In situ hypochlorous acid generation for the treatment of distillery spentwash

High-strength organic waste like distillery spentwash can be effectively tr eated by electrolysis in the presence of sodium chloride. Because the graph ite anode and stainless steel cathode zones were kept unseparated, chlorine produced during electrolysis forms hypochlorous acid. The hypochlorous aci d thus formed oxidizes the organic matter present in the wastewater. The CO D removal from the spentwash was found to be 99% for an initial COD concent ration of 15000 mg/L at the end of 240 min of electrolysis. The energy requ irements were found to be 36 and 27 W.h/L for treating 20 L of spentwash at 2.5 and 3% sodium chloride concentration, respectively. The observed energ y difference is due to improved conductivity of the electrolyte.