Advanced Oxidative Processes (AOP) in the treatment of sugar-alcoholic industrial effluent

Abstract

Vinasse, an effluent from the sugarcane ethanol production, is an acid residue, with BOD and COD, besides having strong odor and dark color. Its excess use in the soil can leach some minerals and saturate the water retention capacity. This present study makes a systematic review through a scientometric study of scientific publications on Fenton, indexed in the Web of Science, investigating the space-time evolution, in the treatment of effluents. Results showed that most of the studies were carried out on a bench scale (89.8%), and China was the country with the highest number of publications (28.3%). There was a growing increase in indexations after 2011, evidencing the need for more studies to be applied with this theme, especially in Brazil. Using optimization and statistical models for Fenton’s reaction in vinasse, it was possible to remove 78.14% of COD and 100% of turbidity, in addition to a reduction in the other constituents, and the performance of a market cost analysis of the process. The treated vinasse continues to provide the same macro and micronutrients necessary for crops, only in adequate amounts, and safe, avoiding possible leaching of the ions and soil and groundwater contamination, correcting the acidity and increasing moisture to the soil. This study generates new possibilities for Fenton application in other matrices, besides being an alternative for chemometric planning of scientific experiments.