Technology | Q-Biotech

High-Concentration Wastewater Pretreatment System (QBR)

QBR (Quick Bio Reactor) is a new-concept biological pretreatment process that economically treats high-concentration hazardous wastewater — which is difficult to treat by conventional biological methods — to the level of ordinary wastewater.

Through the application of microbial activity monitoring technology, this is Q-BioTech's proprietary system engineered for more stable operation. It is a proven technology applied at numerous petrochemical and fine chemical plants.

The QBR SYSTEM is subdivided into QBR, QNBR, QSBR, and QHBR depending on the wastewater characteristics.

QBR High-Concentration Wastewater Pretreatment System A new-process system that economically treats tens of thousands of ppm phenol and various high-concentration organic wastewaters using patented microbial processes and activity systems

QNBR High-Concentration Nitrogen Wastewater Pretreatment System A system that biologically and stably treats high-load nitrogen wastewater with elevated nitrogen and ammonia levels using patented nitrifying bacteria activation processes

QSBR High-Concentration Sulfur Wastewater Pretreatment System A system that biologically and economically treats high-concentration sulfur (Spent Caustic) wastewater generated from desulfurization processes using patented microbial processes

QHBR High-Concentration Saline Wastewater Pretreatment System A system that achieves biological organic matter treatment of wastewater containing over 5% salinity from chemical plants using patented microbial community activation processes

Technical Features

Over 10x the organic matter treatment load compared to conventional activated sludge
High microbial activity stability — resilient to influent load shocks
Site-specific customized bacteria development and application
Environmentally friendly technology with no secondary pollution
Microbial activity system (Feed Cut) operational monitoring — real-time microbial activity confirmation

Target Applications

Wastewater that is difficult to treat at conventional sewage and wastewater treatment plants
Incineration-treated wastewater, high-cost chemical wastewater, toxic wastewater, recalcitrant wastewater
Nitrogen wastewater, high-salinity wastewater, petroleum and paper industry wastewater
Phenol-containing wastewater, fluoride and cyanide-containing wastewater
When facility expansion is needed due to insufficient treatment capacity → resolves footprint issues compared to alternative technologies

High-Concentration Wastewater Pretreatment System

The High-Concentration Wastewater Pretreatment System (QBR SYSTEM) is a process that uses Q-BioTech's proprietary bacteria to rapidly and economically treat high-concentration industrial wastewater generated from chemical and manufacturing plants.

QBR SYSTEM — QBR process comparison vs. standard activated sludge

Technology Overview

It achieves a treatment load of 10–20 kg/m³·day for target wastewater concentrations of 5,000–200,000 ppm CODcr, recording 98% treatment efficiency. Stable biological treatment is possible even for toxic substances such as phenol.

Application Results (Company S Case Study)

Converted high-concentration wastewater from incineration to QBR SYSTEM, achieving 98% treatment efficiency
Stable organic matter treatment at volumetric loading of 12–15 kg/m³·day
Near-zero pH neutralization required, resulting in chemical cost savings
Significant reduction in operating costs after QBR installation vs. conventional
Stable biological treatment despite high concentrations of toxic substances including phenol

Wastewater Properties

Name of Waste water	EBHP	SM
CODcr	90,000	70,000
TOC	30,000	23,000
pH	2	14
TDS (g/l)	2	10
Neutralization	Not Needed	3L-H₂SO₄/m³
Amount	50 t/day	115 t/day

QBR Application

	EBHP	SM
Removal Eff. (%)	98	98
Load (kg-COD/m³·day)	15	12
Remarks	No Pre-Neutralization	No Pre-Neutralization

High-Concentration Nitrogen Wastewater Pretreatment System

The High-Concentration Nitrogen Wastewater Pretreatment System (QNBR SYSTEM) is a process that uses Q-BioTech's proprietary bacteria to rapidly and economically treat high-concentration nitrogen (ammonia) wastewater generated from coal and steel plants.

Technology Overview

It pretreats recalcitrant and toxic substances upstream of the biological treatment process, achieving 98% organic matter removal and 95% nitrogen removal efficiency. It can handle organic loading of 5.0–20 kg CODCr/m³·day and nitrogen loading of 0.5–1.0 kg TN/m³·day.

COKES PLANT

Wastewater Properties

	CODcr [ppm]	NH4-N [ppm]	CN- [ppm]	Phenol [ppm]	Oil [ppm]	pH
Values	3,500	350	10	900	100	6~9

QNBR Treated Water Properties

	CODcr [ppm]	NH4-N [ppm]	CN- [ppm]	Phenol [ppm]	Oil [ppm]	pH
Values	100	15	0.5	0.5	8	6~9

High-Concentration Sulfur Wastewater Pretreatment System

The High-Concentration Sulfur Wastewater Pretreatment System (QSBR SYSTEM) is a process that uses Q-BioTech's proprietary bacteria to economically treat sulfur-containing Spent Caustic wastewater generated from petroleum desulfurization processes.

