Wastewater treatment at a brewery is a complex system engineering project that requires a multi-stage combined process, taking into account the high concentration of organic matter and large fluctuations in water quality and quantity. The core objectives are to effectively degrade organic matter, achieve compliant discharge, and recover resources as much as possible.
Main treatment process flow: Wastewater treatment at a brewery typically follows a process of “pretreatment → biological treatment → advanced treatment → sludge and resource recovery,” with the specific steps as follows:
1. Pretreatment stage: This stage aims to remove large particulate impurities and balance water quality and quantity, creating stable conditions for subsequent biological treatment. This includes screens and barriers, equalization tanks, and sedimentation/flotation.
2. Biological treatment stage: This is the core of the treatment, utilizing microorganisms to degrade organic matter in the wastewater. It mainly consists of anaerobic and aerobic stages. These include anaerobic treatment, UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket), IC (Internal Circulation Anaerobic Reactor), aerobic treatment, activated sludge process, biological contact oxidation, and MBR (Membrane Bioreactor).
3. Advanced Treatment Stage: When effluent needs to meet stricter discharge standards or is planned for reuse, advanced treatment is required. This includes coagulation and sedimentation, advanced oxidation, and membrane technology.
4. Sludge Treatment and Resource Utilization: The sludge generated during treatment needs to be thickened, dewatered (commonly using belt filter presses or plate and frame filter presses), and dried. The dewatered sludge can be disposed of in a harmless manner, or, due to its high organic content, can be used as organic fertilizer after further treatment.
