Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Performance for High-Strength Brewery Wastewater Treatment and Biogas Recovery

Abstract

High-strength brewery wastewater contains elevated concentrations of biodegradable organic matter, suspended solids, and nutrients that pose significant environmental challenges if discharged without adequate treatment. Simultaneous wastewater treatment and energy recovery are therefore essential for sustainable brewery operations and environmental management. The present study investigates the performance of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor for high-strength brewery wastewater treatment and biogas recovery under controlled operational conditions. The research focuses on evaluating organic pollutant removal efficiency, membrane filtration performance, methane production, biomass retention, and process stability associated with integrated anaerobic treatment systems. Experimental analysis was conducted to examine the influence of hydraulic retention time, organic loading rate, membrane flux, sludge concentration, temperature, and transmembrane pressure on reactor performance and biogas generation. Results demonstrate that the anaerobic membrane bioreactor effectively combines anaerobic biodegradation and membrane separation mechanisms, resulting in substantial reductions in chemical oxygen demand and suspended solids while maintaining high-quality effluent. The study further reveals that optimized operating conditions significantly enhance methane production and microbial activity while minimizing membrane fouling and operational instability. High biomass retention within the reactor contributed to improved treatment efficiency and stable anaerobic digestion performance under fluctuating brewery wastewater characteristics.