Complete Treatment of Shochu Processed Wastewater by Thermophilic Oxic Process

Abstract

Thermophilic Oxic Process was applied to treat the “shochu” processed wastewater which contained extremely high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Suspended Solids (SS). The optimum operational conditions such as BOD load, aeration rate, etc. were investigated. It was found that the BOD and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal efficiencies were 100% and a minute amount of excess sludge was formed when the BOD load was 6 kg·m^-3·d^-1 and aeration rate was 300l·m^-3·min^-1. The carbon balance showed that almost all of the input carbon was converted to carbon dioxide (CO₂). The water and thermal balances demonstrated that all of the added water was evaporated; 66% and 34% of it were evaporated by the heat of biological reaction and electric heater, respectively.