ABSTRACT
We evaluated the efficacy of a full-scale combined biophysicochemical system for treating molasses-based bioethanol wastewater in terms of organic substances, nutrient, and dark brown color removal. The main organic removal unit, i.e., the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket [UASB] reactor, achieved 80.7% removal and 4.3 Nm3 methane production per cubic meter of wastewater with a hydraulic retention time of 16.7 h. Downflow hanging sponge [DHS] reactors were important in reducing the biochemical oxygen demand [BOD], and the lowest possible organic waste intake prevented excessive biomass formation. The BOD removal efficiency was 71.2-97.9%. The denitrification upflow anaerobic fixed bed [UFB] reactor achieved 99.2% total nitrogen removal. Post-physicochemical membrane treatment reduced the total phosphate, color, and remaining organic matter by 90.4%, 99.1%, and 99.8%, respectively. We analyzed the microbial diversity of the sludge from the UASB reactors. Methanosaeta was the dominant archaeal genus in the system, followed by Methanolinea, Methanomicrospillum, Caldiserica, Bacteroidetes, and Deltaproteobacteria