Distillery Wastewater Research Articles

Wine distillery wastewater degradation. 2. Improvement of aerobic biodegradation by means of an integrated chemical (Ozone)-biological treatment.

Biological degradation of vinasses, generated during alcohol production from wines and pressed grapes, has been studied in four digesters operating in fill and draw mode. Digesters 1 and 2 were fed with nonozonated and ozonated mixtures of vinasses and domestic sewage (1:10 by volume), respectively. Digesters 3 and 4 operated with pure vinasses at acid and neutral pH values, respectively. The effects of pH, temperature, and ozone dose conditions were studied. Preozonation removed inhibitory compounds and improved the growth of nitrifiers. Ozone dose is the key variable to treat a vinasse-domestic sewage effluent effectively with a combined chemical-biological system. Contois's kinetic model has been applied to experimental results, and kinetic parameters related to the maximum specific growth rate of microorganisms, mu(max), and inhibitory effects, alpha, were calculated and compared for nonozonated and ozonated wastewaters.

Wine distillery wastewater degradation. 1. Oxidative treatment using ozone and its effect on the wastewater biodegradability.

Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of ozonation on the degradability of wine distillery wastewaters, usually called vinasses, with the goal of developing combined chemical-biological methods for their treatment. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total organic carbon (TOC), and ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UV(254)) were taken as reference parameters to follow the pollution level. The vinasses were treated both directly and after being mixed with domestic sewage. Ozonation of pure vinasses required high ozone doses to achieve a significant efficiency for removing the organic matter. Mixing vinasses with domestic sewage allowed higher degradation rates with ozone. Ozone was also demonstrated to be an appropriate oxidizing agent to improve vinasses's biodegradability and organic matter removal. A mathematical model of the ozonation kinetics based on the film theory concept is also presented.

Retention of dissolved organic carbon from vinasse by a tropical soil, kaolinite, and Fe-oxides

Vinasse is a sugarcane distillery waste water commonly applied to soil in Brazil. The content of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in vinasse is high, varying from 10,973 to 14,801 mg l −1 of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). This study examines the capacity of an Ultisol (from a sugarcane-growing region), kaolinite and synthetic Fe-oxides to retain DOM extracted from vinasse. Adsorption isotherms of the A, BA, Bt1, Bt3 and Bt4 horizons of the Ultisol, as well as of those of the kaolinite and Fe-oxides, were obtained through batch equilibrium experiments using DOC concentrations, simulating vinasse additions of 0, 43, 86, 344, 688 and 1376 m 3 ha −1. Adsorption isotherms of DOM extracted from vinasse on different horizons of the Ultisol indicated that DOM adsorption increased with depth. Distinct adsorption capacity of these horizons was related to differences in dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB) extracted Fe, native organic matter and clay content. At an initial DOC concentration of 160 mg l −1 (equivalent to the application of 688 m 3 vinasse ha −1), the A horizon retained 7.1% and the Bt4 horizon retained 27.4% of the total DOC in solution, suggesting that this soil has a relatively low adsorption capacity for DOM from vinasse. Adsorption isotherms of DOC on pure kaolinite, synthetic goethite and hematite showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of the Fe oxides was as much as about five times the maximum adsorption capacity of kaolinite. Desorption studies indicated that while all DOC adsorbed by kaolinite were completely desorbed, only 28 to 35% of the adsorbed DOC were desorbed by Fe-oxides. These findings highlight the importance of the goethite and hematite on the adsorption of DOM in tropical soils.

