Sugar Processing: An Environmental Perspective

Pakistan is the 5th largest country in the world in terms of sugar cane cultivation, 11th by production and 60th in yield. Sugarcane is the primary raw material for the production of sugar. The sugar industry in Pakistan is the 2nd largest agro based industry comprising 81 sugar mills with annual crushing capacity of over 6.1 million tones. Sugar production can be raw and refined. Sugar Industry has many products like, Sugar cane juice, Jiggery, Panela, Molasses, Rum, etc. The sugar by-products can also be used further for production of alcohol, animal feed, paper and pulp, fuels and generation of electric power and steam for production processes in the industry. The environmental issues regarding the industry are solid waste, wastewater and air emissions whose treatment and management is necessary to save the environment. For that different engineering technology and techniques should be implemented to control the pollution emitted out from the industry and also the occupational health and safety issues for workers.