3)
Fruit removal.
Clusters are put through rotary fruit removers, which
allow the fruit, but not the rachis or stems, to go
through.
4)Processing
of rachis. The rachis is pressed, and oily sludges
are extracted from it that are used in the process.
The remaining fiber is steam dried and used as fuel
for the boiler.
5)
Digestion of fruit. The fruit is put through a
digester with agitator arms, and it is heated by steam.
6)
Pressing of fruit. The fruit is crushed in double-screw
presses, and the oil that is pressed out is taken
to the clarification section.
7)
Clarification. The impurities in the oil are removed
to the greatest extent possible, through various means.
8)
Sorting. The nut of the fruit is recovered by
separating the fiber from the nut. The fiber is then
sent to the boiler to be used as fuel, and the nuts
are stored.
9)
Extraction of nut oil. This involves different
steps—including drying, cleaning, cracking, screening,
cooking, pressing, and filtering of the fruit—which
lead up to the actual extraction of the nut oil. A
residue is obtained as a by-product, which is pulverized
and stored until final disposal.
10)
Waste handling. The process generates emissions
and solid wastes that affect the atmosphere and watercourses.These
wastes are given proper treatment until they meet
allowable parameters under the environmental standards
in effect.
Process
Flow Diagra
ENVIRONMENTAL
STRATEGY
From
the time operations began, the plant processes had
shortcomings, such as atmospheric emissions, wastewater,
and solid wastes, and the company faced serious problems
with the residents of nearby communities. After an
exhaustive environmental audit was made, an environmental
strategy was devised called the Environmental Corrective
Plan. Designed to reconvert the process to environmentally
friendly technologies, it included optimization of
processes, proper handling of solid wastes, and regulation
of emissions, with the goal of achieving allowable
parameters under national and international environmental
standards. The plan also included industrial and worker
safety, occupational medicine, and a good-neighbor
policy.
This
strategy was subdivided into three different programs,
with emphasis on the first in explaining the plan's
main objective:
