Use of Distillery Effluents in Dilution of Molasses for Ethanol Production

Abstract

The reuse of wastewater produced in industrial processes is important to contribute to reducing the use of water obtained from natural resources. Vinasse, one of the most important byproducts in ethanol production, could be reused in ethanolic fermentation. However, its use can cause problems during the fermentation process. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of using different effluents in molasses dilution and its consequences on the fermentation process for ethanol production. The different diluents were vinasse “in natura”, condensed water from an industrial vinasse concentrator, condensed water from a multiple-effect evaporator, multijet condenser water, standard treatment water from natural resources (with chlorine), and deionized water. According to the results, must dilution could be made using Vinasse Concentrator Water and Multiple-effect Evaporator Water without reducing the quality of ethanolic fermentation. These effluents can replace the water from hydric resources in must dilution, lowering the environmental impact of ethanol production by reducing the water consumed and chloride used in this industrial process.