Degradation of Spent Wash Colour: A Review of Treatment Methods
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST2513113Keywords:
Spent wash, Melanoidins, degradation, distillery industryAbstract
The global distillery industry plays a vital role in numerous economies but also produces large quantities of distillery spent wash (DSW), a highly polluting byproduct known for its high organic load, intense dark color, and low pH. In India alone, distilleries produce approximately 2.75 billion liters of alcohol annually, resulting in 30-45 billion liters of DSW. The dark color, primarily due to melanoidins, poses significant environmental challenges, including reduced light penetration in aquatic ecosystems and soil contamination. This paper provides a comprehensive review of DSW treatment technologies, focusing on color degradation. The review systematically categorizes treatment methods into physico-chemical, biological, and hybrid approaches, detailing their mechanisms, advantages, limitations, and cost-effectiveness. Physico-chemical methods like coagulation-flocculation, electrocoagulation, adsorption, and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) show varying degrees of success in color and pollutant removal, though challenges like sludge generation and high energy consumption persist. Biological methods, including anaerobic digestion, aerobic treatment, and bioaugmentation, offer sustainable alternatives but are often limited by the recalcitrance of melanoidins. Hybrid methods, combining physico-chemical and biological treatments, demonstrate enhanced efficiency and potential for zero liquid discharge (ZLD). The paper also explores the utilization of treated DSW in agriculture, biogas production, and other valorization pathways, contributing to a circular economy. Despite progress, challenges remain in achieving complete color removal and cost-effective solutions. Future research should focus on developing innovative technologies, optimizing hybrid systems, exploring novel utilization strategies, and creating robust techno-economic models to promote sustainable DSW management practices. The ultimate goal is to transition from a linear waste management approach to a circular economy model, where DSW is viewed as a valuable resource rather than a waste product.
📊 Article Downloads
References
Agarwal, R., Lata, S., Gupta, M., Singh, P., 2010. Removal of melanoidin present in distillery effluent as a major colorant: a review. Journal of Environmental Biology 31, 521–528.
Agnihotri, S.N., 2011. Bioremediation of biomethanated distillery effluent before discharge to reduce contamination of aquatic sources. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment 153, 253–261. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2495/WS110231
Ahmadpour, A., Asl, A.H., Fallah, N., 2017. Synthesis and comparison of spent caustic wastewater photocatalytic treatment efficiency with zinc oxide composite. Desalination and Water Treatment 92, 275–290. https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2017.21501 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2017.21501
Alfafara, C.G., Migo, V.P., Amarante, J.A., Dallo, R.F., Matsumura, M., 2000. Ozone treatment of distillery slop waste. Water Science and Technology 42, 193–198. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2000.0379
Arulmathi, P., Elangovan, G., Begum, A.F., 2015. Optimization of Electrochemical Treatment Process Conditions for Distillery Effluent Using Response Surface Methodology. The Scientific World Journal 2015, 581463. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/581463 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/581463
Asaithambi, P., Busier Yesuf, M., Kebede Debela, S., Govindarajan, R., Hariharan, N.M., Alemayehu, E., 2022a. Treatment of Distillery Industrial Wastewater Using Ozone Assisted Fenton’s Process: Color and Chemical Oxygen Demand Removal with Electrical Energy per Order Evaluation. International Journal of Chemical Engineering 2022, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5006911 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5006911
Asaithambi, P., Yesuf, M.B., Govindarajan, R., Hariharan, N.M., Thangavelu, P., Alemayehu, E., 2022b. Distillery industrial wastewater (DIW) treatment by the combination of sono (US), photo (UV) and electrocoagulation (EC) process. Journal of Environmental Management 320, 115926. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115926
Bhamare, S.A., Kakulte, V.R., 2022. Bioremediation Studies on Melanoidin Containing Distillery Spent Wash by Using Leuconostoc mesenteroides. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13189/eer.2022.100201
Boopathy, M.A., Senthilkumar, S.N.S., 2014. Media optimization for the decolorization of distillery spent wash by biological treatment using Pseudomonas fluorescence. Int. J. Innov. Eng. Technol 4, 8.
