Improving Product Quality / Reducing Plant Operational Cost
Water Recovery and Waste Minimization
Whether is it BOD surcharges or paying high waste hauling costs, Sciential looks for ways to accomplish both water recovery and waste minimization through high solids consolidation unit processes. Whether is it waste minimization or BOD reduction, Sciential’s treatment technologies can aid in reducing high operational cost impacts. Further, Sciential has the expertise to simulate multiple unit processes at the bench-scale level, minimizing costly upfront pilot testing. Sciential’s systematic solutions approached allows the end-user the tools necessary to dial in a plant, look at plant process bottlenecks or looking at the feasibility of a flowsheet while generating valuable CapEx and OpEx values. Whether it is reducing BOD or simply concentrating high liquid streams for waste disposal such that the water can be reused while concentrating the solids for disposal.
Sciential’s nutrient removal technologies are designed for operator ease of operation, maintenance and power usage reduction. Operation efficiencies are built into all Sciential products.
Treatment Drivers
- Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
- Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
- Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
- Fats, Oil, Grease (FOG)
- Potential Water Reuse
- Potential Heavy Metals
- Detergents, cleaners, etc.
- Nutrient Removal
Simulation Test Kits
- Chemical screening – Bench jar test unit
- Clarification – Bench jar test unit
- Polishing filter – Bench media filter unit
- Thickening– Bench thickener test unit
- Dewatering – Bench vacuum filter or pressure filter
Food Processing Wastewater
Copious wastewater is generated in food production. Effluent characteristics and constituents vary widely and require different processing technologies to achieve the required discharge limits. Discharge limits vary further by state and local regulations.
Screening
Food production plant waste streams contain large chunks which require separation. The simplest and most economic process for removing these solids is screening. A number of screen designs exist and facility layout should be a basis for the selection. Models include rotary drum screens, climber screens and channel screens with shaftless conveyors. Screened effluent is sent to an equalization sump. It may be combined with streams not requiring screening. The various waste streams are seldom continuous in either quantity or quality. Process flows may vary by shift, by product and by cleaning schedules. Stream flow equalization is almost always advantageous. Equalizing flow rates also reduces wastewater treatment equipment size and cost.
FOG
Some plants produce high amounts of fats, oil and grease (FOG). A dissolved air flotation (DAF) unit is an effective means of reducing the FOG and solids levels. DAFs are especially effective for food solids since most food particles float. Floating FOG and solids are skimmed from the DAF unit and recovered for disposal or sale. Skimmed solids do not require thickening.
Total suspended solids (TSS), FOG, and biological oxygen demand (BOD) are all significantly reduced by screening and DAF treatment. Nevertheless, there may still be levels of these contaminants which will require further treatment prior to discharge. Contaminant type and level determine treatment options. Waste stream volume, reuse possibilities, and available space will also influence the choice of treatment designs.
Almost all food processing facilities will require biological treatment for BOD removal. If the stream is small or BOD is low, the plant may elect to send the screened waste to a municipal treatment plant. Some wastewater will contain very high BOD (dairy, cheese, etc.) and anaerobic as well as aerobic systems will be necessary.