ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF VINASSE FROM BEET MOLASSES

In this work the results from a new technique are presented in which t he vinasse from beet molasses is treated by electrolysis. By this tech nique, sodium chloride is added in the wastewater and the mixture pass es through a electrolytic cell. A number of experiments was run in an laboratory scale pilot plant In the electrochemical process chlorine, chlorates and other oxidants are produced. Because of the strong oxidi zing potential of the chemicals produced the organic pollutants were w et oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. The results obtained have sho wn that the treatment depends on the catalytic activity of the anode u sed the COD loading rates and the pH of the solution. The best results for sodium chloride concentration 4%, temperature 42 degrees C, 72,00 0 mg/l influent COD cone were found to be the following: pH 9.5 and vi nasse feed rate 30 ml/min. Under these conditions the COD reduction wa s 20 g/h/A/m(2) and the COD cone of the effluent was 8000 mg/l. These results have shown that the electrochemical treatment of beet vinasse can be efficient and feasible. (C) 1997 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Sc ience Ltd.