Treatment Methods for Wine-Related and Distillery Wastewaters: A Review

ABSTRACT

A large and increasing volume of wastewater is produced globally by the winery and distillery industries. These wastewaters are generally acidic, high in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color, and may contain phenolic compounds that can inhibit biological treatment systems. Treatment of distillery and phenolic compound–rich wastewaters by physicochemical, aerobic biological systems and hybrid treatment methods are discussed, as well as products derived from fungal treatment. White-rot fungi have been shown to exhibit unique biodegradation capabilities, primarily due to their production of extracellular and broad substrate range enzymes that are capable of mineralizing lignin, a recalcitrant biopolymer. One of these enzymes, laccase, catalyses the oxidation of various organic compounds with the subsequent reduction of molecular oxygen to water. Laccase synthesis, induction, and inhibition are discussed with the utilization of waste residues for laccase production and the enzyme's potential industrial applications. Distillery wastewaters offer a unique, presterilized, potential growth substrate for the production of lignolytic enzymes such as laccase. Compounds may be utilized for enzyme and biomass production resulting in remediation by the growing fungus.

KEYWORDS:

• COD
• enzyme
• fungal
• laccase
• phenol
• stillage

Notes

¹ Garcípa-Falcón et al., 2005.

² Monagas et al., 2005.

³ Hernández et al., 2006.