Chandra, I., Bandyopadhyay, K.K., Sen, S., 2018. Decolourisation of Distillery Spent Wash on the Background of Various Bio-remediation Strategies: A Review 7.
Chauhan, M.R., Pharande, A.L., 2017. Effect of raw and post bio-methanated spent wash bio-compost on the growth, yield quality of seasonal sugarcane chemical properties of sodic soil. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15740/HAS/AJSS/12.2/233-241
Chauhan, M.S., Dikshit, A.K., 2012. Indian distillery industry: problems and prospects of decolourisation of spentwash.
Chavan, M.N., Dandi, N.D., Kulkarni, M.V., Chaudhari, A.B., 2013. Biotreatment of Melanoidin-Containing Distillery Spent Wash Effluent by Free and Immobilized Aspergillus oryzae MTCC 7691. Water Air Soil Pollut 224, 1755. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1755-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1755-2
David, C., Arivazhagan, M., and Ibrahim, M., 2015a. Spent wash decolourization using nano-Al2O3/kaolin photocatalyst: Taguchi and ANN approach. Journal of Saudi Chemical Society 19, 537–548. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jscs.2015.05.012
David, C., Arivazhagan, M., Balamurali, M.N., Shanmugarajan, D., 2015b. Decolorization of Distillery Spent Wash Using Biopolymer Synthesized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Tannery Effluent. BioMed Research International 2015, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/195879 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/195879
David, C., Arivazhagan, M., Mishrra, A., 2020. Treatment of spent wash effluent using Kaolin immobilised nano ZnO photocatalyst and material characterisation. Indian Chemical Engineer 62, 138–149. https://doi.org/10.1080/00194506.2019.1647801 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00194506.2019.1647801
David, C., Narlawar, R., Arivazhagan, M., 2016. Performance Evaluation of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract (MOSE) in Conjunction with Chemical Coagulants for Treating Distillery Spent Wash. Indian Chemical Engineer 58, 189–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/00194506.2015.1006147 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00194506.2015.1006147
Dayaca R. A, 2024. An optimization process in the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (Cod) from distillery spent wash using electrocoagulation | Request PDF. ResearchGate.
De Gisi, S., Lofrano, G., Grassi, M., Notarnicola, M., 2016. Characteristics and adsorption capacities of low-cost sorbents for wastewater treatment: A review. Sustainable Materials and Technologies 9, 10–40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2016.06.002
Deng, Y., Zhao, R., 2015. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) in Wastewater Treatment. Curr Pollution Rep 1, 167–176. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-015-0015-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-015-0015-z
DHAVALE, M.D.B., BHOSALE, M.S., n.d. Wastewater Management in Molasses Based Distillery Industry: A Review. International Journal of Innovations in Engineering Research and Technology 4, 1–4.
Garg, V.K., Gupta, R., 2002. Bioremediation of anaerobically digested post-methanation distillery spent wash.
Ghosh, M., Ganguli, A., Tripathi, A.K., 2009. Decolorization of anaerobically digested molasses spent wash by Pseudomonas putida. Appl Biochem Microbiol 45, 68–73. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0003683809010128 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0003683809010128
Golub, N., Potapova, M., Shinkarchuk, M., Kozlovets, O., 2018. Biogas production in the concentrated distillery wastewater treatment. Alternative Energy and Ecology (ISJAEE) 51–59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15518/isjaee.2018.25-30.051-059
Golub, N.B., Potapova, M.V., 2018. Technological solution of biogas output increasing at grain distillery spent wash fermentation. Innovative biosystems & bioengineering 175–182. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20535/ibb.2018.2.3.140332
Gothwal, R., Gupta, A., Kumar, A., Sharma, S., Alappat, B.J., 2012. Feasibility of dairy waste water (DWW) and distillery spent wash (DSW) effluents in increasing the yield potential of Pleurotusflabellatus (PF 1832) and Pleurotus sajor-caju (PS 1610) on bagasse. 3 Biotech 2, 249–257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-012-0053-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-012-0053-9
Jain, N., Minocha, A.K., Verma, C.L., 2002. Degradation of predigested distillery effluent by isolated bacterial strains.
