Application of the down-flow fluidized bed to the anaerobic treatment of wine distillery wastewater

This paper presents the results of the operation of a down-flow anaerobic fluidized bed treating red wine distillery wastewater during 1.5 years (laboratory scale). The carrier employed was ground perlite, an expanded volcanic rock (density 213 kg m(-1), diameter 0.968 mm). After a 2 months start-up period, organic loading rate (OLR) was increased stepwise by reducing hydraulic retention time (HRT). The system attained carbon removal efficiency rates between 75 and 95%, at a OLR of 17 kg TOC m(-3) d(-1) (total organic carbon), at an HRT of 0.35 days. The results observed showed that the inverse fluidized bed can be an interesting option for anaerobic wastewater treatment. (C) 1998 IAWQ Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. Ail rights reserved.