praj Industries has spread its wings far and wide and is a name to reckon with in the global biofuel technology solutions. Its 2G ethanol technology will now be used for USA’s bagasse-based biorefinery. ‘Enfinity’ will be deployed to produce ethanol and other co-products using sugarcane bagasse in the bagasse-based bio-refinery. The bio-refinery will be jointly promoted by Florida based Omega Energy USA, a developer of renewable energy projects, while Louisiana based Lasuca Sugar, a producer of cane sugar, will supply bagasse feedstock. With Enfinity gaining global recognition and acceptance from developed markets like that of USA, it reinforces the position of Praj industries as a global leader in the advanced bio-economy.

Zero Liquid Discharge System and Its Importance

Zero Liquid Discharge or ZLD is one of the industrial water treatment systems where all the contaminants are converted into solid waste while separating the water. This process helps to decrease the waste quantity & recover fresh water which can be reutilized. Although ZLD is a noble approach, it is not at all an easy process and requires a high investment of money & machinery. Extraction of water from waste means dealing with a higher concentration of salinity, scaling compounds, and organics, which means increased cost.  But there are various benefits of ZLD which makes it an optimum choice for an industrial facility.

Several methods of waste management are classified as zero liquid discharge, despite using different boundaries to define the point where the discharge occurs. Usually, a facility or site property line that houses the industrial process is considered the border or ‘boundary condition’ where wastewater must be treated, recycled, and converted to solids for disposal to achieve zero liquid discharge.

Certain facilities which send their liquid waste for off-site treatment, deep well disposal or incineration, consider this to be akin to zero liquid discharge. While this approach actually avoids discharge of liquids into surface water or sewers, it can significantly increase the cost.

Some designs describe themselves as near zero liquid discharge or minimal liquid discharge systems which do not completely eliminate complete waste but may be more economical than ZLD.

An optimum ZLD treatment system should be able to:

● manage fluctuations in waste contamination and flow

● support required chemical volumes adjustments

● recover about 95% of the liquid

● treat and retrieve valuable byproducts from your waste

● produce a dry, solid cake for disposal

What makes ZLD important

Undeniably, freshwater is a scarce yet important resource in the industrial processes. Reusing the water becomes highly beneficial and economical too. Not to mention additional benefits like less damage to the environment.  On a broader scale, heavy contamination of rivers and water bodies have forced the government to make regulatory reforms in wastewater treatment. The severe consequences of water pollution have led to the rise in consideration of methods like zero liquid discharge system to tackle the issue on a large scale. For example, The Gainesville Renewable Bioenergy plant which is expected to power 70,000 homes in Gainesville, required setup of a complete zero liquid discharge system before granting the permit. One more notable perk of considering zero liquid discharge is the scope to recover the lost resources from wastewater.

THE NEED FOR INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENT IN INDIA

Wastewater, in general, is any water that is not fit for use. It is generated from two sources - domestic and industrial. The domestic wastewater consists of fluids emerging from human dwellings such as the kitchen, toilet, bathroom etc. This water, which consists mostly of edible content and detergents, can be treated naturally by the aerobic treatment plants. However, the Industrial wastewater, generated from the factories, plants, manufacturing units, and commercial activities contains harmful chemicals and heavy elements which require specialized industrial water treatment systems. If left untreated, this wastewater can wreak havoc on the ecological system.

For a developing country like India, untreated wastewater has been a long-neglected and common issue. According to the Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) report, discharge of untreated and partially treated industrial effluents and sewage from cities is a major source of pollution in 323 rivers in India. This is in spite of the edicts stated under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, which requires industrial hazardous wastes to be disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. Water is much more scarce than we believe it to be. As such, it is not an option but a compulsion to recycle wastewater into reusable water. Let us know what benefits it serves to treat wastewater.

Safeguards the environment

By cleaning wastewater before releasing them into the river and streams, the flora and fauna are spared from getting destroyed.

Keeps diseases at bay

Impure water is a primary source of disease. Although water has self-healing properties, it cannot sustain unnatural levels of chemicals and heavy metal generated from industrial waste. Hence, well-treated water can avoid the spread of disease.

Avoids water loss

Did you know that only 2.5 percent of the earth’s water is fresh, while only 1% is drinkable which includes the water trapped in glaciers and snowfields? The rest is saline and ocean-based! If that’s the case today, then there is not even a need to stress about the importance of recycling water.  

Boosts tourism & strengthens the economy

Many rivers in India are considered holy and form the pilgrimage site for many a devout. These life-giving rivers not just provide a source of sustenance to those who consume it but also provides a means of livelihood to the traders of the area, in the form of tourists flocking the pilgrimage site. The government would make twice the money as they would earn from the tourists and also save on spending on the cleaning of rivers!

There are various ways to filter industrial wastewater. Praj, a leading name in wastewater treatment employs the latest techniques such as bio-methanation, recycle, reuse,  and zero liquid discharge system among others, for treating wastewater.  The benefits of treating wastewater are long-lasting and the effects play a crucial role in the very existence of our future generation.