FILTRATION IN DISTILLERY INDUSTRY

Filtration is a separation technique that physically or mechanically removes solids

from fluids with the aid of a medium that allows only the passage of the fluid. One of the
applications of filtration is water or wastewater treatment of different industries. Hence,
many industries, especially whose waste generation are concentrated on wastewater,
make use of this process to for treatment before the release or disposal of used water;
one of which is the distillery industry.
In distillery industry, a significant volume of spent wash is being generated for
every cycle of operation. As a result, distillery industries are given environmental
obligation to treat their wastewater. Spent wash consists of solids that cause
contamination to the water and may contribute to water and soil pollution when disposed
without treatment. Thus, distillery industry must act by incorporating separation
techniques such as filtration in their process operation.
Filtration for distillery effluent makes use of sand filtration. In this process, varying
ratios of sand clay and soil, wood ash, and charcoal are used. The process focuses on
adjusting the levels and amounts of parameters to the standard values; these parameters
include pH, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD),
Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), electrical conductivity, and heavy metal concentrations.
Another technique that is being used is nanofiltration. In this type of filtration, the
distillery effluent, under a certain operating condition, is sent to the spiral wound
nanofiltration membrane module. Nanofiltration membrane is said to be very efficient in
treating water that contain organic components at an efficiency of 96 % – 99.5 %,
according to the conducted study entitled Tertiary Treatment of Distillery Wastewater by
Nanofiltration.
Moreover, some make use of a combination of ultrafiltration (UF) membrane and
reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. The same parameters are being treated and
separated. The results show productivity such that the suspended solids in the fluid are
reduced and separated.
As of today, there are varying techniques, technologies, and filtration system for
distillery spent wash treatment to choose from. Almost the same mechanisms are
involved; straining, adsorption, biological action, and absorption are included. The
systems vary in process, efficiency, and cost, but the common goal to treat the spent
wash is retained. Thus, the type of filtration that must be used depends on the
components of the wastewater, the size distribution of the organics or solids present,
target efficiency, feasibility, and economical considerations.
Filter Media Requirements
One of the factors that significantly affect the filtration of spent wash is the quality
of the medium that is being used. Filter media must follow standards and requirements in
order to deliver its purpose in the treatment of the effluent.
The objective is to obtain a clear filtrate; the filter medium must get a hold of the
undesirable solids present in the effluent. During the operation, varying conditions and
presence of reactive chemicals involved in the treatment shall be considered; the strength
of the filter medium is a major factor that is being tested. The filter medium must be able
to overcome the varying process conditions. Also, it must not react with the chemicals
present in the treatment.
In filtration, there would be occurrence of cake formation. It is important that the
filter medium will allow the removal of the cake completely and cleanly. Moreover, there
are possible instances of plugging and blinding---- a good filter medium must not undergo
the mentioned instances.
Economic feasibility is of course a major consideration when it comes to the use
of filter media. Therefore, aside from possessing high quality features and suitability in
effective filtration process, the filter medium must also be economical.

References
Guha, B.K. (2008 September). Tertiary treatment of distillery wastewater by nanofiltration.
Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244143759_Tertiary_treatment_of_distill
ery_wastewater_by_nanofiltration.

Kebede, E.M. and Bezuneh, T.T. (2015). Sand filtration as an alternative technique for
the treatment of distillery effluent. Retrieved from:
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/db6a/ffc5b4a9e8bf2a80b1439d6a36db8aafb780.p
df.

Murthy, Z.V.P and Chaudhari, L. (2009 July). Treatment of distillery spent wash by
combined UF and RO processes. Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267939109_Treatment_of_distillery_spe
nt_wash_by_combined_UF_and_RO_processes.