AEROBIC DIGESTION OF RUM WASTES TO ENHANCE THE MARINE FOOD CHAIN

Abstract

An experimental study has been conducted on the reduction of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and the simulataneous production of marine organisms by means of aerobic digestion of wastes from a rum distillery (mostos or rum slops) The results indicate that rum wastes can be reduced in BOD by aeration and agitation in sea water to less than 50% of the original. The resulting digestion products are suitable for growing brine shrimp (Artemia salina). The microorganisms produced appear to be natural marine organisms, and the brine shrimp are known to be valuable as a fish food. Thus this method should be beneficial to the marine food chain if the digestion products are disposed of in the sea, or it could be of possible use in marine aquaculture. Both the reduction of BOD and growth of biomass increase with pH up to a value of 8, with residence time, and with concentration of BOD and rum wastes up to a level of about 25percnt; rum waste. Toxic or inhibiting effects seem to occur at 50% rum waste. Rough estimates of digestor volumes and biomass production can be obtained based on feed conditions and the desired BOD reduction.