In 2005, Holcim’s Hon Chong Cement Plant in Kien Giang Province began to apply the co-processing technology in treating industrial waste as well as sorted municipal solid waste disposed by paint factories, garment workshops, and cement plants. So far, Hon Chong Cement Plant has become a reliable address for waste treatment and received a large amount of waste from Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces.
According to Deputy Director Holcim Vietnam’s Geocycle Vietnam Waste Division Nguyen Cong Dong, the waste co-processing technology in cement kilns is recognized around the world as the most environmentally friendly technology to treat many types of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. “In particular, the waste co-processing in cement production process will not affect the quality of finished cement,” he said.
Hon Chong Cement Plant’s waste co-processing device is a sustainable and efficient means of completely destroying hazardous and non-hazardous waste without leaving ash due to temperatures up to 1,450 degree Celsius exceeding the standard temperature requirements in the US and EU. The acid gases from the combustion process will be completely absorbed in a high alkaline environment created by limestone, the main raw material in cement production; therefore the acid gas impact on the environment will be removed. The technology can be used to treat most types of industrial and agricultural waste (excluding medical waste, explosives, and radioactive materials). To ensure safety, all waste must be sampled, sorted and strict inspected before treatment.
What is most important for co-processing technology is that when waste is used as fuel alternative in cement kiln, the emissions must meet standard requirements before being discharged into the environment. “Along with applying the co-processing technology, the company also invested in gas meters to continuously monitor environmental criteria. Therefore, although Hon Chong Cement Plant has treated various types of waste, it still meets requirements on emissions discharged into the environment,” said Tran Thanh Lap, an environment officer of Holcim Vietnam.
“Co-processing technology is one of the technological solutions that Holcim Vietnam has implemented as part of its objectives toward sustainable development. Holcim Vietnam also believes that production towards sustainable development is key to success,” said Nguyen Cong Dong./.
Source: VEN
|