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Environmental Engineer:
Applied Research and Practice
Nitrogen Sources and Consumption in Brewery Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Julie E. Smith, P.E. and Linda A. Figueroa, Ph.D., P.E.
Abstract
Because brewery wastewater is limited in nitrogen, biological treatment by an activated sludge process requires supplemental ammonia for a healthy biomass with good settling properties. Control of effluent ammonia while still meeting biomass nutritional requirements is an operational challenge. Nitrogen mass balances of the Coors Golden Brewery wastewater based on ammonia indicate that the biomass is generally nitrogen deficient, with total organic carbon:nitrogen ratios ranging from 16:1 to 103:1, significantly higher than the optimum 10:1. At the same time, total Kjeldahl nitrogen of the sludge is about 10% nitrogen by weight, indicating adequate nitrogen levels for healthy metabolism. Total and soluble Kjeldahl nitrogen of the wastewater show significant levels of organic nitrogen, which appears to be metabolized by the biomass. The Simulation of Single Sludge Processes (SSSP) software was used to improve understanding of nitrogen sources and utilization in the pure oxygen activated sludge process, and thus improve control of ammonia supplemental feeding and effluent quality. Various operating strategies were evaluated, such as step feed, adjustment of nitrogen feed and varying sludge age. Brewery wastewater streams from malting, packaging, brewing, fermenting, and yeast drying, were characterized and applied to the model to determine differences in supplemental nitrogen needs.
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