Experience on anaerobic treatment of distillery effluent with the UASB process

The treatment of effluents from different alcohol-producing industries by the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) method is discussed. A wide range of feed strengths and qualities were treatable. COD removals from cane juice vinasse, cane molasses vinasse, wine vinasse and condensate from beet molasses distillation were up to 88, 65-70, 90-95 and 85 per cent, respectively; corresponding COD loadings were 22, 10-15, 20 and 18 kg per m3.d. Toxicity problems from the high COD concentrations, sulphides and salts did not prevent successful treatment by UASB.