High Load Process Using Yeasts for Vinasses of Beet Molasses Treatment

Abstract

Bulky plants are required to treat industrial effluents using conventional processes (settlement tanks, activated sludge, etc.). New techniques are being sought to reduce the size of the plants. The use of microorganisms, such as yeasts, in aerated reactors makes it possible to process effluents with very high volumetric loads and to produce a valorizable biomass. Despite their high salinity and COD concentration, yeasts can be used to process sugarbeet molasses liquors with volumetric load exceeding 80 kg COD.m−3.d−1, removing 70 % of the COD. The improvement in the quality of the biomass produced and the design of new types of reactor will allow this high-performance process to be developed into an interesting alternative method of treating concentrated industrial effluents.