Mud Transformation - Sewage Sludge Treatment Technological Innovation in Fukuoka Prefecture - March 1998

Mud Transformation - Sewage Sludge Treatment Technological Innovation in Fukuoka Prefecture - March 1998

In Fukuoka Prefecture, Aso Cement (Iizuka City) and Prolex (Fukuoka City) have collaborated to develop and successfully commercialize a new sewage sludge treatment technology called "hot water temperature and reduced pressure drying technology. This technology mixes sludge with waste oil and dries it with heat, making it possible to reuse the sludge as an auxiliary combustion material or fertilizer for cement plants. This initiative is the first of its kind in Japan and has been adopted as a model project for the utilization of new technology by the Ministry of Construction.

The introduction of this technology is expected to improve the treatment efficiency of sewage sludge and reduce its environmental impact. In addition, its use as an auxiliary combustion material in the cement manufacturing process will contribute to a reduction in the use of fossil fuels. Fukuoka Prefecture has been conducting demonstration tests of this technology, and now that the effectiveness of the technology has been confirmed, the prefecture is aiming for full-scale introduction in the future.

Furthermore, many companies in Fukuoka Prefecture are involved in the manufacture of cement products and the development of recycling technology, including Kyushu Koatsu Concrete Industry Co. Through the collaboration of these companies, the construction of a resource-recycling society is being promoted throughout the region.

It is hoped that these efforts will spread to other municipalities and companies, contributing to the improvement of sewage sludge treatment technology and environmental conservation throughout Japan.

Related Information
- Ministry of Construction Model Project for Utilization of New Technology
　This is a project by the Ministry of Construction to evaluate and support new technologies developed by municipalities and companies throughout Japan with the aim of reducing environmental impact and effectively utilizing resources. Fukuoka Prefecture's efforts have also been adopted for this program.
- Kyushu High-Pressure Concrete Industry Co.
　(Minami-ku, Fukuoka City) is a company that promotes cement production and recycling technology in Fukuoka Prefecture. In addition to manufacturing cement products, the company is developing recycling technology to reduce environmental impact.
- Current status of sewage sludge treatment technologies in Japan
　Sewage sludge recycling technologies being promoted by local governments include the conversion of sewage sludge into raw materials for cement and biofuels, and Fukuoka Prefecture's technology is attracting attention as part of these efforts.