Dairy Industry2018-10-23T14:48:57+00:00

Effluent Treatment Control Systems

The following case study of the BioTector 970 eliminates emissions from Bio-tower Effluent Treatment Control Systems.

The BioTector 970 eliminates emissions from Bio-tower Effluent Treatment Control Systems

  • On-line time >99% even with high fat concentrations in the sample stream
  • Bio-tower cod loading controlled to maximise operational efficiency
  • Bio-tower emissions economically and effectively eliminated

General Background

The effluent produced by the dairy factory is high in milk fats, sugar and protein. These by-products from the manufacture of various dairy products need to be neutralised before they can be released from the plant. To facilitate the biological oxidation of its waste products, the client uses an aerobic bio-tower. However, if the carbon load of the waste coming directly from the processing factory is too high, the biological environment within the bio-tower is unfavorably altered and putrefaction (i.e., greater anaerobic digestion) occurs. This lowering of oxidation activity within the tower also results in a reduced processing capacity of the effluent plant, and the release of offensive odours.

Application Description
The BioTector 970 was installed in the effluent treatment plant as a carbon load warning system. To monitor the carbon load of the effluent entering the bio-tower, the BioTector is programmed to analyse a representative sample containing all the fats, sugars and proteins from the factory’s main effluent plant every 30 minutes. This data is then sent to the control room via a 4-20 ma signal, and the carbon load is calculated by integrating the TOC result measured by the BioTector with the flow signal received from the flow meter installed in the waste line. Once the incoming carbon load exceeds the capacity of the bio-tower, the plant control system takes the necessary action to prevent the bio-tower from being destabilised.

The BioTector has succeeded in totally eliminating the release of offensive odours from the bio-tower. It has proved highly reliable and experiences no problems in analysing milk fats and solids.

Cream Separator

Reliable on-line COD analysis from an application with high levels of fats and calcium with the BioTector 970.

  • Automatic cleaning of sample lines ensures trouble free operation
  • Fast payback on installation – monitoring dramatically reduces waste
  • Reliable analysis with COD readings from 100 to 50000 mg O/l

Application Description
The need to increase the efficiency of the cream separator plant while at the same time reducing the level of waste produced prompted dairy to install a BioTector 970 TOC analyser to monitor the fallout from the plant. Due to the nature of the waste, the Biotector was equipped with a Teflon PFA Reactor, Fluorocarbon High Range Valve and Cleaning Cycle Valve.

  • The BioTectors Teflon PFA Reactor allowed the use of HCl, which ensured that there was no build-up of calcium in the rector.
  • With the Fluorocarbon High Range Valve, the BioTector can measure beyond 50000 mgO/l without dilution.
  • A special cleaning solution, consisting of a special mix of Nitric and Phosphoric acids in the ratio of 2:1 was used to clean the sample lines. This resulted in reliable and trouble free operation.

The Installation
The BioTector 970 monitoring the fallout from the cream separator plant at the dairy facility, installed in a 2m x 2m cabin directly over the waste pipe leading to the WWT plant.

Along with the BioTector 970, the cabin is used to house the chemicals required by the BioTector and also the cleaning solution used to clean the sample line.