Wastewater Treatment in the Food & Beverage Industry

The Food & Beverage Industry

Food and beverage manufacturing generates large volumes of wastewater, often with undesirable organic pollutants. Balancing the goals of delivering quality products while operating efficiently and still maintaining environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance is no small feat. Effective wastewater treatment is essential for:

• Meeting discharge permit requirements
• Protecting the environment
• Supporting water reuse and resource conservation

Some food and beverage manufacturing industries that benefit from reliable wastewater treatment solutions include:

• Meat and poultry processing and rendering
• Dairy
• Animal waste digesters
• Protein processing and rendering
• Brewing and distilling
• Sugar and beet sugar processing

Key Wastewater Treatment Challenges in the Food and Beverage Industry

Treating wastewater generated from food and beverage manufacturing is often complex. Some of the most pressing challenges that manufacturers face include:

1. Odor and corrosion

Odor is often a primary issue for food and beverage manufacturers as wastewater in these industries tends to contain hydrogen sulfide (H2S).

Uncontrolled H2S in wastewater can lead to:

• Negative community impact
• Permit violations
• Hazardous work environments.

USP Technologies offers several solutions for odor control in food and beverage manufacturing plants – in fact, it’s our expertise. With over 25 years of experience delivering industry-leading hydrogen peroxide solutions, USP Technologies has the track record and the know-how to deliver an odor control program that works for your facility.

2.  High Organic Load (BOD/COD)

Wastewater often contains organic pollutants such as proteins, carbohydrates, and organic compounds in raw materials.

These increase:

• Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
• Chemical oxygen demand (COD)

The more of these pollutants are present, generally the higher the BOD and COD loading in the resulting wastewater. Higher organic loads can impact treatment processes, leading to oxygen depletion, possible inhibition of microbial activity, and increased sludge production. USP Technologies combats these issues by controlling H2S in the wastewater and delivering supplemental dissolved oxygen (DO) to overloaded aeration systems. The advantages of using hydrogen peroxide for supplemental DO include:

• Improving BOD/COD reduction
• Enhancing nitrification for ammonia removal
• Effectively controlling odor and preventing pollution
• Reducing sludge formation for more efficient solids disposal

3. pH / Alkalinity

Maintaining the proper pH and alkalinity levels is critical for effective biological wastewater treatment. If pH is unstable or in an improper range, manufacturers can face issues with nitrification, poor sludge sedimentation, high ammonia loads, and more.

USP Technologies offers several solutions for alkalinity and pH support for food and beverage manufacturers, from supplemental dissolved oxygen to our proprietary Omya Optical® technology – a non-corrosive powder or slurry that helps:

• Accelerate sedimentation
• Avoids clogs
• Reduces suspended solids for more efficient treatment processes

4. Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Optimization

Many wastewater treatment facilities in the meat, protein, and dairy industries use dissolved air flotation (DAF) processes to separate and remove non-soluble contaminants like suspended solids, fats, oils, and grease from wastewater.

USP Technologies offers several solutions that can optimize these DAF systems, including:

• Ferric (iron) as a coagulant to improve the efficiency of the removal of insoluble contaminants
• Peroxide to support improved flotation of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) in the water, increase dissolved oxygen in water going to biological treatment, and increase oxygen reduction potential (ORP).

5. H2S Production in Anaerobic Digesters

When it comes to the presence of H2S, wastewater isn’t the only area of concern for many facilities in the dairy and food industries. For those facilities operating anaerobic digesters, H2S can accumulate in the digesters and impact production. USP Technologies leverages its decades of expertise in H2S management to help control H2S in the digesters to maintain efficient biogas production and help ensure that finished biogas meets target specifications.

6. Disinfection As disinfection standards become increasingly stringent, the operational cost and complexity of wastewater disinfection have risen dramatically. USP Technologies has several advanced disinfection technologies and treatments to help, including our OaSys iCT advanced model-based dosing control solution for chemical disinfection.

7. Nutrient Discharge (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) Excess nutrients in wastewater can cause eutrophication, or the discharge of nitrogen and phosphorus into the water, leading to harmful algal blooms that can reduce oxygen levels in water bodies. It’s disruptive to aquatic ecosystems and harmful to aquatic life. Wastewater treatment is essential in mitigating nutrient discharge and ensuring the removal of these nutrients. It’s also crucial in meeting wastewater discharge limits for food and beverage companies.

Why Choose USP Technologies for Full-Service Wastewater Treatment Solutions?

USP Technologies helps simplify the complexities of wastewater treatment with our full-service, customized solutions designed for your facility’s unique needs. At USP Technologies, we make it easy to achieve exceptional results by offering:

• Deep technical expertise you can trust
• Targeted full-service solutions
• Industry-leading chemical supply and management

From initial needs assessments to implementation and management, USP Technologies is here to help every step of the way. With our collaborative, problem-solving approach, industrial facilities can count on USP Technologies to be a trusted partner to deliver programs that truly work. Whether you’re looking to stabilize processes, reduce operational costs, or enhance environmental sustainability, USP Technologies is here to help.

Work With the Wastewater Treatment Experts

USP Technologies is a leading provider of chemical treatment solutions for a wide range of industrial and municipal wastewater treatment applications. To learn more about what we offer or how we can support your facility, contact our team to connect with one of our experts.