Summary: | The effect of bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion (BEAD) on the methanogenic performance of brewery wastewater at different organic loading rates (OLRs) was investigated and compared to conventional anaerobic digestion. A continuous BEAD reactor was used to treat brewery wastewater at different OLRs of 2, 4, 8, 16, and 20 g COD/L.d. The experimental results showed that the methane production was gradually increased from 0.48 L/L.d at an OLR of 2 g COD/L.d to 5.64 L/L.d at an OLR of 20 g COD/L.d. The methane production of the BEAD system was significantly higher than that of the conventional anaerobic reactor, indicating that BEAD has a better treatment effect for brewery wastewater. The performance of the conventional anaerobic reactor was significantly reduced especially at an OLR of 16 g COD/L.d, while the BEAD system could withstand a higher OLR. Bioelectrochemical systems provide a completely new platform for the anaerobic treatment of brewery wastewater and greatly improve the operation of anaerobic processes.
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