Improving the biodegradability of grain distillery wastewater for use as UASB substrate by combinations of ozonation/enzymatic pre-treatments.

The effect of ozonation and enzyme combination pre-treatments on the composition of grain distillery wastewater (GDWW) was investigated. Exposure of UASB granules to these pre-treated GDWW was evaluated by determining the effect on granule activity, visual appearance and lipid content of the granules. Pre-treatments involving a pre-ozonation step were found to be more effective in reducing the lipid and COD content of GDWW. The higher the lipid and COD reduction achieved by the pre-treatments the higher the granule activity after 24 d exposure, the lower the lipid content in the granule and the less severe the formation of an encapsulating layer.