Water treatment for the food industry in Ukraine

The enterprises of the agro-food industry are among the largest water consumers. 95% of the wastewater generated during the production process contains high concentrations of various pollutants.

Waste water characteristics:

Pollution is mainly organic and biodegradable, with a general tendency to rapidly soure and ferment.

Main cleaning technologies:

  • upholding;
  • coagulation, flocculation;
  • flotation;
  • biochemical purification;
  • dehydration;
  • disinfection.

One of the most advanced methods of biological wastewater treatment is the Membrane Bioreactor (MBR). In treatment complexes using membrane bioreactors, the same biochemical processes occur as in classical treatment facilities. The difference between treatment plants with MBR and the classical scheme is that the activated sludge separation unit in the secondary clarifiers is replaced by filtration through polymer membrane elements, which guarantees the absence of mechanical impurities in the treated water and does not require additional post-treatment.

The use of MBR for wastewater treatment in Ukraine allows increasing the concentration of activated sludge in the aerotank to 8-14 g/l (in the classical scheme 2-4). At the same time, the age of activated sludge can reach 45-60 days, which in turn contributes to a more rapid decomposition of complex organic contaminants and significantly reduces the amount of excess sludge. Thus, by increasing the concentration of activated sludge, treatment facilities using MBR require two to three times less area than classical ones.

Wastewater treatment with membrane elements

At present, wastewater treatment in the world involves the use of two types of membrane elements for MBRs, namely:

  • capillary;
  • lamellar.

Membrane bioreactors can be:

  • with submersible membrane elements;
  • with remote membrane elements.

Also, membrane elements differ in filtration rating:

  • ultrafiltration;
  • microfiltration.

The advantage of the first type is that it does not require additional disinfection of treated water, the second type – the possibility of implementing the operation of the installation in the gravitational mode, which reduces energy costs.

Based on the foregoing, the following strengths of wastewater treatment equipment using membrane bioreactors can be distinguished:

  • the minimum possible area of treatment facilities while maintaining the quality of treated water at the outlet (for example, treatment facilities with a capacity of 200 m3 / day with MBR occupy an area of 30 m2, while treatment facilities according to the classical scheme are at least 120 m2);
  • complete absence of unpleasant odors during the cleaning process (makes it possible to implement cleaning installations in close proximity to residential premises, however, such solutions are prohibited by the regulatory framework of Ukraine);
  • increasing the productivity of existing treatment facilities without increasing the occupied area (reconstruction of treatment facilities by increasing the concentration of activated sludge in the aerotanks and the use of membrane modules).

Wastewater treatment in Ukraine using a membrane bioreactor is the best option for new constructions (for example, boarding houses and recreation centers in the coastal zone) with full or partial treatment, as it takes up much less space.

Our company is ready to develop a design solution with a comparison of methods in terms of operating and capital costs, and then implement the solution chosen by the Customer.

For food profile enterprises, it is necessary to prepare water of drinking quality with a minimum amount of organic and organochlorine impurities, odorless, colorless and suspended solids. In the alcoholic and non-alcoholic industries, water with a specific salt composition is used to obtain optimal organoleptic properties of drinks.

Water in food processing plants is used for:

  • washing and disinfection of equipment and containers;
  • to produce steam or supply water to hot water boilers;
  • preparation of solutions;
  • preparation of mixtures.

The ultrafiltration technology makes it possible to obtain a filtrate, the quality of which complies with European standards for the quality of drinking water, taking into account numerous industry standards of European countries in the field of drinking water treatment, in which ultrafiltration technology is considered as technologically necessary for guaranteed achievement of standardized parameters.

Water treatment in industry