Breakthrough in treating high BOD wastewaters

As environmental laws around the world enforce stricter compliance and higher fees for wastewater discharge, many food and beverage producers need effective, low-cost ways to treat and reduce BOD loads on-site.

For any food processing company, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) can represent a costly challenge when managing its liquid trade waste. High BOD can be expensive to discharge and cause rapid erosion of infrastructure such as sewers and pipes.

Maximising microbiology

Microorganisms are Nature’s best recyclers and decomposers and used in most wastewater treatment systems.

Executive Chairman at BioGill, John West, stated, “Our concept is to create the perfect, oxygen rich environment so the microorganisms can perform at their best, consuming pollutants from the wastewater.”

The breakthrough BioGill Towers are above ground biological bioreactors which are proving particularly effective in reducing soluble nutrients such as BOD, COD and nitrogen, as well as fat, oil and grease.

The technology is also an ideal performance boost for existing wastewater treatment plants, with excellent results recorded in the Philippines and the Middle East.

Save on energy use

Conventional submerged wastewater systems aerate the waste-water to provide oxygen for the microorganisms. This aeration process is inefficient, energy hungry and expensive.

BioGill technology takes a more innovative approach. Heat generated by the biofilm creates natural convective air flow inside the unit, so no powered aeration or energy hungry blowers are required.

“From confectionery producers, breweries, wineries, dairies and meat processors, across Australia, Asia and North America, our bioreactors are reducing the nutrient load in wastewater and helping producers meet environmental targets,” said John.

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Sweet success

A multinational confectionery company, based in regional NSW, was facing increased discharge fees for its high-sugar wastewater. Nine BioGill bioreactors were then retrofitted to the existing treatment plant to boost performance.

Operating since 2015, the average BOD discharge is now 284 mg/L from an influent BOD of 2,330 mg/L and well within the compliance standards from the local water authority.

By reducing BOD onsite, the company benefits from significant savings in discharge fees and helps protect the local environment and waterways.

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More and more food & beverage producers are seeking low energy, low cost biological water treatment solutions. To learn more about reducing pollutants in wastewater, please contact BioGill on P: + 61 2 8543 2200 or E: info@biogill.com.