Abstract
Sugarcane vinasse, also known as distillery wastewater, is a key by-product of the ethanol industry. Vinasse characteristics and their huge volume pose environmental concerns about the choice of treatment method. Microfiltration (MF) has been efficiently applied to vinasse clarification; however, it has been underexplored in the literature. In this context, the present study investigated the application of coagulation and cross-flow MF for vinasse clarification. To maximize the process efficiency, operational parameters were optimized using the one-factor-at-a-time method in batch tests. The optimal values were Superfloc C492 concentration of 5 mg L−1, backpulsing frequency of 10 min, and vinasse temperature of 45 °C, which showed a removal of 35.0, 86.0, and 99.9% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, and turbidity, respectively. The optimization process significantly improved the vinasse flux but did not show any influence in the permeate quality. Optimal parameters were successfully applied to the continuous mode in the MF system, which operated during 164 h at an average flux of 21.6 L h−1 m−2. High removals were reached for color (79.3%) and turbidity (99.6%), and low removal was found for COD (31.6%), which are in agreement with the batch mode tests. This work showed the importance of operational optimization, and the results provide valuable support for establishing practical guidelines for vinasse clarification in the ethanol industry.
Graphical Abstract
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amaral, M. C. S., Andrade, L. H., Neta, L. S. F., Magalhães, N. C., Santos, F. S., Mota, G. E., & Carvalho, R. B. (2016). Microfiltration of vinasse: Sustainable strategy to improve its nutritive potential. Water Science and Technology, 73(6), 1434–1441. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2015.606.
APHA. (2012). Standard methods for examination of water and wastewater (22nd ed.). Washington: American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation.
Arora, A., Seth, A., Dien, B. S., Belyea, R. L., Singh, V., Tumbleson, M. E., & Rausch, K. D. (2011). Microfiltration of thin stillage: Process simulation and economic analyses. Biomass and Bioenergy, 35, 113–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.08.024.
Barros, S. (2019). Global agricultural information network. Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) Report. http://gain.fas.usda.gov/RecentGAINPublications/BiofuelsAnnual_Ottawa_Canada_11-24-2014.pdf. Accessed 20 Apr 2020.
Basu, S., Mukherjee, S., Kaushik, A., Batra, V. S., & Balakrishnan, M. (2015). Integrated treatment of molasses distillery wastewater using microfiltration (MF). Journal of Environmental Management, 158, 55–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.04.037.
Brennan, L., & Owende, P. (2010). Biofuels from microalgae-A review of technologies for production, processing, and extractions of biofuels and co-products. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 14, 557–577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.10.009.
Bubakova, P., Pivokonsky, M., & Pivokonska, L. (2011). A method for evaluation of suspension quality easy applicable to practice: The effect of mixing on floc properties. Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics, 59(3), 184–195. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10098-011-0015-7.
Campos, J. R., & Di Bernardo, L. (1991). Uso de Polímeros Naturales en el Tratamiento de Agua para Abastecimiento. CINARA: Centro Inter-Regional De Abastecimiento Y Remoción De Agua. Cali: Ultratextos. http://es.ircwash.org/sites/default/files/253-91US-8949.pdf. Accessed 20 Apr 2020.
Castro, L. E. N., Santos, J. V. F., Fagnani, K. C., Alves, H. J., & Colpini, L. M. S. (2019). Evaluation of the effect of different treatment methods on sugarcane vinasse remediation. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B: Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes, 54(9), 791–800. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601234.2019.1669981.
de Godoi, L. A. G., Camiloti, P. R., Bernardes, A. N., Sanchez, B. L. S., Torres, A. P. R., da Conceição Gomes, A., & Botta, L. S. (2019). Seasonal variation of the organic and inorganic composition of sugarcane vinasse: Main implications for its environmental uses. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26, 29267–29282. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06019-8.
Delcolle, R., Gimenes, M. L., Fortulan, C. A., Moreira, W. M., Martins, N. D., & Pereira, N. C. (2017). A comparison between coagulation and ultrafiltration processes for biodiesel wastewater treatment. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 57, 271–276. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET1757046.
dos Santos, J. D., Veit, M. T., Palácio, S. M., da Cunha Gonçalves, G., & Fagundes-Klen, M. R. (2017). Evaluation of the combined process of coagulation/flocculation and microfiltration of cassava starch wastewater: Removal efficiency and membrane fouling. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 228(7). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3416-3.
España-Gamboa, E., Mijangos-Cortes, J., Barahona-Perez, L., Dominguez-Maldonado, J., Hernández-Zarate, G., & Alzate-Gaviria, L. (2011). Vinasses: Characterization and treatments. Waste Management and Research, 29(12), 1235–1250. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X10387313.
Gao, Y., Qin, J., Wang, Z., & Østerhus, S. W. (2019). Backpulsing technology applied in MF and UF processes for membrane fouling mitigation: A review. Journal of Membrane Science, 587, 117136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.05.060.
Hartinger, M., Heidebrecht, H. J., Schiffer, S., Dumpler, J., & Kulozik, U. (2019). Milk protein fractionation by means of spiral-wound microfiltration membranes: Effect of the pressure adjustment mode and temperature on flux and protein permeation. Foods, 8, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods8060180.
