Abstract

MURO, Claudia et al. Assessment of the microfiltering process of a food industry effluent for its reuse. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2009, vol.25, n.4, pp.229-238. ISSN 0188-4999.

The treatment of residual effluent from the food industry was analyzed using microfiltration membranes with a view to its subsequent reuse. The most notable characteristics of the effluent were its high DQO, suspended solids and brown coloration. The effluent was pretreated biologically in a pilot plant of the CIRA. At the end of these processes, the effluent showed a markedly lower DQO, with some residues of organic matter and a high salt content. Effluent coloration was blue-green, with an average maximum absorbance of 0.35 at 628 run. This coloration was identified as Blue 1, a synthetic commercial pigment, and traces from an unidentified chromophore group. This treated water effluent underwent further treatment with microfiltration to propound its reuse in the industry. Microfiltration experiments were carried out using two ceramic membranes of titanium oxide and zirconium oxide with cut-offs of 300 and 150 kDa. The effect of transmembrane pressure on its capacity to remove Blue 1 was evaluated for each one. Operation times were varied in order to analyze the periods during which the permeate flow reached a constant value. The two membranes were efficient in the two processes, nevertheless, the best results in water quality were obtained using the membrane of 150 kDa: up to 98 % of the pigment was removed and other optimal characteristics for its reuse were observed.

Keywords : microfiltration; food industry; water reuse.

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