Jayashree, R., Sharmi, M., Priyanka, S.A., 2022. Biomethanated distillery spentwash application and its impact on soil health, growth and yield of Elephant foot yam. Environment Conservation Journal 23, 49–54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.021794-2145
Jembere, A.L., Genet, M.B., 2021. Comparative adsorptive performance of adsorbents developed from sugar industrial wastes for the removal of melanoidin pigment from molasses distillery spent wash. Water Resources and Industry 26, 100165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wri.2021.100165
Kapoor, S., 2018. Microbial and Enzymatic Treatment for Decolorization of Distillery Spent-Wash (DSW). International Journal of Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources 14, 10–13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19080/IJESNR.2018.14.555878
Karmankar, S.B., Sharma, A., Ahirwar, R.C., Mehra, S., Pal, D., Prajapati, A.K., 2023. Cost cutting approach of distillery effluent treatment using solar photovoltaic cell driven electrocoagulation: Comparison with conventional electrocoagulation. Journal of Water Process Engineering 54, 103982. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2023.103982
Khandekar, Y.S., Shinkar, N.P., 2020. Distillery spent wash biological treatment techniques: A Review. International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering.
Kolte, H., Walke, A., Nimbakar, D., Ghole, V., D Student, P., 2014. Combine Ozonation Treatment Followed byBiological Treatment to Anaerobically Digested Spentwash,“. International Journal of Advanced Research in Electrical, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering 14082–14088. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15662/ijareeie.2014.0312043
Kumar, B., Bhatt, A., Rawat, A., Dimri, A., 2016. Treatment of Distillery Spent Wash for Irrigation Purpose by Using Soil as Adsorbent. International Journal of Novel Research in Life Sciences 3, 78–82.
Kumar, B., Gupta, A., Nautiyal, D., Virmani, R., 2017. Distillery Spent Wash Purification with different Textures of Soil, Sand and Active Carbon. International Journal of Advance Engineering and Research Development (IJAERD) 4, 147–155. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21090/IJAERD.040123
Kumar, B., Rawat, A., XI, S.C., Upreti, A., Singh, G., Munakhia, S., n.d. Study of Comprehensive Treatment of Distillery Spent Wash by Adsorption System of Soil and Fly Ash.
Kumari, K., Phogat, V.K., 2010. Characterization of spent wash from different distilleries operating in Haryana and its utilization as a source of liquid manure in agriculture. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science 58, 347–351.
Magdum, S.S., Bhosale, G.M., 2022. Studies on Application of Spent Wash as a Nutrient for Agriculture Waste Composting. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36647/978-93-92106-02-6.14
Mahla, P., Bhatt, N., 2020. Microbial Strategies for the Decolorization and Degradation of Distillery Spent Wash Containing Melanoidins, in: Bioremediation Technology. CRC Press, pp. 37–62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429296031-3
Mikucka, W., Zielińska, M., 2020. Distillery Stillage: Characteristics, Treatment, and Valorization. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 192, 770–793. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-020-03343-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-020-03343-5
Minnalkodi Senguttuvan, K.R., Sellappa, K., Kuppusamy, S., 2024. Performance Evaluation of the Electro-Fenton Process for Distillery Wastewater Treatment. Sustainability 16, 6512. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156512
Mise, S.R., Saranadgoudar, R., Lamkhade, R., 2013. Treatment of distillery spent wash by anaerobic digestion process. International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology 2, 310–313. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2013.0213057
Monica, M.B., Desai, S.A., n.d. Studies on Preparation and Characterization of Solid Adsorbent for Removal of Pollutants from Spent Wash.
MUJAWAR, Nurul-Hassan B., MUJAWAR, Nazmul-Husein B., PATIL, S., MUJAWAR, B., 2007. Zero discharge of distillery spent-wash. Chemical engineering world 42.
Naik, N., Jagadeesh, K.S., Noolvi, M.N., 2010. Enhanced degradation of melanoidin and caramel in biomethanated distillery spentwash by microorganisms isolated from mangroves. Iranica Journal of Energy & Environment 1.
