Treatment of vinasses by electrocoagulation–electroflotation using the Taguchi method

Taguchi method has been applied in the treatment of vinasse from distillery for assess the performance of the process of electrocoagulation–electroflotation in the removal of total solids, turbidity and total organic carbon (TOC). The variables of study were initial pH, current density, concentration of hydrogen peroxide and material of the electrodes.We obtained removals of 50%, 89% and 25% for total solids, turbidity and total organic content, respectively, and 61% removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD). Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) has been used to identify possible compounds that are formed on the electrodes.

► We treat the vinasse with an electrochemical method show the importance of this method.
► We use the Taguchi method to evaluate the development of this technique applied to the vinasse.
► We identified some compounds at the final of this process and their characteristics with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR).
► We use some analytical techniques to show the characteristics at the final of this process and evaluate it.