Iversen, V., Mohaupt, J., Drews, A., Lesjean, B., & Kraume, M. (2008). Side effects of flux enhancing chemicals in membrane bioreactors (MBRs): Study on their biological toxicity and their residual fouling propensity. Water Science and Technology, 57(1), 117–123. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2008.660.
Judd, S., & Judd, C. (2011). The MBR book. In The MBR Book (2nd ed., pp. 55–207). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-096682-3.10002-2.
Kim, S. H., Moon, S. Y., Yoon, C. H., Yim, S. K., & Cho, J. W. (2005). Role of coagulation in membrane filtration of wastewater for reuse. Desalination, 173(3), 301–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2004.08.036.
Lebron, Y. A. R., Moreira, V. R., Furtado, T. P. B., da Silva, S. C., Lange, L. C., & Amaral, M. C. S. (2020). Vinasse treatment using hybrid tannin-based coagulation-microfiltration-nanofiltration processes: Potential energy recovery, technical and economic feasibility assessment. Separation and Purification Technology, 248, 117152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2020.117152.
Leite, L. de S., Hoffmann, M. T., & Daniel, L. A. (2019). Coagulation and dissolved air flotation as a harvesting method for microalgae cultivated in wastewater. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 32, 100947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2019.100947.
Leite, L. D. S., dos Santos, P. R., & Daniel, L. A. (2020). Microalgae harvesting from wastewater by pH modulation and flotation: Assessing and optimizing operational parameters. Journal of Environmental Management, 254, 109825. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109825.
Ma, H., Bowman, C. N., & Davis, R. H. (2000). Membrane fouling reduction by backpulsing and surface modification. Journal of Membrane Science, 173, 191–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0376-7388(00)00360-4.
Marques, S. S. I., Nascimento, I. A., De Almeida, P. F., & Chinalia, F. A. (2013). Growth of Chlorella vulgaris on sugarcane vinasse: The effect of anaerobic digestion pretreatment. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 171(8), 1933–1943. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-013-0481-y.
Patel, R., Penisson, A. C., Hill, R. D., & Wiesner, M. R. (1994). Membrane microfiltration of secondary wastewater effluent. In R. Klute & H. H. Hahn (Eds.), Chemical water and wastewater treatment III (pp. 29–36). Berlin Heidelberg: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79110-9_3.
Prado, R. D. M., Caione, G., & Campos, C. N. S. (2013). Filter cake and vinasse as fertilizers contributing to conservation agriculture. Applied and Environmental Soil Science, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/581984.
Prazeres, A. R., Lelis, J., Alves-Ferreira, J., & Carvalho, F. (2019). Treatment of vinasse from sugarcane ethanol industry: H2SO4, NaOH and Ca(OH)2 precipitations, FeCl3 coagulation-flocculation and atmospheric CO2 carbonation. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 7(4), 103203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2019.103203.
Quintero-Dallos, V., García-Martínez, J. B., Contreras-Ropero, J. E., Barajas-Solano, A. F., Barajas-Ferrerira, C., Lavecchia, R., & Zuorro, A. (2019). Vinasse as a sustainable medium for the production of Chlorella vulgaris UTEX 1803. Water, 11(8), 1526. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11081526.
Ramirez, N. N. V., Farenzena, M., & Trierweiler, J. O. (2014). Growth of microalgae Scenedesmus sp in ethanol vinasse. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 57(5), 630–635. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-8913201401791.
Santana, H., Cereijo, C. R., Teles, V. C., Nascimento, R. C., Fernandes, M. S., Brunale, P., et al. (2017). Microalgae cultivation in sugarcane vinasse: Selection, growth and biochemical characterization. Bioresource Technology, 228, 133–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.12.075.
Satyawali, Y., & Balakrishnan, M. (2008). Wastewater treatment in molasses-based alcohol distilleries for COD and color removal: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 86(3), 481–497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.12.024.
Sun, Y., Zhou, S., Chiang, P.-C., & Shah, K. J. (2019). Evaluation and optimization of enhanced coagulation process: Water and energy nexus. Water-Energy Nexus, 2, 25–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wen.2020.01.001.
van Haandel, A. C. (2005). Integrated energy production and reduction of the environmental impact at alcohol distillery plants. Water Science and Technology, 52(1–2), 49–57. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2005.0497.
Vandamme, D., Foubert, I., & Muylaert, K. (2013). Flocculation as a low-cost method for harvesting microalgae for bulk biomass production. Trends in Biotechnology, 31(4), 233–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2012.12.005.
Vasić, V. M., Šćiban, M. B., Jokić, A. I., Prodanović, J. M., & Kukić, D. V. (2012). Microfiltration of distillery stillage: Influence of membrane pore size. Acta Periodica Technologica, 43, 217–224. https://doi.org/10.2298/APT1243217V.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Basf, Kemira, Lab Analítica, Produquímica, and Acquaquímica companies for the coagulant sample donations.
Funding
This work was supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for the research assistance (Proc. 2011/23891-2) and a PhD Grant (Proc. 2011/07264-8).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary information
ESM 1
(DOCX 29 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sacchi, G.D., Leite, L.d.S., Reali, M.A.P. et al. Coagulation and Microfiltration Application for Sugarcane Vinasse Clarification. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 571 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04944-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04944-w