Molasses Spent Wash Treatment “Decolourization, Detoxification Leading to Algal Biofuels

Introduction

Cleanergis Biosciences has developed a technology for the treatment of distillery wastewater called molasses spent wash MSW. MSW is one of the highest polluting industrial wastewater with very high COD, BOD, colour and toxicity. The technology consist of different principles of bioremediation applied in a sequential manner .

State of Development

Proof of concept has been obtained at lab scale studies. Three pilot scale studies have been completed, one in Bangalore and other two on the site of distillery in Kolhapur district in Maharashtra. The latest study which is still in progress is around 1200 litre scale system. One more study, 120,000 litre scale has been planned and will be started in the near future.

Unique Features of the Product/Technology

The capex and opex cost of this technology are lower as compared to other technologies that are used for the same purpose. This is a green technology. Water is cleaned up and is made re-usable for industry/agricultural purpose. The industrial flue gases can be diverted to the algal pond and used by the algae which in turn produce oxygen due to their photosynthetic activity.

Market Potential

Initial target market is the Indian distilleries. There are approximately 300 distilleries in India and every distillery produces about ten million litres of water every year. Annually there is about 35-40 billion litres of MSW produced in India. Assuming that we can price the treatment at 10 paise to one rupee per litre, the market will be 4-40 billion INR .

For further information please contact :  

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)
1st Floor ,MTNL Building ,9 ,
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-110003
E-mail: birac.dbt@nic.in
Phone: + 91-11-24389600