Biological treatability of a corn wet mill effluent

Abstract

Corn wet mill effluents are studied in terms of their characteristics relevant for biological treatment. They have a high COD of mainly soluble and biodegradable nature, with practically no soluble inert components. They generate a relatively high level of soluble residual metabolic products, which affects the choice of the appropriate biological treatment and favors aerobic activated sludge process. Experimental assessment of process kinetics yields typical values. Hydrolysis of the slowly biodegradable COD, the rate limiting step for the utilization of substrate, is characterized by an overall rate coefficient, which is within the range commonly associated for the hydrolysis of starch.