Fertirrigation with sugarcane vinasse: Foreseeing potential impacts on soil and water resources through vinasse characterization

Abstract

This paper reports the characterization of the polluting potential of sugarcane vinasse, the main wastewater from ethanol production. Compositional data from vinasse samples collected from sugarcane biorefineries were used to predict negative effects on the soil, water resources and crops potentially associated with fertirrigation, the primary final destination of vinasse in Brazil. High risks of soil salinization were associated with the land disposal of vinasse, as evidenced by the high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS; >4,000 mg L) and electrical conductivity (>6.7 dS m). The high TDS levels coupled with the high biodegradable organic content of vinasse (>14 g L) also favor organic overloading events, leading to local anaerobiosis conditions. Conversely, soil sodification should not be observed in areas fertirrigated with sugarcane vinasse, given the low Na concentrations (<66 mg L) relative to Mg (>145.1 mg L) and Ca (>458.4 mg L) levels. Priority pollutants (Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) and phytotoxic elements (Al and Fe) were also found in the analyzed samples; however, relevant environmental impacts should not be associated with these particular constituents. Overall, the relatively simple methodology used herein could efficiently replace massive field data collection to provide a basic understanding of the fate of vinasse in the environment in order to highlight the priority points to be considered in the management of this effluent. In summary, the prompt implementation of treatment plants in distilleries, in addition to a continuous and broad compositional characterization of vinasse, is essential to guarantee its adequate reuse.

The role of collaboration for resilience of the sugarcane-energy supply chain

“…In addition to its economic, social and environmental relevance added to its historical vulnerability resulting from a myriad of threats (governmental interference with prices and products' characteristics, laborrelated issues similar to slavery, bad soil conservation in agricultural areas, intensive dependence on water resources in the industrial area, among others), up to this date no researches have been published on the theme of resilience and its empirical contributions in the agribusiness sector in Brazil. This equally evidences the academic relevance of this study for the national scenario once recently there has been several productive discussions about the sugarcane-energy supply chain (Aquila, Pamplona, Queiroz, Junior, & Fonseca, 2017;Biazzin, Paiva, Di Serio, & Andrade, 2015;Brunhara, Corrêa, & Mazini, 2018;Dias et al, 2015;Fuess, Rodrigues, & Garcia, 2017;Julca-Briceño & Fava Neves, 2011).…”

Growth of Desmodesmus subspicatus green microalgae and nutrient removal from sugarcane vinasse clarified by electrocoagulation using aluminum or iron electrodes

“…Nowadays, the main use of vinasse is in the fertirrigation of the sugarcane crop, as a substitution of part of the chemical fertilization. However, its application in high doses can lead to soil salinization [3] and surface and/or groundwater pollution [4].…”

<b>Influence of sugarcane variety and management on the mineral composition of vinasse from alembic cachaça

“…Other nutrients that featured in our alembic vinasse samples compared to results in the literature for alembic vinasse (Oliveira et al, 2009;Margarido et al, 2010) and bioethanol vinasse (Rocha et al, 2008;Mariano, Crivelaro, Angelis & Bonotto, 2009;Silva, Bono & Pereira, 2014) were P, Ca, Mg, S, Fe and Cu. Fuess, Rodrigues, & Garcia (2017) observed both priority pollutants (Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn), and phytotoxic elements (Al and Fe) in bioethanol vinasse. For the other nutrients, the concentrations in the alembic vinasse were comparable.…”