Innovative Technology of Zhejiang University Converts Waste into Wealth

May 12, 2010

A new industry is developing in Yizhou, Guangxi Province acquisition of silkworm excrement. Guangxi Shunquan Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd is a Zhejiang enterprise located in Guangxi Province. Relying on green technology developed by Zhejiang University, this company focuses on the processing of silkworm exrement and turned out more than 5000 tons of organic ferilizer made from 30,000 tons of silkworm exrement last year.

Silkworm feces used to be headaches of Yizhou Government. Since the state strategy of "Westward shift of sericulture" started, Yizhou became the largest silkworm production base, with more than 90,000 farmers engaging in sericulture and 1 million silkworms breeded each year which produce 300 to 400 thousand tons of silkworm manure. Without advanced technology, farmers used to dispose manure in local rivers, ponds and reservoirs. Hence serious pollution and frequent silkworm plague.

In 2007, Yizhou City Government sent a delegation to Zhejiang University seeking technical support. Yizhou City Government, Zhejiang University, Huzhou City Government signed an agreement to approach the silkworm excrement hazard.

Professor Shi Weiyong, Deputry Director of Modern Agricultural Promotion Center Zhejiang University contacted Yuyao Chemical Co. Ltd, a company engaged in the production of fertilizers. The cooperation framework was to have Yuyao Chemical Co. Ltd set up factories in Yizhou to produce bio-organic fertilizer based on comprehensive processing of silkworm excrement. This idea of converting waste into wealth soon worked out in 2008.

With support from Government and enterprises, Zhejiang University can employ its innovative technology in industrial production. Professor Shi Weiyong commented that while dealing with silkworm excrement, the first stage of this project is to produce multi-functional bio-organic fertilizers with original green processing technology. The second stage will be producing pigments and flavonoids.

The long-tern objective of cooperation between Zhejiang University and Yizhou City is to build Yizhou silkworm industry and to boost the industrial development of sericulture there. In addition to silkworm manure handling, mori processing and waste silk pupa use will also be key projects in the cooperation framework.