Forward-osmosis anaerobic-membrane bioreactors for brewery wastewater remediation

Since most of the water used for brewing becomes wastewater, reduction wastewater streams is great importance industry. Anaerobic membrane bioreactors incorporating forward osmosis membranes (FO-AnMBRs) could provide an energy-efficient solution treatment brewery while recovering and simultaneously producing biogas. The start-up period two lab-scale FO-AnMBRs fed with real (Rreal) synthetic (Rsynth) was assessed compared to continuous stirred tank reactor operation without membranes. During start-up, hydraulic retention time (HRT) reactors reduced from 20 2.5 days increasing organic loading rate. CH4 production Rsynth Rreal increased up nine-fold when were integrated, demonstrating principle that FO-AnMBR can be treatment. However, process stability decreased decreasing HRT, possibly due shear stress inadequate C/N ratio wastewater.