Anaerobic thermophilic fluidized bed treatment of industrial wastewater: Effect of F:M relationship

This paper describes the thermophilic (55°C) anaerobic biodegradation of wine distillery wastewater (vinasses) in a laboratory fluidized bed reactor (AFB) with a porous support media. The experimental protocol was defined to examine the effect of the increase of organic loading rate on the efficiency of AFB and to report on its steady-state performance. The AFB reactor was subjected to a programme of steady-state operation over a range of hydraulic retention time, HRTs, of 2.55 − 0.37 days and organic loaging rate, OLRs, up to 5.88 kgCOD/m 3·d in order to evaluate its treatment capacity. Porous support media particles used in AFB were previously colonized in semicontinuous anaerobic fixed-bed reactors treating wine-vinasses. The AFB reactor was initially operated with organic loading rate of 5.88 kgCOD/m 3·d and HRT of 2.55 days. The COD removal efficiency was found to be 96.5% in the reactor while the volumetric methane produced in the digester reached 1.08 m 3/m 3·d. Over 94 days operating period, an OLR of 32 kgCOD/m 3·d at n F:M ratio of 0.55 kgCOD/kgVS att·d was achieved with 81.5% COD removal efficiency in the experimental AFB reactor. At this moment, the methane content of biogas produced in the digester reached 9.0 m 3/m 3·d. Furthermore, the increase of OLR at 40.5 kgCOD/m 3·d, corresponding to 0.37 days HRT, provokes malfunction of the process with a sudden drop in COD removal efficiency and stopping the biogas production.

Kinetic Analysis for Destruction of Municipal Sewage Sludge and Alcohol Distillery Wastewater by Supercritical Water Oxidation

Supercritical water oxidation was applied to the destruction of municipal excess sewage sludge and alcohol distillery wastewater of molasses. The reaction was carried out in a batch reactor with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant in the temperature range 673−773 K. Total organic carbon was measured as a function of reaction time. The dynamic data were analyzed by a first-order reaction model. The reaction rate constant coincides with those reported in the literature.

Aerobic and Anaerobic Purification of Wine Distillery Wastewater in Batch Reactors

Using batch reactors, the authors present the results from the decomposition of organic pollutant matter present in wine distillery wastewater. Aerobic, anaerobic, and a combination of aerobic followed by anaerobic digestion were all studied. In the combined process, which resulted in the best results, the effect of the aerobic pretreatment on the methane production and kinetic constant of the later anaerobic treatment is discussed.

Enhancement of the ozonation of wine distillery wastewaters by an aerobic pretreatment

The decomposition of the organic substrate present in wine distillery wastewaters (WDW) is studied in batch reactors, by an ozonation process, by an aerobic degradation and by another ozonation of the aerobically pretreated wastewaters. In the ozonation process, the effects on the substrate removal obtained of the temperature, pH and the presence of H2O2 and UV radiation are established, and an approximate kinetic study is conducted which leads to the evaluation of the apparent kinetic constants for the substrate reduction. In the aerobic degradation treatment, the evolution of the substrate, biomass and total phenolic compounds are followed during the process, and a kinetic study is performed by using the Contois model, which applied to the experimental data provides the specific kinetic parameters qmax and K1. Finally, in the ozonation of the pretreated wastewaters, the influence of the operating variables is established, and the effect of this aerobic pretreatment on the substrate removal and kinetic constants obtained in the ozonation stage is also discussed.

Fouling of Inorganic Membrane and Flux Enhancement in Membrane-Coupled Anaerobic Bioreactor

ABSTRACT The fouling mechanism of an inorganic membrane was studied during the operation of a membrane-coupled anaerobic bioreactor (MCAB) when alcohol distillery wastewater was used as a digester feed. It was observed that the fouling mechanism of an inorganic membrane was significantly different from that of conventional membrane filtration processes. The main foulant was identified to be an inorganic precipitate, struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O), rather than anaerobic microbial floes. Struvite appears to be precipitated not only on the membrane surface but also inside the membrane pores. The amount of struvite generated during the bioreaction was estimated to be about 2g/L alcohol distillery wastewater. The inorganic foulant was not easily removed by general physical cleaning such as depressurization, lumen flushing, and backflushing. Based on these findings, the membrane fouling was alleviated and thus flux was enhanced by adopting a “backfeeding” mode which has dual purpose of feeding and backflushing with particle-free acidic wastewater used as the feed for anaerobic digestion.

