Wastewater treatment in the production of ice cream

Scenario

An industrial ice cream manufacturing plant needs a solution for the treatment of wastewater generated in its production process in order to comply with the limits for discharge into the sewage system.

It is a factory located in Valencia with more than 20 years of history that markets its products throughout Spain.

According to EPSAR, the maximum water sanitation entity of the Valencian Community, the wastewater discharge limits are 500 mg/L for suspended solids and 1000 mg/L for chemical oxygen demand (COD), as the most relevant parameters for the present case study.

Characteristics of wastewater in the ice cream industry

Wastewater from the ice cream industry contains mainly residues composed of organic matter and suspended solids from the raw materials used to make ice cream: dairy products from cows and fruits, which contain high concentrations of fats and proteins.

One of the environmental commitments of this ice cream company is to develop the best possible practices to prevent pollution, optimize the consumption of natural resources and promote energy efficiency.

Therefore, treating the wastewater they use for their production is one of their priorities in terms of corporate social responsibility and has been our challenge as specialists in the manufacture of systems for the clarification of water of industrial origin.

Solution: Purification and clarification of wastewater in the ice cream industry

In order for this ice cream company to comply with the current legislation regarding water treatment, SIGMADAF Clarifiers has designed, manufactured and supplied two flotation units: a CAF100 and a DAF-FPAC120.

Both units have been installed as part of the industrial wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of the ice cream manufacturing plant and will serve:

• The CAF induced air flotation system reduces oils, greases and organic matter in suspension, and...

• The DAF-FPAC120 dissolved air flotation solution system is designed to act as part of an FBR biological treatment system, clarifying the water in the biological reactor prior to its subsequent discharge to the sewage system, in compliance with current environmental requirements.

The function of our flotation equipment is to separate the maximum of total suspended solids, eliminating the associated COD and thus obtaining the appropriate performance for each of the purification stages.

The table below shows the performance of this equipment, in whose values we have highlighted the COD performance obtained:

Performance

Conclusions

Regarding operating flow rates, the DAF-FPAC120 receives up to 40 m3/h and the total suspended solids (TSS) loadings received from the biological reactor are between 10 and 12 g/L.

If we compare the COD parameters shared at the beginning of the publication and the results of the equipment performance, this industrial ice cream factory adequately complies with the limit of discharges into the sewers of this specific community.

This type of installation also has its application in treatment plants in the dairy industry.

If you would like more information about these or any of our industrial wastewater treatment equipment, please do not hesitate to contact us through the contact form.