Dairy industry wastewater

Dairy industry wastewater is typically white in colour with an unpleasant odour. It has a high pollutant load, with significant concentrations of COD [chemical oxygen demand], BOD [biological oxygen demand] and TSS [total suspended solids]. In addition to this, there can be high nutrient concentrations in the form of P [phosphorous] and N [Nitrogen]. Other pollutants can also be present in the dairy effluent in high concentrations. These pollutants include fats, oils, detergents, casein/whey and salts.

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Dairy industry overview

The dairy processing industry covers a broad range of food and beverage products, each producing different flows and loads of wastewater and dairy effluent with distinctive characteristics. The following page gives an overview of the types of dairy products, with a specific focus on dairy wastewater composition and characteristics. This will allow you to understand dairy wastewater, which is the first step in understanding how to clean and treat it.

The demand for dairy products is increasing each year, with a consequent continued expansion and development of the dairy processing industry globally. Increased production of dairy products means increased production of dairy industry wastewater. This generates a need to better understand the characteristics of dairy wastewater to better manage it. 

Dairy wastewater treatment

Dairy industry wastewater volume

dairy industry wastewater treatment plant

Water plays a particularly significant role in the dairy sector, as it is used in every step of processing. From cleaning and washing, to heating and cooling. To put it in perspective, it is estimated that to produce 1L of milk, 2.5L of water are needed. For other dairy products, a general estimate is that for 1 tonne of dairy product produced, 1m3 of dairy effluent is produced. Wastewater flows are highly variable in most dairies due to washing processes.

Washing and CIP generates a significant amount of wastewater, as each milk product requires a separate technological line. Seasonal variations also occur when milk production peaks in summer months. The amount and characteristics of dairy industry wastewater is also influenced by the factory size, CIP methods and good manufacturing practice. 

Dairy industry wastewater categories 

Despite there being various milk-based products, dairy industry wastewater can still generally be categorised into three main sources. These are process water, cleaning water and sanitary wastewater. 

Dairy process water can arise from the cooling of milk and from the evaporation of whey or milk for powdered milk products. The characteristics of dairy wastewater from these processes is a high volume, but a low pollutant concentration. This means that process water can often be treated and then reused. 

CIP wastewater is from clean in place activities. Cleaning uses a significant amount of water across the full food and beverage sector due to hygiene requirements. CIP wastewater from dairies can be highly polluted as it contains products and ingredient residues, in addition to detergents and disinfectants used in the cleaning process. The characteristics of dairy wastewater from CIP activities is very different to process water. 

dairy industry waste water treatment

Sanitary wastewater refers to the sewage generated from toilet use, showers and washing facilities. The volume of this wastewater is generally smaller, and it can be treated in conventional onsite sewage treatment plants or directly by the municipal wastewater treatment plant without the need for pre-treatment. As a result, sanitary wastewater is not discussed further. 

Types of dairy product 

The number of dairy based food and drink products in extensive. From pure dairy products such as raw milk, to whey and casein which are used as ingredients and supplements in non-dairy based foods. A summary of the main dairy product categories is given below, with information on the specific, key characteristics of the dairy industry wastewater that is produced from their manufacturing. 

Butter products

Butter products
Raw cream butterClarified butterCultured butterMild cultured butterButterfatButterfatWhey butterLiquid separated during butter production

Range of butter products

A wide range of butter products are manufactured globally. Cream is used as the main raw material for dairy based butters. The dairy industry wastewater generated from butter manufacturing and butter processing contains considerable amounts of fat. A corresponding high COD is also present in butter processing wastewater. 

Special cleaning detergents that can emulsify the fats and oils then make their removal and separation more difficult with basic fat traps and skimmers, resulting in a need for more advanced separation and wastewater treatment processes. 

ParameterBODCODFOGTSSTNTP
Value mg/l200-25007500-90003000700-5000--

Typical values for different pollutants in butter production

Cream products

Cream products
Condensed creamSchmandHalf and halfWhipping creamClotted creamPasteurised cream
Crème fraicheSour creamTable creamDouble creamSoured cream

Types of cream based products

Cream is an interim product that is often used to produce other dairy products. Creamery wastewater is dependent on the specific product being manufactured. Cream based products include the following: 

Cream based products are also characterised by high organic and fat loads, with lower nutrient values. Typical values for different pollutants in cream production are as follows: 

ParameterBODCODFOGTSSTNTP
Value mg/l2500500010003000-15

Typical values for different pollutants in cream production

Milk products

Milk products
Raw milkFresh whole milkSterilized milkCondensed milkPart skim condensed milkCooled and filtered raw milk
UHT milkExtended shelf-life milkSkimmed milkLow fat milkCondensed skim milkLow fat skimmed raw milk

Types of milk based products

Milk covers a broad range of products, but here we focus specifically on milks that are manufactured for the beverage sector. Milk processing wastewater can represent a significant source of dairy industry wastewater and sludge due to the milk volumes processed being remarkably high compared to other dairy products. Milk based products include the following: 

While the volumes of milk processing dairy industry wastewater can be high, compared to more processed products, the pollutant loading is generally lower. Typical values for different pollutants in milk production are as follows: 

ParameterBODCODFOGTSSTNTP
Value mg/l500-13001000-2500-100-450--

Typical values for different pollutants in milk production

Cheese products

Cheese products
MascarponeSemi hard cheeseSoft ripenedFresh cheeseSemi softPasta filata
Blue vein / mouldyHard cheeseCream cheeseSour milk cheeseBrinedWhey cheese

Types of cheese based products

A wide range of cheeses are now manufactured, including the broad categories of soft and hard cheeses. The level of processing can be relatively high for cheeses compare to other milk-based products. By products of cheese processing results in the production of other dairy products such as whey. Cheese processing dairy industry wastewater can have a high pollutant load, with fats and salts. 

Cheese effluent can have an exceedingly high pollutant loading and can also contain whey which will have a major influence on the COD levels in the wastewater. Typical values for different pollutants in cheese production are as follows: 

ParameterBODCODFOGTSSTNTP
Value mg/l500-50001000-5000350-2750200-250020-8505-300

Typical values for different pollutants in cheese production

Powdered products 

Powdered products
Powdered wheyPowdered skimmed milkPowdered milk

Powdered products

Powdered dairy products produce a dairy effluent that has a high pollutant loading, although not as high as cheeses. The effluent concentration from whey processing effluent has a moderate BOD and COD concentration.  

Powdered milk products are harder to categorise when it comes to the wastewater composition, as the manufacturing processes vary. And if there are significant amounts of powder that enter the waste stream the pollutant loading can be extremely high. 

ParameterBODCODFOGTSSTNTP
Value mg/l15003000-100-300025020

Typical values for different pollutants in powdered milk production

As can be seen, the characteristics of dairy wastewaters varies. The above referenced values for different dairy processing wastewater and effluent streams are from average data collected during real project assessments for our customers and clients. 

Summary

It should now be clear that dairy industry wastewater and effluent treatment is a complex topic. Each specific product being manufactured, and each specific manufacturing process steps can all greatly influence the characteristics of dairy wastewater. 

This means that it is critical to understand the composition and characteristics of your dairy industry wastewater, and to then select the correct process technology.  

If you want to learn about real dairy industrial wastewater treatment projects, and how we have implemented solutions around the world then please join our reference project mailing list here.

To understand and learn about which process technologies are the most suitable for dealing with different parameters and pollutants then please click the button below. 

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