Sugar cane mill is another name for the sugar industry, from which sugar production is carried out. Cane is a cash crop, as is well known. Although the biggest industry that contributes to the development of the nation is the sugar industry. However, it is considered to be one of the main sectors that has been listed as a polluting sector. The effluent from the sugar industry is very polluted.

 

For every tonne of crushed sugar cane produced by the sugar industry, 1,000 L of effluent is produced. If released without treatment, sugar industrial wastewater can pollute both aquatic and terrestrial environments.

 

Let’s talk about effluent treatment plant in sugar industry, in detail.

 

Sources of effluent in sugar industry

 

Water splashed to extract the most juice and water used to cool the roller bearings are among the waste products from the sugar industry. Because of the machines and sugar, the mill house waste has a high BOD content. The juice filtering cloth has to be cleaned. Despite its tiny volume, the effluent produced in this manner has a significant BOD and suspended particles content.

 

Additional waste is also produced as a result of molasses handling as well as juice, syrup, and molasses spills and leakage in various parts. The regular cleaning of the floor adds significantly to the pollutant burden. Despite the fact that these wastes are intermittently emitted and tiny in amount, they have a very high BOD.

 

Effluent treatment plant for sugar industry

 

Large-scale water consumption and the production of organic compounds as liquid effluents pose serious environmental issues for the sugarcane processing sector. Due to the environmental issues connected to this activity, the inadequate and careless disposal of this effluent in soils and aquatic bodies has attracted a lot of attention in recent years.

 

However, an improved water and material economy can help sugar mills, like all other sectors, minimise their pollution output. Therefore, water should be used wisely in effluent treatment plant processes and recycled whenever possible. The steps included in Effluent treatment plant are described as follows:

 

1. Screen chamber cum oil & grease tank: The huge floating objects are removed using the screen chamber (Bar Screen). Untreated wastewater may include paper, big floating particles, and other things. The screening chamber stops these debris from fouling the pumps, impellers, and equipment, as well as from choking the piping system. All of these materials are removed from this chamber using a 10 mm wide by 50 mm deep bar screen that is set with 20 mm between each bar. Frequent cleaning operations are conducted to remove stuck materials. The purpose of the oil and grease chamber is to remove oil and grease from the influent, which can harm the pumping system and jeopardise biological treatments.

 

2. Equalization Tank: Peak daily or wet-weather flow can be temporarily stored in equalization basins. In addition to serving as a temporary holding area for incoming effluent during plant maintenance, basins also allow for the batch dilution and distribution of toxic or highly concentrated wastes that might otherwise prevent biological secondary treatment (such as portable toilet waste, waste from vehicle holding tanks, and septic tank pumpers). Aerators may also be included in flow equalisation basins, which also often have capabilities for bypass and cleaning and variable discharge control. If the basin is located after screening and grit removal, cleaning might be simpler.

 

3. Mixing Tank: In general, mixing tanks are created by mixing the influent that is kept in the equalization tank. Mechanical stirrers are used to perform the mixing.

 

4. An aerator-equipped aeration tank: A liquid or substance is aerated when air is pumped through it, combined with it, or dissolved in it. As a result, aeration tanks are provided to aerate the effluent so that biological waste treatment can proceed more effectively.

 

5. Clarifier: Clarifiers are sedimentation tanks with mechanical mechanisms for continuously removing sediments that are being deposited. A clarifier is frequently used to remove solid particles or suspended solids from a liquid in order to clarify and/or thicken it. Additionally, sludge is referred to the concentrated pollutants that are released from the tank’s bottom, whereas scum refers to contaminants that float to the liquid’s surface.

 

6. Drying sludge bed: The settled sludge is dewatered using sludge drying beds. In order to keep the concentration of MLSS in the aeration tank constant, the extra sludge from the clarifier is periodically discharged to sludge drying beds. These are the sand beds, which consist of a gravel layer that is about as thick as the sand layer and is perforated beneath it. The drainage lines are located 2.5 to 6 metres apart. The bed should incline at a rate of 1 in 200 towards the discharge end.

 

Conclusion

 

The effluent treatment plant’s overall performance is quite satisfactory. Additionally, the individual units operate effectively, and their removal efficiencies are acceptable. Therefore, it can be concluded that the effluent treatment plant in sugar industry is operating efficiently because the treated effluent complies with the MPCB requirement for discharge in inland surface water. This treatment facility has a strong potential for pH, temperature, TDS, and COD reduction. At the ETP’s output, the industry’s garden area receives the treated effluent.

 

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