Walter Stealth

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WATER TREATMENT IN THE FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY

Water is as essential to the food and beverage industry as it is to our survival. Without it, the food and beverage industry wouldn’t exist.

Some food and beverage plants use water directly from the municipal water supply, while others get distilled or deionised water brought in on trucks.

Some food and beverage plants recycle treatable wastewater onsite, so as little water as possible is wasted. In fact, many plants are now installing water treatment facilities onsite to drive down the cost caused by wastewater.

Different types of food and beverage processing require different types of water. For example, whiskey making calls for distilled/deionised water for purity’s sake.

Water can be changed chemically and non-chemically to alter its qualities. This is achieved with various water treatment technologies. The food and beverage industries usually have a defined water quality for specific processes. industries usually have a defined water quality for specific processes.

Food and Beverage Water Treatment Technologies

There has been a shift away from chemicals in food and beverage water treatment due to environmental and worker safety concerns.

Here’s a breakdown of the different types of water treatment technologies used in the food and beverage industry today:

Reverse Osmosis

Capable of removing 99.9% of bacteria, reverse osmosis doesn’t use any chemicals and requires very little maintenance. It’s considered to be the most efficient filtration system for refining municipal water and treating wastewater.

Explore RO System

UV Disinfection Ultraviolet Disinfection provides a highly effective, chemical-free solution for bacterial control. It can de-chlorinate and de-ozonate process water and treat a variety of organic contaminants such as urea and phenols.

Explore UV Bectrial Control System

Ceramic Membranes

Ceramic membranes are used in water recycling units to provide filtration at high flows without fouling. It filters fluids with suspended solids and high viscosities, such as oils, fats and greases that are common in the food and beverage industry.

Ceramic Filteration

Membrane Bioreactors

Membrane bioreactors assist ceramic membranes in treating wastewater from the food industry including contaminated effluent. MBRs can recover water from effluent, providing an efficient way to recycle and reduce waste.

Growing Demand for Onsite Water Treatment Facilities

Now more than ever, food and beverage plants looking to reduce their environmental impact and the cost caused by wastewater are turning their attention to the installation of onsite water recycling and treatment facilities.

By moving water recycling and treatment onsite, food and beverage plants can realise substantial savings in water bills, supplier fees, fuel costs and logistics overheads. There’s also a social and environmental responsibility to have better water practices, something the installation of water treatment systems achieves.

A variety of water treatment systems are available, including process water systems that use reverse osmosis, ion exchange, water softening and filtration. The technologies outlined in this article are good starting points.

The biggest limitation to investment is site space. You may be restricted by the space you have available. Rest assured, there’s always a solution to a problem. For example, UV filters are relatively discreet and can connect to most water supplies.

If you want some advice or further information about any of the water treatment systems covered in this article, feel free to contact us.

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Water Treatment Products

We offer a variety of Water Treatment Products to all manner of issues. We can supply process equipment for clean water, dirty water, bacterial control and water recycling for all your environmental needs. Contact us and get services from the experts.

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How A Flexible Wastewater System Helps You Adjust to Changing Needs

Wastewater is loaded, to a greater or lesser extent, with pollutants resulting from the Water Recycling Treatment Process to which it has been subjected. Visit us for more information.

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The Basics of Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater is used water that needs to be treated before it can be returned to the water cycle. Wastewater treatment describes the process we use to purify wastewater, to remove contaminants and make it cyclable again.

This treatment process is essential to return wastewater to a specified quality so that it can be used again or returned to nature.

Treatment phases

There are two basic phases of water treatment:

Solids removal. This is the primary stage. Techniques used: Sedimentation, skimming, screening.

This is the secondary stage. Techniques used: Reverse Osmosis, Ceramic Filtration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, UV filtration.

The steps involved in these phases and the technologies used depends on the kind of wastewater we are dealing with.

Technically, there is also tertiary treatment, a third stage to remove impurities. However, the right machine makes this part of the secondary treatment.

The right treatment can remove mud, solids, bacteria and viruses from water to render it fit for human consumption and industrial use.

