Abstract
[Introduction]: Vinasse is generated as a residue in the production of ethanol by fermentation-distillation of molasses/sugar cane juice, at a rate of 13 L/L of ethanol. It is an acid liquid, brown in color, characterized by high mineralization and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) values of up to 150 000 mg/L, being highly polluting. [Objective]: The objective of this research was to evaluate a vinasse treatment process with hydrogen peroxide as a source of hydroxyl radicals at laboratory scale. [Methodology]: The vinasse samples, from different distilleries in the province of Tucumán, were characterized following standardized techniques of Standard Methods. The oxidation tests were carried out with different peroxide/vinasses ratios, in a semi-batch reactor, under ambient conditions, measuring COD as an indicator parameter of the treatment. [Results]: After 5 days, an 85 % decrease in COD and an increase in the Biodegradability Index were achieved. The kinetics of the oxidative reaction was first order with respect to COD, with an apparent rate constant of 0.3694 1/day. [Conclusions]: Although the COD values allowed by local regulations (250 mg/L) were not reached, the proposed treatment is encouraging due to its simplicity, representing a potential option to the environmental challenge represented by vinaze in Latin America.
Published Version
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