Full-Scale Studies with an Anaerobic/Aerobic RBC Unit Treating Brewery Wastewater

A full-scale combined anaerobic random packed-cage and aerobic disc rotating biological contactor was operated under fluctuating organic loading rates treating a brewery wastewater. The robustness of the combined system in coping with greatly fluctuating influent COD's and pH 's is demonstrated. Excessive turbulence along with the variable operating conditions are identified as the major reasons for the failure to establish a significant anaerobic biofilm attached to the media. The importance of suspended sludge and its retention within the anaerobic RBC is demonstrated by the changing biological population in the suspended solids.