Anaerobic treatment of distillery wastewater

Distillery wastewater treatment in a laboratory anaerobic UASB reactor is described. The aim of the modelling was to determine optimum reactor organic loading and the design reactor volume. The process was followed at 20°C reactor temperature, because the distillery wastewater was diluted with municipal wastewater to achieve the required nutrient balance (the UASB reactor will be situated at a municipal wastewater treatment plant). In addition, the effect of high suspended solids concentrations in distillery wastewater on UASB treatment efficiency is described. Separation of suspended solids in a pre-equalization tank followed by stabilization of settled solids in a digester of municipal sewage sludge was proposed to eliminate the accumulation of these solids in the UASB sludge bed.