Application of Filter Press in Food Factory Wastewater

With the rapid development of the food industry, the issue of wastewater treatment in food factories has attracted increasing attention. Wastewater may contain various organic matter, grease, suspended solids, etc. Direct discharge will cause pollution to the environment and water resources. Therefore, wastewater from food factories needs to be treated to meet standards before being discharged. This article will introduce in detail several methods of wastewater treatment in food factories and discuss the application advantages of filter presses.

Introduction to Food Factory Wastewater

The wastewater generated by different food processing plants will also be different. For example, meat processing wastewater (meat products) is mainly cleaning wastewater and wastewater generated during processing. The pollutants generated are grease, protein, salt, fragments, etc. The color of wastewater is mostly red; fruit processing wastewater (fruit processing products) mainly cleans wastewater and wastewater generated during processing. The pollutants generated are peel, acid and alkali, salt, sugar, etc.

The wastewater from food processing plants is industrial wastewater with high pollutant concentration, good biodegradability, and high suspended matter content. It is collectively referred to as “food processing wastewater.” Most food processing factory wastewater is also affected by seasonality. The products produced in winter will be different from those produced in summer, or the quantity of the products will be different, resulting in different quality and quantity of discharged water. When processing This aspect needs to be considered during the process.

Common Methods for Treating Food Factory Wastewater

Biological treatment
The biological treatment method uses the biodegradation ability of microorganisms to convert organic matter in wastewater into more stable products. Among them, the activated sludge method is a common biological treatment method. In the activated sludge system, wastewater passes through the aeration tank, and microorganisms degrade organic matter to form a relatively clear water body. This method is suitable for treating organic matter in food wastewater, but it is sensitive to fluctuations in water quality.

Physical treatment method
Physical treatment methods mainly include precipitation, filtration, and membrane separation technologies. Precipitation uses the addition of chemicals to precipitate suspended solids, filtration uses filter materials to intercept suspended solids, and membrane separation separates water and impurities through a semipermeable membrane. These methods are suitable for removing suspended solids, grease, and other substances from wastewater and improving water quality.

Chemical treatment method
The chemical treatment method adds chemicals to cause the organic matter and pollutants in the wastewater to undergo oxidation-reduction reactions and transform them into more stable substances. Oxidation and reduction methods are common methods that can effectively remove organic matter in food wastewater, but the amount of chemicals needs to be controlled.

Filter press treatment
The filter press applies a certain amount of pressure to filter the suspended solids in the wastewater through the filter material to form a solid filter cake, thereby achieving solid-liquid separation. This method can effectively remove suspended solids and some organic matter in wastewater and improve the treatment effect of wastewater. It has the advantages of high energy efficiency, energy saving, and small floor space.

Advantages of Filter Press for Treating Food Wastewater

Better solid-liquid separation effect: The filter press applies pressure to cause the suspended matter in the wastewater to quickly form a filter cake under the action of the filter cloth, achieving the effect of solid-liquid separation. The equipment has higher processing efficiency and large processing capacity, greatly saving the company’s operating costs.
Energy saving: Compared with traditional physical and chemical methods, filter presses are more energy-saving in wastewater treatment. It does not require a large amount of energy investment and is relatively simple to operate and easy to manage.
Saving space: The filter press has a compact structure and a relatively small footprint, which is particularly important when space is limited in food factories and other places. At the same time, filter presses can also be combined as needed to form a system with a larger processing scale.
High degree of automation: Modern filter presses have a high degree of automation and are easy to operate. Through the control system, real-time monitoring and adjustment of the filter press can be achieved, improving work efficiency.

Application of Filter Press in Food Factory Wastewater