Recover and reuse water
Using filtration, excess water from processes such as milk concentration for milk powder or fruit concentration for foods and beverages can be treated to a quality that allows it to be reused in food processes.
Flush water, sometimes known as white water, can be purified by filtration for reuse in the process – either for cleaning or in the product itself. Solids from this water, such as milk or juice, can also be separated by filtration for reprocessing, where practicable.
Similarly, single-use caustic solution from hot processes can be recovered and reused.
Watch the videos below to find out how two of our customers are reducing their environmental load and saving money while doing it.
Dairygold recovers up to 90% of caustic soda and saves water
Dairygold, one of Ireland’s leading dairy companies, has focused on making its production more efficient and sustainable for several years. Filtration technology allows them to recover up to 90% of the caustic soda used for CIP. In this video, they will show you how they reduce chemical as well as water consumption significantly — and so reduce costs.
Making the most of whey
Our filtration unit makes a big difference to European cheese producer Mammen Dairies’ bottom line – and to their environmental footprint, as it reduces the daily tap water intake significantly as well as the number of truckloads of whey protein they need to transport. The annual transportation savings amount to 150 tons of diesel and 460,000 km on the road.
Making the most of whey
Our filtration unit makes a big difference to European cheese producer Mammen Dairies’ bottom line – and to their environmental footprint, as it reduces the daily tap water intake significantly as well as the number of truckloads of whey protein they need to transport. The annual transportation savings amount to 150 tons of diesel and 460,000 km on the road.
Uses
Product recovery
Lower costs through reuse
Purifying flush water, or white water as it is also known, by reverse osmosis filtration instead of sending it to drain can save vast quantities of valuable product. It can also generate financial savings. In dairy production, about a third of white water is milk. Reverse osmosis filtration recovers valuable milk solids that can be treated for further use while simultaneously generating a pure water source that can be reused. Depending on local regulations, recovered milk solids can be used in the production of cheese, ice cream and yoghurt and other fermented products. Our filtration specialists are experts at helping dairies and food manufacturers to optimise their processes for product and water recovery.
Condensate water recovery in evaporation
Cost savings possible
Reverse osmosis can recover condensate water from an evaporator and make it suitable for reuse. By removing impurities from the condensate, the reverse osmosis unit creates a new source of water that can be used in multiple ways instead of being sent to drain. Depending on the water quality level desired, the water recovered and treated in this way can be used for rinsing, CIP, irrigation, or even as freshwater in the production process. Depending on plant setup, it is possible to save significant volumes of water in this way – and to reduce operating costs accordingly.
Lower caustic solution consumption
Recovery of cleaning chemicals
The cleaning of processing equipment requires large volumes of caustic solution. At the end of a cleaning cycle, the caustic solution contains dissolved and suspended matter that renders it unsuitable for direct use in a new cleaning sequence. All too often, spent caustic solution is sent for waste. A more sustainable alternative involves purifying it for reuse. Typically, a membrane filtration setup allows 70 to 90 percent of spent caustic to be recovered and reused.
Technologies
Highest purification standard
Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis membranes allow the finest degree of separation where only water passes. All other liquid or suspended components, including bacteria, fats, proteins, sugars and minerals, are filtered out as retentate. This high level of purification allows the water permeate to be reused in multiple production processes – from product processing to cleaning in place.
Ion and mineral removal
Nanofiltration
Nanofiltration removes or recovers water and retains divalent ions. Most monovalent ions will pass through the membrane, thus partly demineralising the product. This process plays a key role in purifying spent caustic solutions from cleaning-in-place, enabling large volumes of the chemical to be reused rather than sent to waste.
