Performance Characteristics of a Pilot-Scale Electromethanogenic Reactor Treating Brewery Wastewater

Kyle Bowman (), Marcelo Elaiuy, George Fudge, Harvey Rutland, William Gambier, Theo Hembury, Ben Jobling-Purser, Thomas Fudge, Izzet Kale and Godfrey Kyazze
Additional contact information
Kyle Bowman: School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW, UK
Marcelo Elaiuy: WASE, Unit 1, City Business Park, Bristol BS5 0SP, UK
George Fudge: WASE, Unit 1, City Business Park, Bristol BS5 0SP, UK
Harvey Rutland: WASE, Unit 1, City Business Park, Bristol BS5 0SP, UK
William Gambier: WASE, Unit 1, City Business Park, Bristol BS5 0SP, UK
Theo Hembury: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Ben Jobling-Purser: WASE, Unit 1, City Business Park, Bristol BS5 0SP, UK
Thomas Fudge: WASE, Unit 1, City Business Park, Bristol BS5 0SP, UK
Izzet Kale: School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW, UK
Godfrey Kyazze: School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW, UK

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: A pilot-scale (4000 L) continuous flow electromethanogenic reactor (EMR), also known as a microbial electrochemical cell coupled with an anaerobic digester (MEC-AD), treating brewery wastewater was designed and installed at Hepworth’s Brewery, UK. This investigation presents a 4-fold increase in size compared to the next largest pilot-scale MEC-AD system presented in the literature, providing findings to inform the operation of a 52,000 L MEC-AD system (currently under construction). Housed in a 20 ft shipping container, the pilot system features four 1000 L reaction vessels arranged in series, each with a working volume of 900 L. Each reaction vessel contained 8 electrode modules. The system was tested over varying organic loading rates (OLRs), achieved through systematic reductions in hydraulic retention time (HRT). HRTs between 24 and 1.8 days were investigated to align with commercial viability targets. OLRs were observed from 0.4 to 7.5 kgCOD/m 3 /d. A maximum stable OLR of 6.75 kgCOD/m 3 /d at a HRT of 2.3 days was observed while maintaining COD removal of 65 and 88% over the first two vessels. This pilot demonstrated commercially viable performance of an EMR at a brewery, resulting in the purchase of the technology at commercial scale (52,000 L) to form part of a wastewater treatment system.

Keywords: pilot-scale; MEC-AD; brewery wastewater; anaerobic digestion; electromethanogenesis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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