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CLEANTECH
is not just confined to manufacturing or shop floor technologies. It
has a great lot to do with the shop floor management practices,
particularly the areas like house keeping, material handling, energy
efficiency and waste handling. The entire concept is based on source
segregation of wastes or effluent streams for specialized handling,
reuse, recycling or disposal of each such stream. It would
eventually lay heavy emphasis on apt deployment of separation
technologies ranging from simple decantation, floatation,
centrifugation, filtration, distillation, sublimation and
evaporation to advance techniques like membrane technology, vacuum
evaporation, freeze drying and super critical treatment.
The
concept also lays heavy emphasis on energy conservation and cleaner
energy options. The matrix includes switching over from coal to
cleaner coal, from coal to oil, from oil to electricity, from
thermal electric power to hydroelectric power. Consideration would
also be paid to the forms of electrical energy like conductive use
of energy vis a vis the induction and radiation based consumption.
It would also pay attention to areas like waste to energy and other
alternative energy options like solar power, wind energy, refuse
derived power, high rate bio-methanation of wastes, along with
emerging zero emission technologies like the hydrogen fuel cells.
The
concept of cleaner production has to take into consideration
emerging options like advanced materials like carbon fiber
reinforced materials, super-conductive materials, bio-degradable
plastics and cleaner solvents. Alternatives are to be assessed in
terms of ultimate cost analysis based upon the total life cycle
analysis. Substitution of hazardous materials, carcinogens and other
chemicals of concern with benign alternative are the other essential
features of
CLEANTECH.
Catalysis
and Bio-processing are two
distinct areas of focus under
CLEANTECH. Use of advance catalysts
can not only lead to enormous energy savings and processing time,
but also help altering the operating temperature and pressure
conditions avoiding workplace hazard in many situations. The concept
has ever been in use for cost advantages in manufacturing but has
not so far been deployed for effective environmental management.
Similarly putting bio energy to use for more energy efficient and
cost effective production has very bright prospects in acquiring
eco-efficiency. Examples of bio pulping and bio bleaching in the
pulp and paper industries are already in view as cleaner production
options. Deployment of biotechnology in disposal of organic wastes
has already acquired commendable dimensions. The fullest potential
of bacteriophages as a major tool for bio-remediation is far from
fullest exploitation. CLEANTECH
lays focus on such emerging
techniques, which could sometimes be amazingly low cost.
Minimization
of wastes at source and ‘in-process recycling’ are the main
features of CLEANTECH. A great amount of in-put, therefore comprises
of such technologies and practices. These technologies, however,
have to be essentially coupled with efficient material handling
systems for effective spill control and pilfer proof recycling.
Experience reveals that process control equipment like CNC and
programmable logic controls invariably lead to tremendous results.
An efficient dosing system for just the right quantity of a chemical
could often ensure its presence in the final effluent below the
detectable limits or well within the compliance norms, at the same
time, ensuring phenomenal savings on cost of the chemical apart from
the probable treatment and disposal costs. Whatever said above, the
ultimate strength of CLEANTECH
lies in the strongest hidden
component of innovation. The entire concept sharply focuses itself
on process re-engineering using low cost innovation to manage
effluent loading, toxicity and hazard. The same principles shall
hold good in case of emerging production technologies, particularly
the environmentally sustainable technologies or the EST’s for
future industries.
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