Find your optimal wastewater system

Solids removal

Solids removal is the first treatment phase. Skimming, screening and sedimentation using clarifiers are the commonest techniques. Sedimentation is a physical process that removes particles using gravity or separation.

Sedimentation is sometimes combined with Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment to increase effectiveness. This is a newer technique.

The Membrane Bio Reactor (MBR) is another way to remove solids. This removes solids from water using ceramic membranes to separate solids from liquid.

When removing suspended solids, we target solids larger than 80 microns. The removal of these solids renders wastewater usable in some industrial applications. Further treatment is necessary for human consumption and sterile environments.

Filtration

Filtration is the second treatment phase. Some might say that bacterial removal comes before filtration, but the two things fall under one process with the right technique. This saves time and reduces treatment costs.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is the most widely used technique, capable of removing 99.9% of bacteria from water. This purifies water to a quality that is fit for human consumption and without the need for UV treatment.

Other techniques include ultrafiltration (UF), ceramic filtration (CF) and ultraviolet filtration (UV). Ultrafiltration (UF) makes use of spiral membranes and blocks out viruses. This has led to increased investment in this technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Which wastewater treatment is best?

There is no ‘best’ wastewater treatment, only the right treatment for the kind of wastewater being treated and your intended use case.

For example, water that is being treated for human consumption will require a more comprehensive treatment process than water that is going to be used by sprinkler systems.

To use another example, the finishing water used in automotive production requires a precise specification. This specification is unique to that single application and is not found elsewhere, such as in the food and beverage industry.

Investing in the latest treatment processes

The coronavirus pandemic has forced those responsible for the treatment of wastewater to accelerate their investment in new treatment technologies.

Our financial flexibility packages provide an affordable route to new investment with the option to purchase equipment on a Lease Purchase Agreement (LPA) or Hire. These finance packages cover all our treatment systems.

We are also happy to provide advice to help you build a comprehensive wastewater treatment facility so you can meet your purification requirements. We’re here to help, so feel free to reach out to us for a friendly chat.

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Why does the world need to recycle its wastewater?

Water is a limited resource and global demand is growing. Wastewater needs to be reduced and, where possible, recycled. If we can improve the use of this important natural resource, we can do the same with the Water Recycling Treatment Process for all living beings. Get more info at https://mightynews.co.uk/why-does-the-world-need-to-recycle-its-wastewater/

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Waste water treatment plant | Water Recycling Treatment Process

Wastewater treatment is a purification process, which works by removing contaminants from the water. This water can be used in activities such as agriculture and industry, mainly. Visit us for more information.

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WATER RECYCLING: THE KEY PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

  Water Recycling Treatment Process and Know what problems and Solutions to the water recycling process. Key Points: >Why Recycle?

>The Problems with Water Recycling

>The Solutions to Water Recycling Problems  

>Treating water to a precise specification

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WATER RECYCLING: THE KEY PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Water recycling reclaims water and treats it so it can be reused. Recycled water is commonly used in agricultural processes like irrigation and industrial processes like drilling because it significantly reduces tap water consumption.

The petrochemical, chemical, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries are good examples of industries that use significant volumes of water; and wastewater and effluent are natural by-products of their industrial processes.

This waste can be treated to a specified quality so that it can be reused in other processes and applications. Water is no-less a recyclable resource than steel or paper. It only requires a filtration system that supports the desired flow rate.

Why Recycle?

Water and effluent recycling is net positive for the environment because it reduces dependency on freshwater resources and decreases the amount of wastewater that is discharged into the environment.

From an operational viewpoint, water recycling reduces waste and provides a consistent supply of treated water. By recycling the wastewater and effluent you produce on-site, you can run a slick operation that replenishes its own resources.

The bottom line for manufacturing and industry is that water recycling provides a sound way to reduce new water usage while also meeting demand.

The Problems with Water Recycling

When it comes to wastewater treatment and recycling, there are several challenges we face. These vary from system design and maintenance to energy use and filtration reliability.

Here’s a breakdown of the key challenges:

· Selecting and sizing the correct water recycling system: Key design considerations include site space, flow rate, filtration technology and the chemical composition of the wastewater/ effluent to be treated.

