Chemical Engineering Department

A Case Study on:

Industrial Solid Waste Management

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in

Industrial Waste Management and Control (ChE 52)

Submitted by:
Christian Paolo S. Asequia
Ercille Mae O. Pacamo
Hazel Dawn B. Patica
Keenex E. Serdone

Submitted to:
Engr. Christylene S. Balagtas

Date of Submission:
January 2, 2016

I. COMPANY PROFILE

Figure 1 . Bukidnon Sugar

Company Logo

Bukidnon Sugar Company (BUSCO) is the first sugar mill in Bukidnon. It is one of
the largest sugar industries in the country and was erected by the Marubeni Corporation
of Japan for Bukidnon Sugar Milling Co., Inc. with a capacity of 4000 TCD. The
Bukidnon Milling District is now the second biggest sugarcane milling district in the
entire Philippines. It encompasses the towns of Quezon, Valencia, Malaybalay,
Lantapan,

Cabanglasan,

Sumilao,

Impasugong,

San

Fernando,

Maramag,

Pangantucan, Don Carlos, Kitaotao, Dangcagan, Kibawe, Kadingilan, and Damulog, all
within the province of Bukidnon and with its expansion in Wao, Lanao Del Sur and
Banisilan, North Cotabato, in the heartland of Mindanao. (BUSCO,2015)

II. PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM

Since the company falls on the agricultural industry, it is expected to have solid
wastes as by-products from their productions. Two of these are the mud-press and the
mud cake. This happens in the clarifying section of the process.

III. SOLID WASTES AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Sugarcane press mud is the residue of the filtration of sugarcane juice.
Sugarcane press mud is produced in sugarcane mills and its distribution follows that of
cane sugar production, with Brazil, India and China representing 75% of the world
production (FAO, 2011).The clarification process separates the juice into a clear juice
that rises to the top and goes for manufacture, and a mud that collects at the bottom.
The mud is then filtered to separate the suspended matter, which includes insoluble
salts and fine bagasse. There are 3 types of filter: the press filters (used in
carbonatation factories), mechanical filters and rotary vacuum filters (Hugot, 1986). The
yield of filter cake is variable, from 1 to 7 kg (wet basis) per 100 kg of cane ( van der
Poel et al., 1998). With a conservative yield of 2% and a total production of 1700 million
t in 2009 (FAO, 2011), the world output of fresh filter press mud can be estimated to be
about 30 million tons.
Currently, large amounts of press mud are released by the sugarcane industry
and the disposal of this by-product is a major issue. In many cases press mud is burnt
in brick kilns, resulting in the loss and wastage of millions of tonnes of nutrients, which
ultimately degrades the environment. Due to this, BUSCO implemented a solid waste
management plan for this type of solid wastes.
The company utilizes the sugarcane press mud as a soil conditioner or as soil
fertilizer in their milling sites or plantation. With the current solid waste management
plan, there is a significant reduction in terms of solid waste emission at the same time
reducing the cost for the milling since they can provide their own fertilizer for their
sugarcanes. By doing this, it doesnt only benefit the company itself, but also the
community that surrounds the plant benefits from less pollution as well.

IV. RE FERENCES
[1] BUSCO SUGAR MILLING COMPANY. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2015, from
http://buscobukidnon.tripod.com/profile.html

[2] FAO, 2011. FAOSTAT. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
[3] Hugot E., 1986. Handbook of cane sugar engineering. 3rd ed. Elsevier
[4] van der Poel, P. W. ; Schiweck, H. ; Schwartz, T., 1998. Sugar technology. Beet and cane sugar
manufacture. Verlag Dr. Albert Martens KG, Berlin, 1005 p.