title: Integrated treatment of molasses distillery wastewater using microfiltration (MF).
abstract: To achieve zero-liquid discharge, high pressure reverse osmosis (RO) of effluent is being employed by molasses based alcohol distilleries. Low pressure and thus less energy intensive microfiltration (MF) is well established for particulate separation but is not suitable for removal of dissolved organics and color. This work investigates two schemes incorporating MF for molasses distillery wastewater (a) chemical coagulation followed by treatment in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) using MF and (b) electrocoagulation followed by MF. The performance was assessed in terms of COD and color reduction; the conversion of the generated sludge into a zeolite desiccant was also examined. A comparison of the schemes indicates electrocoagulation followed by MF through a 0.1 μm membrane to be most effective. By hydrothermal treatment, electrocoagulated sludge can be transformed into a porous NaX zeolite with a surface area of 86 m(2)/g, which is comparable to commercial desiccants.
authors.affiliation: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, India. Electronic address: sbasu@teri.res.in.
authors.forename: Subhankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.affiliation: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, India.
authors.forename: Sangeeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.affiliation: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, India.
authors.forename: Ankita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaushik
authors.affiliation: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, India.
authors.forename: Vidya S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Batra
authors.affiliation: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, India.
authors.forename: Malini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D005374:Filtration; D006801:Humans; D008965:Molasses; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater
chemical_list: D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Chemical coagulation; Distillery wastewater; Electrocoagulation; Membrane bioreactor (MBR); Microfiltration; Sludge utilization