ClearFox® Wastewater Treatment Solutions for Dairy Industry

The dairy industry includes the transformation of raw milk into pasteurised and sour milk, yoghurt, hard, soft and cottage cheese, cream and butter products, ice cream, milk and whey powders, lactose, condensed milk, as well as various types of desserts.
In this industry, the waste water differs significantly due to the different compositions, attributed to the product manufactured and the technologically used to do so. Dairy effluents are distinguished by their high organic content, low nutrient value, relatively increased temperatures, wide pH range and highly disinfected content. This requires special purification and treatment steps in order to reduce or eliminate the environmental impact of wastewater discharges.

Milk processing effluents have an increased temperature and large variations in pH, TSS, biological oxygen demand (BOD), COD, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and fat, oil and grease (FOG)

Water plays a key role in milk processing. It is used in every step of the technological lines, including cleaning and washing, disinfection, heating and cooling. Water requirements are huge. In dairy plants, the great fluctuations in wastewater quality and quantity are very problematic because each milk product needs a separate technological line.

Three major categories can be outlined according to their origin and composition

1. Processing water: Processing water is formed in the cooling of milk in special coolers and condensers, as well as condensates from the evaporation of milk or whey. In general, processing waters lack pollutants and, after minimal pre-treatment, they can be reused or discharged together with stormwater. Water reuse is possible, typical applications are hot water and steam production as well as membrane cleaning.
2. Cleaning wastewater: Cleaning wastewater usually comes from washing equipment which is in direct contact with milk or dairy products. It also includes milk and product spillage, whey, pressing and brine, CIP effluents or equipment malfunction and even operational errors. Over 90% of organic solids in effluents come from milk and manufacturing residues: cheese pieces, whey, cream, water from separation and clarification, starter cultures, yoghurt, fruit concentrates or stabilisers. These wastewater quantities are significant and are highly polluted, thus requiring further treatment.
3. Sanitary wastewater: Sanitary wastewater is found in lavatories, shower rooms, etc. Sanitary wastewater is similar in composition to municipal wastewater and is generally piped directly to sewage works, but it can be used as a nitrogen source for unbalanced dairy effluents before a secondary aerobic treatment.

Over the past 20 years, the Clearfox Team has successfully designed many plants all over Europe. Examples vary from a small Swiss mountain cheese producer to a large milk combine dairy in Eastern Europe.