Management of the activated carbon in the Cuban rum industry

Abstract

Cuban rum is regarded among the best global brands of rum with a sustained growing in the international market. To reach its desirable organoleptic features, the operation of percolation “filtration” of aged aguardiente using a proper granular activated carbon (GAC) is essential. When the GAC become exhausted from rum production, is landfilled without any treatment and replaced by expensive virgin material thus creating an economic and environmental problem. Therefore, inefficient GAC management in rum production is realized. In this research, an improved strategy of GAC management in rum production is enabled. The GAC management proposal embraces not only proper and novel specific quantitative methods for GAC characterization but also, including a thermal regeneration process of the exhausted carbon in order to optimize its use looking for economic, social and environmental advantages. The proper conditions for the thermal regeneration of the exhausted GAC in rum production were determined and the regenerated carbon was characterized using novel and conventional methods. Results of thermal regeneration performed at industrial scale are discussed and the economic profitability of the new management proposal is debated. According to sensorial, economic and technological criteria the regenerated GAC can be successfully reapplied in the rum production process.