2001 AACC Annual Meeting Charlotte, North Carolina October 14-18, 2001 Charlotte Convention Center

Starch plant waste streams, especially plants that produce modified starches and/or ion exchanged corn syrups, often contain significant quantities of salt. The presence of, or potential for, regulations, restricting the discharge of salt in waste streams is steadily increasing. It is possible, using electrodialysis in conjunction with other processes, to significantly reduce the amount of salt in a discharge stream. Further, the addition of bi-polar membranes in the process can convert the salt into hydrochloric acid and caustic that can be reused within the plant. The details and economics of this process will be presented.