Anaerobic digestion of wine distillery wastewater in down-flow fluidized bed

In down-flow fluidization, particles with a specific density smaller than the liquid are fluidized downward by a concurrent flow of liquid. This paper describes the application of the down-flow (or inverse) fluidization technology for the anaerobic digestion of red wine distillery wastewater. The carrier employed was ground perlite, an expanded volcanic rock. Before starting-up the reactor, physical and fluidization properties of the carrier material were determined. 0.968 mm perlite particles were found to have a specific density of 280 kg m −3 and a minimum fluidization velocity of 2.3 m h −1. Once the down-flow anaerobic fluidized bed system reached the steady-state, organic load was increased stepwise by reducing HRT, from 3.3–1.3 days, while maintaining constant the feed TOC concentration. The system achieved 85% TOC removal, at an organic loading rate of 4.5 kg TOC m 3 d −1. It was found that the main advantages of this system are: low energy requirement, because of the low fluidization velocities required; there is no need of a settling device, because solids accumulate at the bottom of the reactor so they can be easily drawn out, and particles with high-biomass content, whose specific density have become larger than 1000 kg m −3 can be easily recovered.

The effect of phenolic acids and molasses spent wash concentration on distillery wastewater remediation by fungi

The effect of gallic acid, vanillic acid, and molasses spent wash (MSW) concentration on growth and decolourizing capability of four fungi ( Geotrichum candidum, Coriolus versicolor, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Mycelia sterilia) was studied. Fungal growth was inhibited to a varying extent in the presence of gallic and vanillic acid, except for G. candidum, which was unaffected by gallic acid. G. candidum and P. chrysosporium growth rates increased in the presence of increasing concentrations of MSW (up to 50% v/v), however, growth of M. sterilia and C. versicolor was inhibited at spent wash concentrations above 5% (v/v). Increasing the concentration of MSW from 6·25% (v/v) to 12·5% (v/v) increased the decolourizing ability of each fungus, except for M. sterilia. C. versicolor exhibited greatest colour removal with a reduction of 0·43 units at A 475 (equivalent to 53% colour reduction) after 10 days growth in 12·5% (v/v) MSW.

Mixing and phase hold-ups variations due to gas production in anaerobic fluidized-bed digesters: influence on reactor performance

The influence of mixing and phase hold-ups on gas-producing fluidized-bed reactors was investigated and compared with an ideal flow reactor performance (CSTR). The liquid flow in the anaerobic fluidized bed reactor could be described by the classical axially dispersed plug flow model according to measurements of residence time distribution. Gas effervescence in the fluidized bed was responsible for bed contraction and for important gas hold-up, which reduced the contact time between the liquid and the bioparticles. These results were used to support the modeling of large-scale fluidized-bed reactors. The biological kinetics were determined on a 180-L reactor treating wine distillery wastewater where the overall total organic carbon uptake velocity could be described by a Monod model. The outlet concentration and the concentration profile in the reactor appeared to be greatly influenced by hydrodynamic limitations. The biogas effervescence modifies the mixing characteristics and the phase hold-ups. Bed contraction and gas hold-up data are reported and correlated with liquid and gas velocities. It is shown that the reactor performance can be affected by 10% to 15%, depending on the mode of operation and recycle ratio used. At high organic loading rates, reactor performance is particularly sensitive to gas effervescence effects. Copyright 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Application of the down-flow fluidized bed to the anaerobic treatment of wine distillery wastewater

This paper presents the results of the operation of a down-flow anaerobic fluidized bed treating red wine distillery wastewater during 1.5 years (laboratory scale). The carrier employed was ground perlite, an expanded volcanic rock (density 213 kg m−1, diameter 0.968 mm). After a 2 months start-up period, organic loading rate (OLR) was increased stepwise by reducing hydraulic retention time (HRT). The system attained carbon removal efficiency rates between 75 and 95%, at a OLR of 17 kg TOC m−3 d−1 (total organic carbon), at an HRT of 0.35 days. The results observed showed that the inverse fluidized bed can be an interesting option for anaerobic wastewater treatment.

