Treatment of High-Strength Brewery Wastewater
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The beer brewing industry generates substantial volumes of high organic strength wastewater. As a result, significant over-strength discharge fees (ODFs) can be imposed on breweries by municipalities. This thesis aims to investigate the performance of anaerobic-aerobic (A/O) and combined electrocoagulation and chemical coagulation (EC-CC) treatment in reducing the contaminant load of wastewater generated by a local brewery. Optimal operating parameters for both treatment methods were investigated to enhance removal performance while minimizing operating costs. A/O treatment with two anaerobic and two aerobic columns achieved COD, RP, TSS removal efficiencies of 93.2%, 99.4%, and 97.5%, respectively. Treatment by EC and post-CC at 5W for 20 minutes using aluminum electrodes resulted in COD, RP, TP and TSS removal efficiencies of 26.4%, 74.2%, 75.9%, and 85.1%, respectively. These treatment methods were able to significantly reduce the contaminant load of brewery wastewater demonstrating their potential for ODF reduction and cost savings.