Green chemistry: solvent recovery cuts waste by 38%
Over the past eighteen months Kangming Biotech has retrofitted a closed-loop solvent recovery unit across two of its synthesis trains. Recovered solvent is re-distilled on site and returned to production, reducing purchased solvent volume and liquid waste generation.
Measured against the 2024 baseline, liquid waste per tonne of finished product is down 38%, and fresh solvent consumption is down 31%. Energy recovery from the distillation train supplies part of the site hot-water demand.
The next phase covers process intensification on the acetylation and esterification lines, targeting a further 15% reduction in solvent intensity by the end of 2027.