Among the raw material sources for distillery, two very
important raw materials are cane sugar molasses and
beet sugar molasses. Distillery wastewater (stillage) is
the main byproduct originating in distilleries, and its
volume is approximately 10 times that of ethanol
produced. It is not surprising that the utilization of the
stillage raises serious problems, and that many attempts
have been made all over the world to solve them.
Distillery wastewater is usually comprised of a high
volume of greatly acidic matter which presents many
disposal and treatment problems. Waste streams
generally contain high levels of both dissolved organic
and inorganic materials. There has been increasing
interest in the use of ethanol from biomass as a liquid
fuel alternative. Ethanol fermentation is examined in
relation to distillery wastes. In the year 1999, there
were 285 distilleries in India producing 2.7 × 109
L of
alcohol and 319 distilleries, producing 3.25 × 109
L of
alcohol generating 4 × 1010 L of wastewater each year.