This degree thesis studied the viability of treating molasses waste water using a combination of chitosan and activated carbon. Chitosan is obtained by deacetylation of chitin and is an important polymer in water treatment. Activated carbon is a powerful absorbent that is used in filtration. Effects of temperature, time, oh and agitation was studied. The research pointed important leads to embracing chitosan in waste water treatment.
Kenya is a major sugar producer with a sugar production output of 591,658 tonnes. The sugar industry encompasses sugar refining which yields molasses used in molasses distilleries to produce ethanol. The molasses distillery produces distillery waste known as spent wash which has a high BOD/COD, bad odor and brown color. The high BOD/COD can be removed by conventional means such as aerobic and anaerobic digesters, but it is this brown caramelized compounds known as melanoidins that must be removed by unconventional means since they are recalcitrant and difficult to biodegrade biologically. This project aims to explore
options of removing recalcitrant compounds in molasses waste water by adsorption process using powdered activated carbon and chitosan a biopolymer derived from chitin.
Sugarcane molasses is the by-product of the sugar production industry which are generated during sugar production. Sugarcane molasses contains 50% fermentable sugar is dark brown, putrid and viscous liquid. Sugarcane molasses is a feedstock for ethanol production and is used in a ratio of 1:1 for fermentation and purification of spirit. The product collected as bottom products form spent wash which is the major constituent of molasses waste water. Properties of molasses include high acidity, strong odor, coloring pigments due to presence of melanoidins, metal sulfides and phenolics giving it brown color. Spent wash is one of the serious pollution problems of countries producing alcohol from fermentation and subsequent distillation of cane molasses. According to distillery spent wash is characterized as one of the caramelized and recalcitrant wastes containing extremely high Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), inorganic solids and low in pH 1-2. The post methanation distillery effluent produced from treatment is characterized by high BOD, COD, intense brown colour due to presence of melanoidin pigments and high levels of salts and nutrient rich.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- INTRODUCTION
- Overview
- Physical Chemical Characteristics of molasses waste water
- Problem statement
- Objectives
- LITERATURE REVIEW
- MOLASSES
- USES OF MOLASSES
- Molasses waste water pigments
- Post treatment methods for spent wash
- Chitosan
- Adsorption kinetic models
- Equilibrium Isotherms
- Derivation of freundlich equation
- The Langmuir isotherm
- Chitosan Biosorption
- Sorption process on chitosan biopolymer
- Powdered Activated Carbon
- Types of Activated Carbon
- Methodology
- Experimental Results and Analysis
- Calibration Analysis
- Contact Time Comparison
- Activated Carbon Data
- Adsorbent Dose Comparison
- Activated Carbon Data
- PH Comparison
- Concentration of Molasses Waste Water
- Combination Dose
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This research project investigates the effectiveness of using powdered activated carbon and chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, in removing recalcitrant compounds from molasses waste water, a by-product of the sugar industry in Kenya. The project aims to explore adsorption as a potential method for mitigating the environmental impact of molasses waste water, specifically addressing the high BOD/COD and brown color caused by melanoidins.
- Removal of recalcitrant compounds in molasses waste water
- Adsorption process using powdered activated carbon and chitosan
- Environmental impact of molasses waste water
- Potential for alternative treatment methods
- Investigation of adsorption kinetics and equilibrium isotherms
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the sugar industry in Kenya and the challenges associated with molasses waste water. It outlines the specific problems associated with the recalcitrant compounds, particularly melanoidins, and highlights the need for alternative treatment methods.
- Literature Review: This chapter delves into the existing knowledge regarding molasses, its uses, and the composition of its waste water. It explores the characteristics of molasses waste water pigments, specifically melanoidins, and reviews various post-treatment methods for spent wash. The chapter further examines the properties and applications of chitosan as an adsorbent, discussing relevant adsorption kinetic models and equilibrium isotherms.
- Methodology: This chapter details the experimental methodology employed in the research. It includes a description of the apparatus and reagents used, as well as the specific procedures followed to analyze the effectiveness of powdered activated carbon and chitosan in removing recalcitrant compounds from molasses waste water.
- Experimental Results and Analysis: This chapter presents and analyzes the results obtained from the experiments. It focuses on key aspects like the calibration analysis, contact time comparison, adsorbent dose comparison, pH comparison, and the impact of different concentrations of molasses waste water. The chapter also discusses the effectiveness of a combination of powdered activated carbon and chitosan in removing recalcitrant compounds.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary keywords and focus topics of this research project include: molasses waste water, recalcitrant compounds, melanoidins, powdered activated carbon, chitosan, adsorption, adsorption kinetics, equilibrium isotherms, BOD/COD, environmental impact, sugar industry, Kenya.
- Quote paper
- Humphrey Mutuma (Author), 2016, Treatment of Molasses waste water using chitosan and activated carbon. Waste water treatment, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/978589