Supercritical water oxidation for the destruction of municipal excess sludge and alcohol distillery wastewater of molasses

Supercritical water oxidation has been focused as an environmentally attractive technology where organic materials are oxidized to carbon dioxide, water, and N 2. We have applied the supercritical water oxidation to municipal excess sludge and alcohol distillery wastewater of molasses. The reaction was carried out in a batch reactor or a flow reactor with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant in the temperature range 473–873 K. The liquid phase products were colorless and odorless. The reaction products were analyzed in terms of total organic carbon (TOC), organic acids, and ammonium ion. TOC decreased with temperature and the oxidant amount. Acetic acid and ammonia were detected as major refractory intermediates in the product. When more than stoichiometric demand of oxidant was used, organic carbon in liquid phase was almost completely destroyed. Complete destruction of ammonia produced in the reaction required higher temperature than that of acetic acid. A tube-type flow reactor (1/8 in×1.7 m) was constructed for the continuous treatment of wastes. The sludge was destroyed efficiently in the flow reactor.

Comparative performance of high rate anaerobic thermophilic technologies treating industrial wastewater

The performance of two high rate technologies, anaerobic filter and fluidized bed at laboratory-scale, for treating distillery wastewater (wine vinasses) at anaerobic thermophilic conditions, have been compared in this study. Two kinds of media, corrugated plastic tubes and open-pore sintered glass pearls (SIRAN) were used as support on reactors. Experimentally, it was confirmed that the maximum organic load rate feed was 32kgCODm−3d−1 for the fluidized bed reactor with the porous packing (SIRAN), 23kgCODm−3d−1 for the stationary packed bed on SIRAN and 20kgCODm−3d−1 for the anaerobic filter on corrugated plastic tubes. Under these conditions, the organic removal efficiency was 81.5, 75 and 50% respectively and the maximum organic removal efficiency was 97, 84 and 75%, respectively. The anaerobic fluidized bed technology is more effective than the anaerobic filter technology due, fundamentally, to this technology favouring the transport of microbial cells from the bulk to the surface and enhancing the contact between the microorganism and substrate phases. In this sense, the stationary packed bed technology is adequate for the treatment of easily biodegradable wastewater or for cases where elevated percentages of COD removal are not required, while the fluidized bed technology is especially suitable for treatment of hazardous wastes with recalcitrant compositions.

Application of the down-flow fluidized bed to the anaerobic treatment of wine distillery wastewater

This paper presents the results of the operation of a down-flow anaerobic fuidized bed treating red wine distillery wastewater during 1.5 years (laboratory scale). The carrier employed was ground perlite, an expanded volcanic rock (density 213 kg m−1, diameter 0.968 mm). After a 2 months start-up period, organic loading rate (OLR) was increased stepwise by reducing hydraulic retention time (HRT). The system attained carbon removal efficiency rates between 75 and 95%, at a OLR of 17 kg TOC m−3 d−1 (total organic carbon), at an HRT of 0.35 days. The results observed showed that the inverse fluidized bed can be an interesting option for anaerobic wastewater treatment.

Chitosan production from shochu distillery wastewater by funguses

Fungus strains of Absidia atrospora IFO9471, Gongronella butleri IFO8080 and G. butleri IFO8081 showed rich growth in the supernatants of barley-buckwheat- shochu distillery wastewater (BBS medium) and sweet potato- shochu wastewater (SPS medium). In the SPS medium, the 3 strains grew in a wide pH range and produced larger amounts of chitosan when compared with growth in the BBS medium. G. butleri IFO8081 showed the highest level of chitosan production in the SPS medium and approximately 730 mg/ l of chitosan was produced after 5 d culture with pH adjusted to 5.0. Furthermore, 49% of COD Mn, 51% of total sugar, 43% of reducing sugar, 45% of protein, 61% of total nitrogen and 88% of total phosphorus in the medium was removed simultaneously with chitosan production.

