Water Tour of Kansai Ventures creating new technologies TOKUSHIMA Prefecture Tokushima City Recycling Works to Clean Nori One fifth the size of conventional devices, the ozone generator also uses less electricity. K.K. Nissui, in collaboration with Tokushima University and other organizations, has developed a recycling system for removing bacteria from water used to manufacture nori (laver, a type of seaweed). The cultivation of nori is the main industry for people living on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, and the industries there require large amounts of water for cleaning. The system, which recycles the water safely and inexpensively, is the first such system in the country. The first step in the process involves preprocessing the nori, or washing the dirt off. So that the wash water can then be used in the second step, that of processing or manufacturing the nori, it is disinfected and bleached using a ceramic filter and an ozone reaction post. Thus the nori is preprocessed and then the water filtered and recirculated for use in further processing. The amount of chlorine required to dissolve and neutralize organic material affixed to the nori can be substantially reduced by incorporating ozone bleaching, making it possible to recycle this industrial-use water safely. Furthermore, because the new method halves the amount of water needed to dilute the bleach, water costs are substantially reduced. In addition, problems associated with industrial wastewater are eliminated because the recycling ensures that no polluted water is released. K.K. Nissui TEL 0886-23-2211 Because 80% less water is needed to dilute the bleach, the smaller volume of water reduces water costs, conserves water during shortages and reduces wastewater. BACK   All images Copyright. 1999 Kansai International Public Relations Promotion Office. All Rights Reserved.