NT, S., B, L., KG, C., 2019. A REVIEW ON TREATMENT METHODS OF DISTILLERY SPENT WASH. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5760220
Otieno, B., Apollo, S., Kabuba, J., Naidoo, B., Ochieng, A., 2019. Ozonolysis Post-Treatment of Anaerobically Digested Distillery Wastewater Effluent. Ozone: Science & Engineering 41, 551–561. https://doi.org/10.1080/01919512.2019.1593818 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01919512.2019.1593818
Pala, A., Erden, G., 2005. Decolorization of a baker’s yeast industry effluent by Fenton oxidation. Journal of hazardous materials 127, 141–148. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.06.033
Patil, S., 2022. Bioethanol: Technologies, Trends, and Prospects, in: Misra, V., Srivastava, S., Mall, A.K. (Eds.), Sugar Beet Cultivation, Management and Processing. Springer Nature Singapore, Singapore, pp. 863–884. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2730-0_43 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2730-0_43
Patyal, V., 2016. Study of biogas generation in treatment of distillery wastewater by UASB method. Int. J. Eng. Res 5, 634–639. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17577/IJERTV5IS050837
Pujari, S., Wagh, M., Dare, S., 2021. Degradation of distillery spent wash using monopolar parallel and monopolar series electrocoagulation process. Applied Research and Smart Technology (ARSTech) 2, 8–17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.23917/arstech.v2i1.306
Raghukumar, C., Rivonkar, G., 2001. Decolorization of molasses spent wash by the white-rot fungus Flavodon flavus , isolated from a marine habitat. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 55, 510–514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530000579 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530000579
Raut Padmakar T, Patil Jaypal K, 2023. Energy Policy - Ethanol Production in INDIA: The Roles of Policy, Price and Demand. IJARSCT 562–571. https://doi.org/10.48175/IJARSCT-11140A DOI: https://doi.org/10.48175/IJARSCT-11140A
Ravikumar, R., Saravanan, R., Vasanthi, N.S., Swetha, J., Akshaya, N., Rajthilak, M., Kannan, K.P., 2007. Biodegradation and decolourization of biomethanated distillery spent wash. Indian Journal of Science and Technology 1, 1–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst/2008/v1i2/2
Ravikumar, R., Vasanthi, N.S., Saravanan, K., 2013. Biodegradation and decolorization of distillery spent wash with product release by a novel strain Cladosporium cladosporioides: optimization and biokinetics. Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Quarterly 27, 373–383.
Ravikumar, R., Vasanthi, N.S., Saravanan, K., 2011. Single factorial experimental design for decolorizing anaerobically treated distillery spent wash using cladosporium cladosporioides. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 8, 97–106. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326199 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326199
Ruhela, M., Sahu, M.K., Bhardwaj, S., Ahamad, F., 2020. Distillery spent wash treatment technologies: A case study of the comparative efficiency of aerobic and anaerobic treatment processes. book: Advances in Environmental Pollution Management: Wastewater Impacts and Treatment Technologies 1, 215–229. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26832/aesa-2020-aepm-014
Shanmukha, N., 2021. Comparative Study on Distillery Spent Wash Using Different Electrodes by Electro-Coagulation Process.
Shanmukha N T, 2021. Electrochemical Degradation of DSW Using Fe- Fe and Al- Al Electrodes Taguchi and Anova Approach. AEWMR 4. https://doi.org/10.33140/AEWMR.04.02.04 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33140/AEWMR.04.02.04
Sharma, P., Joshi, H., Srivastava, V.C., Singh, S., Lo, S.-L., 2022. Treatment of biologically treated distillery spent wash employing electrocoagulation and reverse-osmosis treatment train. Environmental Technology 43, 4257–4268. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2021.1946596 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2021.1946596
Sharma, S., Mittal, P., Rai, M., 2013. Bioremediation and decolorization of distillery effluent by Aspergillus niger and a novel fungal strain Curvularia andropogonis. Trends Biosci 6, 844–849.
Shukla, A.K., Tripathi, A., Mishra, P.K., 2014. Fungal decolorization of anaerobically biodigested distillery effluent (ABDE) following coagulant pretreatment. International Journal of Science and Environmental Technology 3, 723–734.
