THE EFFECTS OF HYDRAULIC RETENTION TIME AND LOADING RATE ON BREWERY WASTEWATER TREATMENT USING SEQUENCING BATCH REACTORS

Abstract

Four laboratory-scale suspended-growth aerobic sequencing batch reactors (SBR) were used to study the effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and loading rate on the treatment of brewery wastewater. Factorial experiments and response surface analysis were carried out to explore the optimal operating conditions. A maximum total organic carbon (TOC) removal of 97% was estimated, at a HRT of 1.44 days with a loading rate of 3122 mg/L day. The maximum suspended solids removal, around 95%, would occur at values of HRT and loading rate of 1.32 days and 13.84 g/L day, respectively. TOC removal was more sensitive to the variations of HRT, however, the loading rate was more important than the HRT for suspended solids removal.

Keywords:

• SBR
• Brewery wastewater
• Loading rate
• Hydraulic retention time

Acknowledgments