Wastewater treatment in breweries – INVENT’s process engineering solutions

Wastewater coming from breweries is biologically and chemically heavily contaminated, the most important parameters being the biochemical oxygen requirement and sulfides that, when inadequately areated, can lead to olfactory problems (hydrogen sulfide). The federal government’s central wastewater processing agency stipulates strict maximum permissible values for the direct discharge of a brewery’s wastewater. Indirect discharge facilities are subject of different permissible values, varying partly depending on the specific communities. In any case, compliance with the permissible values is highly relevant for wastewater treatment plant operators in the vicinity of a brewery.

Many restrictions are to be observed with regard to treating a brewery’s wastewater. It has a high concentration of easily degradable organic compounds (BSB5), disinfectants are being used and the pH value is very fluctuant, as acidic and alkaline cleaning agents are alternated during the CIP (Cleaning In Place) processes. The occurring loads of harmful substances are diluted in the mixing and equalization tanks and leveled out with regard to the pH value. The water level in the compensating tanks fluctuates greatly and wastewater from a brewery tends to develop odors due to its high temperature (> 35 °C) and easily degradable components. Detergents (surfactants) from the CIP processes are often the reason for a reduced and insufficient oxygen transfer to the wastewater as a result of very low oxygen transfer factors (alpha values). These alpha values very much depend on the choice of aeration system that is applied. Additionally, wastewater from a brewery often contains diatomaceous earth, which is carried over from the filtration process and is very fine-grained and highly abrasive...

Read more: www.invent-uv.com/blog/2017/07/31/wastewater-treatment-in-breweries/