· Treating water to a precise specification: The wastewater/ effluent may need to be treated to a specified quality to be usable. These liquids can be heavy with oils, salts, and other solids and minerals that make filtration difficult.

· Membranes are susceptible to fouling generated during the filtration process: This reduces their efficiency. These membranes are serviceable parts. If they cannot be cleaned, then the operator will be exposed to higher maintenance costs.

· Water recycling is energy-intensive: This is because it takes lots of energy to treat lots of water. The lower the quality of the water, and the more intensive the treatment, the more energy is needed to power the recycling process.

· Plant requires significant investment: Water recycling systems are inherently expensive because they are high-tech and expensive to design and produce. For some businesses, it is simply cheaper to use new water and ship out the old stuff.

While these challenges are real, the need for water recycling means there’s always a solution. We support the world’s biggest names across most sectors to provide clean water solutions. Contact us here to find out more.

The Solutions to Water Recycling ProblemsSelecting and sizing the correct water recycling system

Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs) and other membrane-based treatment systems are the most common systems for small to medium scale recycling.

A Membrane Bioreactor is a biological wastewater treatment process, coupled to a membrane filtration system to filter a wide range of fluids. The MBR systems we design to support a flow rate up to 2,000m3/day.

Considerations for the design of the system include:

· Site space

· Flow rate

· Filtration technology

· Chemical composition and load of the wastewater/ effluent

We offer a full, bespoke, design and build service. The water recycling units we supply are custom-built to the specification you need.

Explore Water Treatment Solutions

Treating water to a precise specification

Treating water to a precise specification with a Membrane Bioreactor may require additional filtration. This is especially true for wastewater/ effluent that is high-loaded with oils, salts, and other solids and minerals.

Membracon ceramic filtration systems are the best in the business, enabling optimal filtration with minimal fouling. The ceramic membranes provide filtration at high flows and are suitable for filtering high-loaded water and liquid wastes.

Site space will determine if filters can be placed inside or outside the bioreactor. External configurations are easier to operate and maintain.

Membranes are susceptible to fouling during the filtration process

The accumulation of substances on the membrane surface is a natural by-product of the filtration process. However, fouling is only tolerable up to a point. It will eventually result in the deterioration of the membrane’s performance.

Membracon ceramic membranes provide an optimal cleaning solution — you can use caustic soda, acids, and other specific products at high temperatures to wash the membranes. This makes life easier and reduces maintenance costs.

Water recycling is energy-intensive

Membrane technologies tend to have high energy consumption. The energy demand typically makes up 30% of operational costs. Thankfully, Membrane Bioreactors are getting more efficient with each new generation.

You do not need a brand-new system to realize these benefits. The most energy-intensive components of Membrane Bioreactors are pumps, blowers, and aerators. These parts can often be upgraded over the lifecycle of the machine.

Also, regular servicing will ensure your system continues to run optimally. You can find out more about our upgrade service and service agreements here.

It’s important to note that some applications require more energy-intensive treatment processes. For example, water recycling to make technical water for an automotive maker will require more energy than water recycling for irrigation.

Here’s another interesting thought — if you can save 10% on your electricity by switching suppliers, the cost of running your water recycling system becomes more palatable. This is a solid way to reduce operating costs without sacrificing capacity.

The plant requires significant investment

Water recycling systems are high-tech machines that are expensive to design and manufacture. It comes as no surprise then that the newest Membrane Bioreactors are expensive to acquire. However, like all plants, they are assets that can provide long-term value to your operation. They can deliver a significant ROI.

Our Financial Flexibility Plans offer several ways for you to acquire a state-of-the-art water recycling unit. These include:

1. Lease Purchase Agreement (LPA) — Lease your unit from us for an agreed length of time and own it by the end of your agreement.

2. Lease Hire (LH) — Lease your unit from us for an agreed length of time on hire. This lowers your monthly payments (you don't own the unit).

You can also make your purchase outright. Plant assets are fixed assets so you can claim a ‘capital allowance’ on the cost of the equipment.

Choose Financial Flexibility Packages

Why choose a Lease Purchase?

