Comparative evaluation of an organic and an inorganic coagulant in the clarification of vinasse: dose optimization for BOD5 and turbidity reduction

Hoyos-Alayo W.M.; Leiva-Piedra J.L. · Revista Interdisciplinar de Ciencia Aplicada (2026) · DOI: 10.18226/25253824.v10.n15.04

Resumen

Environmental pollution caused by vinasse, a byproduct of alcohol distillation characterized by high organic load and turbidity, presents a significant challenge to the sustainability of distilleries and the quality of aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed to determine the optimal doses of organic and inorganic coagulants for reducing Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and turbidity in vinasse through clarification. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate combinations of coagulants and flocculants in a standard coagulation–flocculation system. The main findings were: (1) the combination of the organic coagulant Lipesa 1700 and the flocculant Lipesa 1587A was the most effective, achieving a coefficient of determination (R2) of 96.07% for both BOD5 and turbidity reduction; (2) optimization identified optimal doses of 2347.47 mg/L of Lipesa 1700 and 20 mg/L of Lipesa 1587A, with adjusted BOD5 of 17121.0 mg O2/L and adjusted turbidity of 7084.32 NTU; and (3) the inorganic coagulant Lipesa AC005 showed lower predictive accuracy (R2 = 62.24% for BOD5 and R2 = 62.25% for turbidity), indicating lower effectiveness in vinasse clarification. In conclusion, the use of organic coagulants provides greater efficiency in contaminant reduction, although their industrial application should account for operational costs and residue management.

Instituciones: Universidad Tecnológica del Perú