Cost-effective granular sludge-based process for distillery wastewater treatment and reuse

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The distilleries industry is among the most water-intensive and polluting industries in the world. The resulting distillery wastewater has an extremely high concentration of organic contaminants and solids. Discharge of insufficiently treated distillery wastewater into the environment has a negative impact on ecosystems and aquatic species. Currently, there is no single distillery wastewater treatment process that is cost-effective and energy-efficient, due to the complex nature of contaminants in distillery wastewater. This study aims to develop cost-effective treatment strategies for distillery wastewater. Specifically, the research team will develop robust integrated treatment using granular sludge-based bioreactors to achieve energy recovery, nutrients reduction, and water reuse from distillery wastewater. The biochemical and molecular tools developed in Dr. Liu's laboratories will be applied to advance the knowledge of the physicochemical and biological properties and activities of the microorganisms in granular sludge under various operation conditions. These activities will enable us to evaluate biodegradation mechanisms and provide guidance for future full-scale, cost-effective implementation.