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Electrocoagulation for the removal of copper from distillery waste streams
Author(s) -
Jack Frances,
Bostock John,
Tito Duarte,
Harrison Barry,
Brosnan James
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of the institute of brewing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.523
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 2050-0416
pISSN - 0046-9750
DOI - 10.1002/jib.112
Subject(s) - electrocoagulation , copper , pulp and paper industry , brewing , wastewater , streams , environmental science , waste management , chemistry , materials science , metallurgy , environmental engineering , engineering , computer science , computer network , food science , fermentation
Electrocoagulation, an electrochemical technique used to remove heavy metals from wastewaters, was explored in relation to its potential to remove copper from distillery waste streams. An initial laboratory‐scale study demonstrated that copper in spent lees could be reduced by up to 95% using electrocoagulation. Copper could not be removed from caustic washwater, as passivation of the electrodes meant that no floc was formed. However, the washwaters could be treated if mixed with spent lees, with an 80% reduction in copper being obtained. The electrocoagulation system was scaled up and its performance evaluated in a trial at a large Scotch malt whisky distillery. Copper reductions of 88% were achieved at low power consumption (34 W h/m 3 ), while at 112 W h/m 3 residual copper levels were reduced by 96%. This trial was carried out at a flow rate of 1000 L/h, demonstrating that the technology could readily handle the volumes and flow rates required in practice. Both the capital and running costs of an electrocoagulation system are low, while the technique presents other advantages over the existing copper removal technologies currently in use in the distilled spirits sector. Copyright © 2014 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling