Study for the rehabilitation of a vinasses treatment plant using a polyacrylamide (PAM) polymer flocculant

This paper reports the results of a coagulation/flocculation study for the primary treatment of tequila vinasse, with the intention of rehabilitating a treatment plant using a cationic polyacrylamide (PAM) polymer flocculant. The PAM concentration required to obtain the required floc formation was d...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: ÍÑIGUEZ, Gilberto, HERNÁNDEZ, Rosaura
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2010
País:México
Institución:UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE MÉXICO
Repositorio:Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/20716
Acceso en línea:https://www.revistascca.unam.mx/rica/index.php/rica/article/view/20716
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Key words
tequila vinasses
polyacrylamide
flocculation
solids separation
vinazas de tequila
poliacrilamida
floculación
separación de sólidos
Descripción
Sumario:This paper reports the results of a coagulation/flocculation study for the primary treatment of tequila vinasse, with the intention of rehabilitating a treatment plant using a cationic polyacrylamide (PAM) polymer flocculant. The PAM concentration required to obtain the required floc formation was determined with seven different flocculant concentrations (200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 y 800 mg/L). In a second experiment, six pilot-scale batch runs were conducted in a 798-liter container using PAM concentrations of between 400 and 800 mg/L of vinasse. The flocculated solids were separated in a rotating screen separator and the treated vinasse collected in a 327-liter stainless steel tank. For each batch run, the parameters pH-value, settleable solids, total solids, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids and chemical oxygen demand were evaluated for both treated and non-treated vinasse. In addition, the balance between the untreated vinasse volume as related to the recovered flocculated solids and the residual liquid vinasse was determined. Based on the observed parameters within the range of the PAM concentrations used, it was concluded that the higher the floculant dose, the higher the removal of vinasse pollutants, recovering up to 43.7 L of flocs/100 L of treated vinasse when 700 mg of PAM/L of vinasse was used. These results proved very useful for optimizing the operational condition of the vinasse treatment plant.