METHODOLOGY FOR SELECTING FLOCCULANTS IN THE TREATMENT OF WASTE IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

Abstract

The industries of dairy processes generate considerable volumes of waste liquids that are polluting the environment. Therefore, the objective of the study is to develop a methodology to determine the type and most effective dose of flocculant. The methodology is based on the measurement of the size of the particles using rope technique for measuring reflection of laser-focused (FBRM) that allows study in the residual milk, the mechanism of flocculation, the type and the most effective dose of a flocculant employ and the nature of the Flocculate trained. The study used synthetic organic flocculants marketed by the firm CIBA and applied kinetic model of Smoluchowski to the study of the processes of flocculation, defloculación and refloculación. Non ionic flocculants were not able to induce the flocculation of these wastewaters. Very high molecular weight and medium charge density anionic flocculants, especially Magnafloc LT-27, induced the fastest flocculation process to form the largest flocs.