Abstract for presentation at Chemeca 2007

Secondary Treatment of Molasses Stillage with Chitosan

  • Si-ming Zhu, South China University of Technology, China
  • Prof Shu-Juan Yu, South China University of Technology, China
  • Xin-An Zeng, South China University of Technology, China
  • Dr Xiong Fu, South China University of Technology, China

    • In previous work Molasses stillage (MS) was used to incubate Coriolus versicolor and extract value-added polysaccharide. In this study chitosan was used to treat the pre-treated MS because of its good flocculability. The effect of each of five factors on the treatment of crude MS with chitosan was first studied and the decolourization value of each was determined spectrophotometrically. Then these optimum conditions were applied to the secondary treatment of MS. As a result, at 25pH 4.0, agitation time 30 min, chitosan 0.01 g/ml (tenfold diluted MS), and 400 rpm, a good decolourization value is obtained. After the biochemical and flocculation process 0.65g polysaccharide per liter fivefold diluted MS was obtained, and the COD removal the decolourization value and the pH value in MS were 80.3% 97.5% and 6.3 respectively. Compared to previous reports, these results are promising.
    Key words: molasses stillage; chitosan; flocculation; technological conditions

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd