Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research an Indian Registered Body Incorporated Under the Registration of Societies Act (act Xxi of 1860)

Soumya Haldar

Pushpito Kumar Ghosh

Pratyush Maiti

Subarna Maiti

Amit A Bhattacharya

Prasanta Kumar Das

Alamuru Venkata Rami Reddy

Krishna Kanta Ghara

Sweta Kumar Binod

Neha Pratap Patel

Paramita Manna

Suresh Kumar Jewrajka

Samir Kumar Kanjibhai Charola

Sadhika Khullar

Sanjay Mandal

The present invention provides a method for the preparation of multi-nutrient potassic fertilizer, by recovering potassium from sugarcane molasses based alcohol distillery effluent (commonly known as 'spent wash'). The process involves pre-treatment of spent wash to clarify the aqueous phase and utilization of the treated spent wash in production of potassic fertilizer. The present invention enables utilisation of spent wash for recovery of value-added product (viz., potash fertiliser of &#x3e;99% purity) and improves ease of 'Zero Liquid Discharge' compliance by subjecting the relatively benign process effluent to industrially practiced techniques for water recovery and salt reclamation.

Process for the preparation of potassic fertiliser from alcohol distillery effluent (spent wash)

A water sampling device has a rigid body, a top lid, extension members, a horizontal member, a spring, a rod, at least one polymer membrane and a bottom lid. The top lid has a shaft attached to it and the shaft traverses through the horizontal member. The bottom lid is connected to the rod upon which the at least one polymer membrane is attached perpendicularly. The water sampling device undergoes two different stages of lid opening and closing while in operation of collecting water sample to concentrate diversified bacteria from different water depths. The top lid, the shaft and the spring co-operate with the rigid body and the horizontal member such that in a first state, the top lid seals the top end opening while in a second state allows fluid to flow to an inside portion of the rigid body.

Device for collecting water sample to concentrate diversified bacteria from different water depth

Molasses based alcohol distilleries generate highly contaminated, dark coloured and foul smelling effluent (bio-methanated spent wash, BMSW, also known as post methanated effluent). While the prevailing practices for treatment of alcohol distillery effluents operate on the premises of 'liability management', high potassium content of spent wash (ca. 2% w/v in BMSW) offers an opportunity for its utilisation in production of potash fertilizers&#x2014;a major agricultural input. The present invention provides process for potash recovery from BMSW with concomitant environmental remediation of effluent. The process involves pre-treatment of BMSW followed by potash recovery through selective precipitation technique to produce potash fertilizers and activated carbon while generating a relatively benign effluent (&#x3e;80% remediation). It may further be possible for the alcohol distilleries to achieve ZLD status by incorporating commercially practiced water recovery techniques (viz., multiple effect evaporation/nano-filtration/reverse osmosis etc.) for downstream processing of the process effluent.

Process for potash recovery from biomethanated spent wash with concomitant environmental remediation of effluent

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Gujarat, India

Soumya Haldar