Process Operation

The application of ion exchange resin in the treatment of distillery spent wash is the
subsequent step of the treatment using flocculation methods. The influent in the ion exchange
column comes from the effluent obtained from the first treatment of flocculation. The following is
a summary of the steps of the process operation that involves the ion exchange resin based on the
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research:
1. An effluent of 250 mL of supernatant coming from the first treatment is obtained.
2. It is then transferred into a 100 mL conical flask that consists of the ion exchange resins.
3. As this is added, stirring is performed with the use of a magnetic stirrer. The conditions are
set constant for 30 minutes at ambient temperature.
4. After which, filtration is performed; analysis of the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD),
Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), and color reduction of the filtrate obtained is done.
According to the results in this study, after the treatment, the analysis shows that the parameters
resulted to 1280 ppm COD, 690 ppm TDS, and 64% color reduction. However, the results may
vary depending on the process of the flocculation method. Nonetheless, the process operation for
the ion exchange resin is consistent even at varying conditions of the first treatment.
The advantage of this type of process treatment operation is the condition set, which is at
ambient temperature; thus, it is economical in terms of energy cost. Moreover, corrosion problems
can be prevented as there is no application of mineral acid. The chemicals used are also not very
expensive. When it comes to equipment, they are easy to handle and there is no involvement of
any special equipment. Lastly, in terms of environmental concerns, the process and end-products
are not hazardous in nature.

Regeneration
The effluent with lower COD and TDS is produced from the ion-exchange resin bed. With
the use of an acidic or basic regenerant, such as sodium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide, the
spent regenerant can be obtained by regenerating the bed. In the subsequent regenerations, the
spent regenerant that is added with the acidic or basic regenerant is used in the accumulation of
salts up to a certain concentration. This is later separated as another by-product.

References:
Invergordon Distillers. Regeneration of ion exchange resins. Retrieved from:
https://patents.google.com/patent/GB2060430A/en.
Moghe, P. et. al. (2001). Process for treatment of mixture of spent wash from distillery and black
liquor from pulp and paper industry. Retrieved from:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20020117455A1/en.