Abstract:
Fifteen (l5)Nos of Govt. owned Sugar Mills in the Northern & South-west zone of
Bangladesh comprise a major industrial sector in the country. Bangladesh Sugar &
Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC-owner of these sugar mills) considered being
one of the best-organized agro-based industrial sectors in the country. These
industries produced nearly 1.65 lac metric tons of sugar during 2006-07 season and
has a full production capacity estimated at 2. I 0 lac metric tons. In the absence of
adequate pollution control measures, such a large operation brings with it the
potential for significant environmental and health concerns. In addition to releases of
substantial levels of air and solid waste pollutants, a major environmental challenge
posed by sugar production in the large amount of pollutant-laden wastewater
produced.
The study work has been performed to study and analyze the characteristics of
effluent water of Sugar industries in Bangladesh.The present study was conducted
through collecting of 14 Nos running ~ugar Mill's (BSFIC) effluent water, and the
effluent samples were examined for pH, BODs COD, Hardness, TOS, SS, TS,
inorganic substances (Nitrogen, Sulphate, Chlorides), colour and Turbidity. From this
sample the test results collected from the Environmental engineering Laboratory,
BUET and then analysed by using computer software (EXCEL). The study reveals
that in most cases, the concentration of these parameters exceed for some sugar mills
within the respective maximum permissible limits suggested by Environmental
Quality Standrads of Bangladesh. Generally the waste(Effluent water) contain
medium to high BODs, COD loading, high suspended & dissolved solids and strong
colour. The major pollutants in terms of total waste load generated and ranked in
order of contributing the highest biodegradable load are B005= I04-8200mg/l,
COO=140-12000mgll. The effluent quality e.g BODs and COD of all Sugar
Industries exceeded the EQS limit. These sugar mills (BSFIC) needed to be properly
treated and maintained before discharged into a surface water body. The average
B0051COO ratios found for all sugar Mill are higher than 0.67; so that all of the
Sugar industrial effluents are biologically treatable without acclimatization.