Silva, L.R.B., Kardos, L., 2024. Composting of distillery spent wash. Journal of Environmental Geography 17, 15–28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14232/jengeo-2024-44674
Singh, G., Bakshi, S., Bandyopadhyay, K.K., Bose, S., Nayak, R., Paul, D., 2021. Enhanced biodegradation of melanoidin pigment from spentwash using PDMS-immobilized microbes via ‘repeated addition’strategy. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology 33, 101990. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2021.101990
Singh, R., Patel, A., Gaur, R., 2022. Decolourization of spent wash using bacteria Pseudomonas putida.
Srivastava, A., Srivastava, K., Singh, P., 2021. Application of continuous electrocoagulation process for distillery wastewater treatment.
Takle, S.P., Apine, O.A., Ambekar, J.D., Landge, S.L., Bhujbal, N.N., Kale, B.B., Sonawane, R.S., 2019. Solar-light-active mesoporous Cr–TiO2 for photodegradation of spent wash: an in-depth study using QTOF LC-MS. RSC Adv. 9, 4226–4238. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RA10026H DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RA10026H
Takle, S.P., Apine, O.A., Bankar, D.B., Tarlekar, A.S., Bhujbal, N.N., Kale, B.B., Sonawane, R.S., 2020. Sunlight mediated degradation of spent wash using hydrothermally synthesized orthorhombic shaped Cu–TiO 2 nanoparticles. New Journal of Chemistry 44, 17724–17734. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D0NJ03309J
Takle, S.P., Naik, S.D., Khore, S.K., Ohwal, S.A., Bhujbal, N.M., Landge, S.L., Kale, B.B., Sonawane, R.S., 2018. Photodegradation of spent wash, a sugar industry waste, using vanadium-doped TiO 2 nanoparticles. RSC advances 8, 20394–20405. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RA02869A
Thiyagu, R., Sivarajan, P., 2019. Isolation and characterization of novel bacterial strain present in a lab scale hybrid UASB reactor treating distillery spent wash. Environmental Technology 40, 3351–3357. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2018.1473499 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2018.1473499
Thiyagu, R., Sivarajan, P., 2018. Influence of organic loading rate in acclimatization phase of hybrid upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating distillery spent wash. Nature Environment and Pollution Technology 17, 223–227.
Venkatachalam, D., Kaliappa Gounder, S., 2017. A composite approach for remediation of cane distillery spent wash using chitosan modified biomass, electrolysis, and Oscillatoria boryana. J of Applied Polymer Sci 134, app.44546. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.44546 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/app.44546
Verma Chhaya, V.C., Rajesh Kumar, R.K., 2014. Utilization of distillery waste water in fertigation: a beneficial use.
Vineetha, M.N., Matheswaran, M., Sheeba, K.N., 2013. Photocatalytic colour and COD removal in the distillery effluent by solar radiation. Solar Energy 91, 368–373. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2012.09.013
Wagh, M.P., Nemade, P.D., 2015a. Treatment processes and technologies for decolourization and COD removal of distillery spent wash: a review. Int. J. Innov. Res. Adv. Eng 2, 30–40.
Wagh, M.P., Nemade, P.D., 2015b. Treatment of distillery spent wash by using chemical coagulation (CC) and electro-coagulation (EC). American Journal of Environmental Protection 3, 159–163.
Wagh, M.P., Nemade, P.D., Naik, U., Sengupta, A., 2020. Enhancing color and chemical oxygen demand degradation in distillery spent wash by electrocoagulation and ozone assisted electrocoagulation. Desalination and Water Treatment 197, 213–223. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2020.25997
Yadav, S., Chandra, R., 2013. Detection of persistent organic compounds from biomethanated distillery spent wash (BMDS) and their degradation by manganese peroxidase and laccase producing bacterial strains. Journal of Environmental Biology 34, 755.
Y.S. Khandekar, n.d. Treatment Methods of Distillary Spent Wash: A Review | Semantic Scholar [WWW Document]. URL https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Treatment-Methods-of-Distillary-Spent-Wash%3A-A-Khandekar-Shinkar/e8967554cf63679cc5fb71821be4f6c81f0b413b (accessed 2.21.25).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
