An efficient and cleaner production system for tea processing industry in Kenya

Abstract

A study was undertaken at Mudete Tea Factory, which is managed by KTDA, to identify areas of inefficient use of resources and status of workplace environment from September 2010 to March 2011.The broad objective of the study was to come up with an efficient and cleaner production system that can be used to manage tea industry in Kenya. To achieve this, commitment of Mudete Tea Factory top management was sort and a cleaner production team formed. Process steps were listed, process flow charts prepared, waste streams identified and focus areas were selected. Waste streams characterization, identification of causes to waste generation, material and energy balance, and assigning of costs to wastes were undertaken in the second stage. The study generated workable cleaner production options and classified them into those that can be implemented directly and those that required further study. Samples of waste water were collected from three spent water pits located within the factory premise before it is directed to the open lagoons. The samples were analyzed at KIRDI laboratories for B.O.D using a 5-day B.O.D Test, C.O.D using Open Reflux Method, total nitrogen using macro-kjeldahl method, total phosphorous using acid hydrolysis, and pH using mv/ORD Mettler Toledo pH meter. The colour of the waste water, odour and total alkalinity were also determined using Lovibond Nesslerise 2150 equipment