The effects of hydraulic retention time and loading rate on brewery wastewater treatment using sequencing batch reactors

Four laboratory-scale suspended-growth aerobic sequencing batch reactors (S BR) were used to study the effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and lo ading rate on the treatment of brewery wastewater. Factorial experiments an d response surface analysis were carried out to explore the optimal operati ng conditions. A maximum total organic carbon (TOC) removal of 97% was esti mated, at a HRT of 1.44 days with a loading rate of 3122mg/L day. The maxim um suspended solids removal, around 95%, would occur at values of HRT and l oading rate of 1.32 days and 13.84g/L day, respectively. TOC removal was mo re sensitive to the variations of HRT, however, the loading rate was more i mportant than the HRT for suspended solids removal.