Research on the Characteristics of Start up and Operation of Treating Brewery Wastewater with an AFB Reactor at Ambient Temperatures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and feasibility of treating brewery wastewater with an Anaerobic Fluidized Bed(AFB) reactor at ambient temperatures of about 25°C. Results from nearly one year of tests have demonstrated that the reactor has a volumetric loadings rate of 27-30kgCOD/m3.d with 2.5 h of hydraulic retention time (HRT). The COD removal rate can reach 85% or more under stable operating conditions. The average production rate of biogas was 0.45m3/kgCOD removed, of which the CH4 content was 72%. In addition, the formation mechanism of the biofilm was analyzed, the measures of rapid start up of the reactor was investigated. The operational characteristics of the AFB reactor were also discussed.