Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Durban University of Technology, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2017. . / One of the major effects of socio-economic change due to industrialisation is the generation of industrial wastewater, which requires treatment before being released into the environment. Laboratory-scale aerobic sequencing batch reactors under suspended-growth heterotrophic activated sludge were operated in different aeration configurations to study their effect on the treatment of wastewater generated by a local brewery. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the two laboratory-scale aerobic sequencing batch reactors treating brewery wastewater under continuous low-oxygen dosing concentration and cyclic aeration schemes on SBR operation. The characterisation of brewery wastewater was undertaken to assess the physicochemical composition of the wastewater produced from one of the breweries in South Africa (SAB). The data showed distinctive characteristics of brewery wastewater, which coincided with studies previously carried out on characterisation of brewery wastewater. The COD average concentration of the brewery influent was 7100 mg/L, with average pH values of 7. The BOD and the total solids content of the brewery wastewater influent from the facility were both high, implying that the influent was very rich in organic content and its discharge into water-receiving bodies or the municipal treatment plant could have adverse effects. From these results, a need for a competitive treatment technology was clearly highlighted so as to carry out a feasible treatment of the influent for the brewery industry. The aerobic sequencing batch reactors were designed, fabricated and set up for laboratory-scale treatment of wastewater from the brewery for 15 weeks. The performance of the two SBR configurations was determined with reference to COD, BOD, TS, VS and TSS. The experimental results demonstrated that wastewater generated from the breweries can be treated successfully using both aeration configurations. The results obtained indicated that treatment efficiencies in terms of COD and BOD were 94 % and 85 % respectively, for the reactor operated under continuous aeration configuration, while 81 % and 65 % was achieved for the reactor operated in the cyclic aeration scheme. The findings from this study demonstrate that the performance of the reactor operated under the continuous aeration scheme was successful, and showed statistically significant differences from the performance of the reactor operated under cyclic aeration schemes. These findings imply that there is a potential for the equipment, including financial benefit as a result of operating aerobic sequencing batch reactors for treating brewery wastewater under continuous low-oxygen concentration dosing schemes. In this study, it was also established that the maximum COD removal could be reached at an optimum hydraulic retention times of 5 days for both reactors. This was based upon viewing the experimental data; it appeared that the most significant difference in percentage COD removal was for HRTs 3 days and 4 days. Although, due to less percentage COD removal observed from HRTs 5 days till 7 days, it was hence established that the optimum removal of high strength organics in the brewery wastewater could be achieved within 5 days of treatment time. The pH adapted at an average of 7 for all batch experimentations of the study. The temperature maintained an average of 23 oC ambient, throughout the experimental period. These physical parameters ensured that the microbial population was kept healthy, without inhibiting its biological degradation activity. Although, sludge build up was observed in both aerobic SBRs on completion of each batch operation due to solids retention and organic pollutants biodegradation from the brewery wastewater. It was perceived that frequently reseeding both aerobic SBRs, as an alternative to 28 days sludge retention time would enhance the recovery of biomass, thus improving the overall removal of TSS consequently minimising sludge bulking in both reactors. / M

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The gibberellic acid (GA3) is a natural hormone found in some plants, this hormone has been used in agricultural formulations, as growth regulator, highly relevance both economic and industrial. Currently, its industrial scale production is achieved by Submerged Fermentation (SF) using the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi. The main problem in the industrial process is related to the low yield of GA3, causing the purification process presents high costs. An alternative to this process is the Solid- State Fermentation (SSF) that allows to obtain higher concentrations of this product. The greatest advantage of the SSF front SF is related to increased production of GA3 using low cost substrates such as waste and by-products of agroindustry. Given the fact that Brazil is highlighted as one of the most prosperous countries in terms of agricultural production, and the Rio Grande do Sul accounts for about 30-40% of rice and barley production in the country, this research evaluated the use of Raw Rice Bran (RRB) and Wet Brewery Waste (WBW), rice processing and brewing industry residues, as substrates for GA3 production by the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi. Two experimental designs, a linear type 2n and CCRD, both for two variables were performed. The first design evaluated, on three levels, evaluated the effect of moisture content in the range of 50 to 70%, and the composition of the medium, with RRB content ranging from 30 to 70% of the total substrate mass (RRB and WBW mass). In turn, the second planning in 5 levels, evaluated the effect of the addition of glucose, the carbon source over the range 0 to 80 g/L, and ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), the nitrogen source, in the range 0 - 5 g/L, by making use of the best conditions of the first planning. It was found that, for seven days of fermentation, the greater yield for the first research proposed, was at the test carried out with medium composition of 30% RRB and 70% WBW and moisture content equals 70%. At the second design It was observed that the highest concentration of NH4NO3 favored the formation of GA3 by the fungus, towards intermediate value to the glucose content. Finally, investigation of the kinetic behavior showed an increase in production of GA3, with the peak on the seventh day with maximal production of 10,10 g/kg of substrate, and subsequent tendency for stabilization. / O ácido giberélico (GA3) é um hormônio natural presente em algumas plantas, sendo empregado em formulações agrícolas como regulador de crescimento, apresentando grande importância econômica e industrial. Atualmente, sua produção em escala industrial é realizada por fermentação submersa (FSub) empregando o fungo Gibberella fujikuroi. O maior problema no processo submerso está relacionado aos baixos rendimentos de GA3, fazendo com que o processo de purificação apresente elevados custos. Uma alternativa a este processo é a fermentação em estado sólido (FES) que permite a obtenção deste produto em concentrações maiores. A maior vantagem da FES frente à FSub está relacionada à maior produção de GA3 empregando substratos de baixo custo, como por exemplo, resíduos e subprodutos da agroindústria. Dado o fato de que o Brasil é destacado como um dos mais prósperos países em termos da produção agrícola, e que o Rio Grande do Sul é responsável por cerca de 30 a 40% da produção de arroz e cevada, no país, avaliou-se a utilização de Farelo de Arroz Bruto (FAB) e Resíduo de Cervejaria Úmido (RCU), resíduos do processamento de arroz e da indústria cervejeira, como substratos para a produção de GA3 pelo fungo Gibberella fujikuroi. Foram realizados dois planejamentos experimentais, linear do tipo 2n e DCCR, ambos para duas variáveis. O primeiro planejamento, em três níveis, avaliou o efeito da umidade, na faixa de 50 a 70%, e a composição do meio, com o teor de FAB variando entre 30 e 70% do total de massa do substrato (massa de FAB e de RCU). Por sua vez, o segundo planejamento, em 5 níveis, avaliou o efeito da adição de glicose, fonte de carbono na faixa de 0 a 80 g/L, e do Nitrato de Amônio (NH4NO3), fonte de nitrogênio, na faixa entre 0 a 5 g/L, na produtividade de GA3, fazendo uso das melhores condições do primeiro planejamento. Foi verificado que, para sete dias de fermentação, o maior rendimento obtido, para a primeira investigação proposta, foi no ensaio realizado com composição do meio 30% FAB e 70% RCU e umidade do meio de 70%. No segundo planejamento constatou-se que a maior concentração de NH4NO3 favoreceu a formação de GA3 pelo fungo, para um valor intermediário do teor de glicose. Por fim, a investigação da cinética demonstrou um comportamento de crescimento na produção de GA3, com o pico no sétimo dia, com produção máxima de 10,10 g/Kg de substrato, e posterior tendência à estabilização.