Ingeniería ambiental

 

Recovery of carbohydrates from nixtamalization wastewaters (nejayote) by ultrafiltration

 

Recuperación de carbohidratos de las aguas residuales de la nixtamalización (nejayote) por ultrafiltración

 

R. Castro-Muñoz¹, G.I. Cerón-Montes², B.E. Barragán-Huerta³ and J. Yáñez-Fernández¹*

 

¹ Departamento de Biotecnología Alimentaria, Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Biotecnología, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Acueducto s/n Col. Barrio La Laguna, Ticoman, Mexico, D.F., CP éxico. * Corresponding author. E-mail: jyanezfe@ipn.mx; jyanezfe.ipn@gmail.com Phone: +52 57-29-60-00, ext. 56477.

² Universidad Tecnológica de Tecámac, Km. 37.5 Carretera Federal México-Pachuca, Col. Sierra Hermosa, C.P. 55740, Tecámac, México.

³ Departamento de Ingeniería en Sistemas Ambientales, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Wilfidro Massieu s/n, Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, México, D.F., CP 07738, México.

 

Received April 8, 2015;
Accepted July 14, 2015.

 

Abstract

Nejayote extract is a polluting by-product from Nixtamalization of maize; therefore in this study was evaluated a membrane operation for the treatment and recovery of industrial usable compounds. Nejayote extract was processed by ultrafiltration (UF) membrane on laboratory scale. In experimental tests performed according to the total recycle mode, the effect of transmembrane pressure (TMP) on permeate flux has been studied. The permeate flux no showed a considerable increase for TMP values higher than 1.3 bar, which is considered as limiting TMP (TMP_lim) that provides the maximum permeate flux. Filtrated Nejayote extract lias been produced in experimental test carried out according to the batch concentration mode working in optimal operating conditions. The extract was analyzed in terms of total soluble solids (TSS), total solids content (TSC), pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total polyphenols, total carbohydrates, total organic carbon (TOC) and calcium content. The UF process permitted a good level of recovery; it was; corroborated with the removal of 95.3 % on turbidity, 22.0 % on TSC, 37.0 % on TSS, 14.7 % on Calcium and 29.3 % on TOC on Nejayote. From retentate was recovered considerable sugar content (rejection of 46.6 % in total carbohydrates). Finally, high fouling index in the membrane (87 %) was determined after treatment of Nejayote; however, the total of the initial water permeability was recovered by enzymatic cleaning (cleaning efficiency 100 %).

Keywords: Nejayote, wastewater, total polyphenols, total organic carbon, sugars.

 

Resumen

El Nejayote es un subproducto contaminante de la nixtamalización de maíz; por ello en este trabajo se evaluó una operación de membrana para su tratamiento y recuperación de componentes útiles en la industria. El Nejayote fue procesado a través de una membrana de Ultrafiltración (UF) a escala laboratorio. En las pruebas experimentales realizadas en modo recirculación, se estudio el efecto de la presión transmembranal (TMP) sobre el flux de permeado. El flux de permeado no mostró aumento considerable para valores de TMP mayores a 1.3 bar, que corresponde a la TMP limitante (TMP_lim) que provee el flux de permeado máximo. Se produjo Nejayote filtrado en prueba experimental acorde al modo de concentración por lotes en condiciones de operación óptimas. El extracto fue analizado en términos de sólidos solubles totales (TSS), contenido de sólidos totales (TSC), pH, conductividad eléctrica, turbidez, polifenoles totales, carbohidratos totales, carbono orgánico total (TOC) y contenido de calcio. El proceso de ultrafiltración permitió buen nivel de recuperación, al eliminar 95.3 % en turbidez, 22 % en TSC, 37 % en TSS, 14.7 % en Calcio y 29.3 % en TOC del Nejayote. Del retenido fue recuperado un contenido considerable de azúcares (rechazó del 46.6 % en carbohidratos totales). Finalmente, se determinó un alto índice de ensuciamiento (87 %) en la membrana después del tratamiento del Nejayote; sin embargo, el total de la permeabilidad inicial fue recuperada por limpieza enzimática (eficiencia de lavado del 100 %).

Palabras clave: Nejayote, agua residual, polifenoles totales, carbono orgánico total, azúcares.

 

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge CONACyT (Grant 439602/267705) and IPN (SIP 20150178) for financial support. To ITM-CNR, Italy and Dr. Alfredo Cassano, for the research stay in their laboratories.

 

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