A Lease Purchase is best if you want to own your equipment at the end of your finance agreement. You pay a deposit for your water recycling system and pay the remaining balance off with regular monthly payments. This leaves more cash in your business and lets you spread the cost of your investment with manageable payments.

Why choose a Lease Hire?

A Lease Hire is best if you want lower monthly payments and do not intend to own your water recycling system. You hire/rent the system and pay to use it. The equipment is returned to us at the end of your agreement or we can extend your hire period. A Lease Hire has no ownership route in return for lower payments.

With both financial packages, we offer a complete upgrade service, allowing you to benefit from our latest innovations. We will recycle old parts and install more efficient parts when released so that your water recycling system is as eco-friendly as possible.

Need more information on our products and services? Contact us on 01902 458501 to find out more about our water recycling solutions.

Visit us for more such blogs: 1. https://www.membracon.co.uk/blog/from-drain-to-drink-innovations-in-wastewater-reuse/

2. https://www.membracon.co.uk/blog/the-basics-of-wastewater-treatment/

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Is a Chemical Shortage Causing Issues for Your Demineralisation Process?

Industrial Pretreatment Processes across the UK are facing a chemical supply problem, brought about by an industry shortage as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

This got us thinking – how many water treatment plants out there are struggling to source the chemicals they need for their production, and what is the alternative?

The answer: more than likely, the majority would be facing the issue and reverse osmosis could be the solution.

Read More About RO Systems

As you may know, demineralisation is a type of water purification, that is used in these processes. Demin systems remove dissolved solids from water. Demineralisation is effective at removing minerals from water, but it has a downside, and that is that chemicals are required for the process.

The reliance on chemicals for demineralisation puts companies in a potentially vulnerable position whenever there is a supply problem. The coronavirus pandemic has increased the demand for chemicals and many water treatment plants are struggling to get what they need. This has put a strain on the water treatment industry, and we have seen an acceleration in demand for water treatment systems that require no chemicals as a result

Banishing chemicals for good

The leading technology that delivers chemical-free pure water is Reverse Osmosis.

RO systems require no chemicals, and they are capable of removing minerals with even greater efficiency than those that use chemicals.

RO can be used for the production of pure water for any process. It has numerous benefits, including the following:

It’s chemical-free production

Environmentally-friendly

Reduced footprint area

Reduced maintenance operation

It can achieve precise water specifications

No loss of production for regeneration

We are not saying that chemical demineralisation is bad – but we are saying that there are better solutions available today.

Reverse osmosis is a more sustainable and green way to purify water. It is used widely within the automotive and aerospace industries to make purified water for the process, ensuring a quality product. 

Embracing a more efficient demin system

Chemical processing to purify water is nothing new. It can be traced back to 1902 when calcium hypochlorite (chlorine) and ferric chloride were used to disinfect water in Belgium. We still use chlorine today in swimming pools.

In water treatment plants around the world, chemicals have been used for decades to remove dissolved solids and minerals and also treat bacteria, which can now be achieved using Ultraviolet.

The common process used is ion exchange, where the chemicals used would be Hydrochloric Acid and Caustic Soda, in saturated resin beds.

There are several downsides to using chemicals for producing pure water. To name a few:

Chemicals are not always readily available

Expensive operating costs

Hazardous Chemicals are required

Handling chemicals requires specialist training

Chemical discharge is bad for the environment

Chemicals cause corrosion and the systems that use them require more maintenance than those which don’t. 

Reverse osmosis offers a more efficient, more sustainable and more reliable way to produce pure water. The benefits of using RO systems are substantial which is why so many are embracing this technology and achieving a more efficient process.

You can find out more about our reverse osmosis systems here. To make your upgrade easier we offer finance flexibility packages lease and hire systems and full service & maintenance contracts.

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Why Reverse Osmosis is the Best Ever Option for family

Some pollutants that are carried by water can include viruses or bacteria that can become harmful to health if they enter the human body. Having reverse osmosis filtration systems will retain all solid waste such as dirt, dust and small stones, but it will also purify the water.

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Clean Water Treatment UK | Reliable Filtration System

Are you looking for Clean water treatment UK?  We are global leader in offering reliable process filtration and water treatment within Aerospace, Automotive, Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical and Finishing sectors Worldwide. Visit us today!

