Biological Treatments

One of the most efficient and economic treatment systems for liquid pollutants, such as: industrial wastewater and domestic waste, can be carried out by using biological processes, and more specifically through the use of microorganisms (biomass) which are naturally occurring.

Biological processes, whether anaerobic or aerobic, are based upon a cultured mix of microorganisms which digests the organic matter present in polluted liquids and wastewater.

Anaerobic

The main objective of the anaerobic process is to digest the organic matter and produce biogas (energy), without using energy for the process and with low output of residual sludge (biomass).

Depending upon the characteristics of the wastewater, such as: temperature and the intended use of the treated wastewater, we can recommend the use of either mesophilic or thermophilic microorganisms which function efficiently at temperatures below 40 and 55ºC, generally. In Brazil, mesophilic microorganisms are more commonly used, mainly because they are easier to produce and more widely available.

Aerobic

The main objective of an aerobic process is to digest the organic matter and produce biomass (sludge), using exothermic reactions and this requires the use of energy.

Main differences between the processes

Aerobic: DQ0 + 0, C0, + H20 + new aerobic biomass

Anaerobic: DQ0 > CH4 + C02, + new anaerobic biomass

The anaerobic biological process offers a number of advantages over aerobic systems:

It doesn't require any energy for the digestion of organic matter;
It produces biogas which is a rich, clean and renewable source of energy, which can be used on site in a number of ways;
It produces a small quantity of excess sludge (around 10% compared to aerobic systems), which can be sold;
Itis a compact system and requires a smaller building area;
It uses fewer nutrients to run the process;
Operating and maintenance costs are reduced compared to aerobic systems;

Combinations of
Biological Processes

The wide range of different technologies available to BIOTECS allows us to combine these in the most efficient way to create the required solution for each individual treatment system.

We can combine aerobic with anaerobic technologies to deliver the most effective and efficient process to treat the many different types of wastewaters.

In order to biologically treat industrial wastewater we can offer a variety of anaerobic and aerobic processes, combining the most effective technologies within each bespoke configuration.

With many advantages over traditional aerobic systems, the anaerobic process is often the best technical and economic choice for wastewater treatment, especially for the beverage and food industry.