Anaerobic treatment of opaque beer wastewater with enhanced biogas recovery through Acti-zyme bio augmentation

Abstract

This study investigates the potentially of biologically treating opaque beer wastewater using the bio augmentation technology at the same time harnessing biogas and bio solids as value added products. Wastewater sample were collected in 5L containers and the sludge was separated from the liquid. The liquid and sludge were bio augmented with Acti-zyme with loadings of 5 g/L, 10 g/L and 15 g/L and were left to settle over a period of 30 days under anaerobic conditions. The wastewater and treated effluent BOD, COD, TKN, TP, TSS, TDS and pH were measured using standard methods. Whereas the amount of biogas generated was measured using the water displacement and its composition quantified. The BOD, COD, TKN, TP, TSS, TDS were significantly reduced by 93%, 77%, 87%, 89%, 90% and 90% respectively. The BOD/COD ratio was 0.72 initially and reduced to 0.21 for all the Acti-zyme loadings. Biogas with a methane composition of 65–70% was recovered .