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Reliable Water Treatment Products

We are global leader in water treatment products, providing solutions and technology to world-class manufacturing businesses on every continent offering reliable water treatment solutions and filtration process under your budget. Call [phone] or email [email protected] for more information.

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Reverse osmosis and the advantages it offers to companies

Reverse osmosis is a technology by which it is possible to purify water and retain the possible polluting particles that it may contain, regardless of whether they are dissolved or not. But how is this process achieved? Let's have a look about Reverse Osmosis filtration systems

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HOW DOES COMMERCIAL REVERSE OSMOSIS WORK?

Get Your Free Industrial Water Guide

Water filtration systems such as reverse osmosis are being used more commercially due to the success they have in the industrial process.

The process of installing a reverse osmosis system for commercial use mirrors that for industrial use as each system is bespoke to the water issue.

Download The Guide To Water Filtration In Industrial Processes

What Is Reverse Osmosis?

Reverse osmosis is a water filtration solution system that removes impurities from a raw water source. It forces pressured water through a membrane, capturing a concentrate of the impurities that were in the raw water. Leaving you with pure water to use in production.

Reverse osmosis can reject 99.9% of bacteria, making it highly effective for commercial use such as pharmaceutical production.

Membrane-based solutions such as RO are becoming increasingly popular due to the many benefits, these include:

Environmental

Cost savings

Health and safety

Maintenance

How Does Reserve Osmosis Work?

To understand how reverse osmosis works, lets first explain how osmosis works.

Let’s start with 2 cups, one has plain water in, the other has water and sugar dissolved into it. A U-tube is then used, which is a beaker-shaped in a U-shape.

Right in the middle of the tube, imagine a bit of Gore-Tex that cuts the U in half. Gore-Tex is our “semipermeable membrane.” Gore-Tex is thin plastic, dotted with a billion tiny little holes that allow water vapour to pass through, but liquid to stay out.

In one arm of the U-tube the plain water is poured, in the other is the sugar water. This is when the osmosis process begins. The level of liquid in the sugar water arm will slowly rise, as the plain water moves through the Gore-Tex, to make both sides of the arm more equal in a sugar-to-water ratio.

This is due to the water finding an equilibrium. Because the one side of the arm is crowded with sugar, pure water from the other side decides to move on over to make the concentration more equal or until the osmotic pressure (the pressure that happens as the molecules move) is reached.

In osmosis, a lower-concentrate solution will filter its solvent to the higher concentrate solution. In reverse osmosis, we are just reversing the process, by making our solvent filter out of our high concentrate into the lower concentrate solution. So instead of creating a more equal balance of solvent and solute in both solutions, it is separating out solute from solvent (the sugar from water).

This isn’t something that solutions really want to do so pressure is added to the equation to make reverse osmosis occur. Pressure forces the water to pass through the membrane, removing the impurities in the water.

How Can RO Be Used Commercially?

RO systems can be put in place commercially and function the same way as in industrial processes. Each RO system features are dependent on the quality of water you want to reach and are tailored to manage the raw water issue you have.

RO systems can be used commercially in sectors such as food, beverage, dairy, pharmaceutical and more.

Conclusion

The process of reverse osmosis can be used commercially the same way it is industrially, providing a green solution for water treatment.

Membracon tailors each system to suit their client’s water issue, with every unit designed and built fully bespoke.

Still not sure if reverse osmosis is right for your business? The first step is establishing the quality of raw water you have and the water you need to achieve. Membracon offers a free water analysis test to help you with this process. Please contact us to arrange today.

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Water Recycling Treatment Process

With the help of the correct Water Recycling Treatment Process, can transform even the dirtiest wastewater like sewage into drinking water, and the process is affordable, effective, and has numerous environmental benefits. Visit us today for more information.

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Clean Water Treatment UK

Clean Water Treatment UK, a process in which undesired chemical compounds, organic and inorganic compounds, and biological contamination are removed from the water. Water purification provides clean drinking water and provides treated water to domestic, industrial, health, and pharmaceutical sectors.