RECOVERY OF NUTRIENTS FROM VINASSE BY CHEMICAL PRECIPITATION OF PHOSPHOROUS COMPOUNDS

摘要

Vinasse is an industrial effluent resulting from the sugarcane distillation process for the production of ethanol. In average, 12 liters of vinasse is generated for every liter of alcohol that is produced The most part of this resulting vinasse is used as fertilizer through the direct application to the soil however this activity can bring about several environmental problems. The physical and chemical characteristics of vinasse can oscillate daily, and among countless constituents it is characterized for containing, in average, more than 93% of water, high solids level, predominantly organic, high values of COD and BOD, high calcium (Ca) concentrations, of nutrients such as nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorous (P) and magnesium (Mg) which gives it the fertilizing power. Based on these chemical characteristics it is possible to presuppose a great potential for the use of vinasse as raw material for the recovery of nutrients containing nitrogen and phosphorus.