DAF clarification combined with a biological process for wastewater treatment for meat producers

Scenario

Cárnicas Medina is a leading company in the meat sector. Its facilities in Valencia have a wastewater treatment plant using biological treatment and require the installation of secondary clarification forming an FBR process. 

The FBR ('flotation bio-reactor') processconsists of a biological reactor already existing in the plant where organic matter removal is carried out, where microbial flocs are generated by adsorption and agglomeration. These biomass flocs are separated by a combined coagulation-flocculation process followed by clarification. 

Coagulation-flocculation is carried out in a SIGMA PFL-180 equipment in which coagulant is incorporated to group the biomass generated and flocculant (polyelectrolyte) to agglomerate these biomass agglomerates into larger flocs. 

Dissolved air flotation (DAF) flotation clarification allows the separation of the flocs formed by means of micro-bubbles of dissolved air in a SIGMA DAF FPAC160/200 unit. 

DAF systems are introduced to separate oils, fats, greases, solids and/or flocs that do not have sufficient buoyancy to float, or when a mixture of emulsified fats, oils and solids affect the specific gravity such that flotation air is necessary to improve separation, and are also applied in FBR processes for the separation of biomass flocs. The size of the air bubbles is between 30 and 50 microns, which is essential for the flotation system as the micro bubbles easily adhere to particles of the same size or larger. 

SIGMA DAF flotation clarification equipment is a highly reliable, robust and flexible special equipment that can be adapted to fluctuations in wastewater emissions and plant operation. 

Wastewater design characteristics

Clarification performance

Process diagram