Industrial wastewater advanced oxidation. Part 1. UV radiation in the presence and absence of hydrogen peroxide

The oxidation of two wastewaters collected from distillery and tomato processing plants with UV radiation (254 nm) alone and combined with hydrogen peroxide has been investigated. Distillery wastewaters are refractory to UV radiation but the presence of hydrogen peroxide leads to different COD reductions which indicates that the process is mainly due to the action of radicals. Tomato wastewaters, on the other hand, show a higher reactivity even with UV radiation alone. The quantum yield for tomato wastewaters with an initial COD of 930 mg O 2l −1 was found to be 0.7 mol O 2 photon −1 and decreased with reaction time. The combined effect of UV radiation and hydrogen peroxide at a 0.01 M concentration on tomato wastewaters leads to about 25% COD reduction while TOC was unchanged. The contribution of radical reactions in this process was higher than 60%.

Fuzzy control for an anaerobic digester

A fluidized bed reactor was used for the anaerobic digestion of wine distillery wastewater and the capability of fuzzy logic to control this process was demonstrated. The output gas flow rate and the pH in the liquid phase were used as input parameters of the control and the input flow rate was. used as the control variable. The controller was evaluated on a quantitative model, and on a real process. The results obtained on the process are as good as those obtained with the model. The easiness of the tuning and the possibility of evolution of the controller make it suitable for such processes.

An effective start-up of thermophilic UASB reactor by seeding mesophilically-grown granular sludge

After seeded with mesophilically-grown (35°C) granular sludge, a laboratory-scale UASB reactor was thermophilically (55°C) operated over 8 months by feeding with an alcohol distillery wastewater. Use of mesophilically-grown granules as a seed material proved to be more advantageous for rapid and stable start-up of thermophilic UASB process, compared with the use of suspended-growth sludge taken from a thermophilic anaerobic digester. The reactor accommodated successfully a COD loading 30 kgCOD·m−3·d−1, with a COD removal efficiency of 85%. However, during a period of 30 kgCOD·m−3·d−1, propionate accumulated in the effluent up to 300-600 mgCOD·l−1. Thermophilic cultivation caused a drastic increase of methanogenic activities (55°C) of the retained sludge: 4.4 times for acetate, 4.6 times for propionate, and 3.5 times for hydrogen as large as those of the seed sludge. A considerably low value of propionate-fed methanogenic activity, i.e. only 1/5 of acetate-fed activity and only 1/23 of hydrogen-fed activity, suggested that the propionate degradation is subject to be a rate-limiting step in thermophilic anaerobic processes.

Hybrid fuzzy neural network for diagnosis - application to the anaerobic treatment of wine distillery wastewater in a fluidized bed reactor

In this paper, we present a hybrid approach that uses both fuzzy logic and artificial neural networks for on-line detection and analysis of problems occurring in a 120 liter anaerobic digestion fluidized bed reactor for the treatment of wine distillery wastewater. The raw data available on the process (i.e., pH, temperature, recirculation flow rate, input flow rate and gas flow rate) are preprocessed using fuzzy logic to build a vector of features (i.e., a pattern vector). This feature vector is classified into a prespecified category (i.e., a class) which is a state of the system, according to discrimination fuzzy rules. An artificial neural network is then used to classify the process states and to identify the faulty or dangerous ones. This approach was developed to handle in real time problems such as, for example, foam forming, sudden changes in the effluent to be treated (due to a change in concentration), pipe clogging (due to struvite formation) or bad temperature regulation (due to improper setting of the control parameters).