QSBR SYSTEM — High-concentration sulfur wastewater pretreatment process flow diagram

Technology Overview

For target wastewater at CODcr 5.0–20 kg/m³·day and Sulfide 100–1,000 ppm, it achieves 90% organic matter removal and 95% S²⁻ removal efficiency. Neutralization is unnecessary, reducing H₂S generation, and WAO shutdown is possible, cutting operating costs.

What is Spent Caustic Wastewater?

Spent Caustic refers to the waste liquid generated when NaOH is used to remove sulfur compounds from crude oil during the desulfurization process. It is divided into refinery Spent Caustic and ethylene Spent Caustic. This wastewater contains high concentrations of S²⁻, SR, phenol, oil, and Naphthenic Acid, making it extremely difficult to treat.

The most commonly applied methods for treating Spent Caustic wastewater are WAO (Wet Air Oxidation) and biological treatment. WAO has the disadvantages of high operating costs and difficult stable operation, while in conventional biological treatment, S²⁻ acts as a toxic agent, making treatment challenging.

QSBR SYSTEM Application Results

Treatment of Spent Caustic-containing wastewater from gasoline and diesel desulfurization processes (strongly alkaline, high CODcr, containing large amounts of NH₃-N and Phenol)
Stable treatment of S²⁻ and COD confirmed after QSBR application — achieving 90% organic matter treatment efficiency and 95% S²⁻ removal efficiency
No neutralization required during QSBR operation → reduced H₂S generation
WAO (Wet Air Oxidation) shutdown possible during QSBR operation → significant reduction in operating costs

Wastewater Properties (Spent Caustic)

NO	Diesel S/C	Gasoline S/C
NO	Diesel S/C	Catalytic Gasoline S/C	Gas Separation S/C
pH	13	13	13
S²⁻	1,002	5,345	618
COD	88,900	360,000	167,000
NH₃-N	3,957	4,113	4,896
Phenol	6,702	80,886	25,351

QSBR Application (After Treatment)

pH	S²⁻	COD	NH₃-N	Phenol
6~9	≤10	≤1000	≤30	≤10

High-Concentration Saline Wastewater Pretreatment System

The QHBR SYSTEM is a process that uses Q-BioTech's proprietary bacteria to rapidly and economically treat high-concentration organic saline wastewater generated from chemical and manufacturing plants.

QHBR SYSTEM — High-salinity wastewater biological treatment process

Technology Overview

It effectively treats organic matter at target wastewater concentrations of 5,000–200,000 ppm CODcr and 10,000–80,000 mg/L TDS (NaCl). The patented microbial process enables biological treatment of high-salinity wastewater, and the elimination of dilution water reduces operating costs.

QHBR Technical Advantages

Minimized FootprintMinimized dilution water requirements — installation within existing site
Stable Effluent QualityStable water quality through pre/post-treatment integration
Proven TechnologyProven track record of stable high-salinity wastewater treatment
Reduced Operating CostsSignificant operating cost reduction through biological treatment
High Treatment EfficiencyOver 85% organic removal under high-salinity conditions (TDS 3.0–8.5%)
Low-Carbon Green TechnologyLower energy consumption compared to alternative technologies

What is High-Salinity Wastewater?

In chemical manufacturing processes where NaOH, HCl, and similar chemicals are used as raw materials, wastewater with high salt (NaCl) content is generated. Generally, high-salinity wastewater cannot be treated biologically, so physical-chemical treatment methods are widely applied.

Conventional high-salinity wastewater treatment relies on dilution and stripping, which requires large volumes of dilution water and incurs high operating costs. Additionally, when high-salinity wastewater enters treatment plants, it affects cytoplasmic synthesis and reduces floc formation, leading to decreased microbial activity.

QHBR SYSTEM Application Results

QHBR SYSTEM applied at a Yeosu petrochemical company
Stable treatment of COD and NH₃-N in saline wastewater confirmed after QHBR application
Significant reduction in operating costs by eliminating dilution water usage

Wastewater Properties

	CODcr [ppm]	NH4-N [ppm]	Aniline [ppm]	TDS [g/L]	pH
Values	6,000	100	200	8,000	9~11

QHBR Application

	CODcr [ppm]	NH4-N [ppm]	Aniline [ppm]	TDS [g/L]	pH
Values	200	10	20.0	5,000	7~8