Summary: The citric projects of two subsidiaries of RZBC are going smoothly.

The citric projects of two subsidiaries of RZBC Group Co., Ltd. (RZBC) are going smoothly.

RZBC (Boyuan) Biochemical Co., Ltd. (RZBC Boyuan)'s project of 30,000 t/a citrate and the upgrading of refining technology (Phase I) was completed with environmental acceptance results publicised on an EIA platform on 24 Jan.–23 Feb. This project was approved and started construction in April 2019. In Sept. 2021, it completed construction and entered trial production in Oct.

Overview of 30,000 t/a citrate and the upgrading of refining technology project (Phase I)

• Construction nature: Technical upgrading
• Location: RZBC Boyuan's existing factories in Ju County Economy Development Zone, Rizhao City, Shandong Province
• Site area: 13,333 m²
• Total investment: USD8.65 million (RMB 55 million), of which USD0.21 million (RMB1.35 million) for environmental protection purposes, accounting for 2.5%
• Product scheme:
• Calcium citrate (20,000 t/a)
• Magnesium citrate (1,000 t/a)
• Consumption of raw material:
• 16,000 t/a of citric acid monohydrate
• 11,000 t/a of calcium carbonate
• 198 t/a of magnesium oxide (MgO)
• Labour quota: 30 employees
• Working system: 330 working days annually

 

30,000 t/a citrate and the upgrading of refining technology project (Phase II)—has not completed construction yet

• Product scheme:
• Citric acid (2,000 t/a)
• Potassium citrate (1,000 t/a)
• Sodium citrate (1,000 t/a)

 

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) report of the 1,000 t/a potassium and sodium citrates (for infant milk formula use) technology transformation project of RZBC Boyuan was accepted and publicised by the authority on 12 Jan.–18 Jan.

Overview of 1,000 t/a potassium and sodium citrates (for infant milk formula use) technology transformation project

• Construction nature: Technology transformation
• Location: the operational factories of RZBC Boyuan in Juxian County, Rizhao City, Shandong Province
• Site area: 280m²
• Total investment: USD1.34 million (RMB8.5 million), of which USD13,447.63 (RMB85,500) for environmental protection purposes, accounting for 1%
• Construction content: Separation processes and production equipment to separate perchlorate, chlorate, heavy metals from raw materials (potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide) along with auxiliary equipment for pure-water preparation, etc., are to be introduced to the operational production lines.
• Product scheme:
• Sodium citrate for IMF use (500 t/a)
• Potassium citrate for IMF use (500 t/a)
• Consumption of major raw material: 1,362 t/a purified citric acid solution 
• Working system: rearrange the currently employed staff to work for 330 day per year
• Construction period: 2 months

Besides, Rizhao Goldgrain Biotech Co., Ltd. (Rizhao Goldgrain), another wholly-owned sub-subsidiary of RZBC, planned to put its refining of 300,000 t/a food grade citric acid and nutrition enhancer project (Phase I) into production in the first quarter of 2022. On 24 Sept., 2021, Rizhao Goldgrain sealed the roof atop the concrete and steel frame of the factory of Phase I construction. On 7 April, 2021, the EIA of the project was approved and publicized by the Administrative Examination and Approval Bureau of Rizhao Economic and Technological Development Zone.

Overview of the refining of 300,000 t/a food grade citric acid and nutrition enhancer project (Phase I):

• Construction nature: New construction
• Location: Comprehensive Bonded Zone of Economic and Technological Development Zone of Rizhao City, Shandong province
• Site area: 35,333.5 m²
• Total investment: USD39.87 million (RMB253.47 million), with environmental investment of USD0.53 million (RMB3.4 million),accounting for 1.34% of the total
• Planned capacity: To produce 300,000 t/a food-grade citric acid and 110,000 t/a feed from 500,000 t/a imported corn
• Process: First, Rizhao Goldgrain carries out the initial processing (grinding, batching and mixing) and then transports the mixed corn powder to its outsourcing company, maybe, RZBC (Boyuan) Biochemical Co., Ltd. Secondly, the outsourcing company continues the process (fermentation, extraction and drying) and transports the finished citric acid product back to Rizhao Goldgrain. Finally, Rizhao Goldgrain takes charge of packing and storage.
• Working system: Fixed 60 employees to work in three shifts for 350 days annually