Food and Beverage Wastewater Treatment

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Food and Beverage Wastewater Treatment

The goals of food and beverage wastewater treatment are basically the same, but due to different production processes, the composition of pollutants also differs, so the focus of treatment is also slightly different.

Common Treatment Processes of food and beverage wastewater treatment

Whether it’s a food processing plant or a beverage plant, they typically use the following combination of processes:
Screening → Equalization Tank → pH Adjustment → Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) → Anaerobic Treatment (UASB/IC) → Aerobic Treatment (MBBR/MBR/Activated Sludge) → Sedimentation → Filtration → Disinfection → Discharge or Water Reuse
Di mana:
  • Screening: Removes large particulate matter.
  • Equalization Tank: Balances water volume and quality.
  • DAF: Removes grease and suspended solids.
  • Anaerobic Treatment (UASB/IC): Efficiently degrades high concentrations of organic matter.
  • Aerobic Treatment (MBBR/MBR): Further removes COD, BOD, and ammonia nitrogen.
  • Advanced Treatment: Achieves compliant discharge or reuse of treated water.
Sources of pollution Food factory Beverage factory
COD & BOD ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Suspended Solids ★★★★★ ★★★☆☆
Fat, Oil & Grease ★★★★★ ★☆☆☆☆
Sugar ★★★☆☆ ★★★★★
Protein ★★★★★ ★★☆☆☆
Ammonia Nitrogen ★★★★☆ ★★☆☆☆
Warna ★★☆☆☆ ★★★☆☆
PH ★★★☆☆ ★★★★☆

food and beverage wastewater treatmentWhat are the main problems addressed by waste water treatment in food industry

Wastewater from food processing plants (meat, dairy products, aquatic products, fruits and vegetables, canned goods, frozen foods, dll.) is typically characterized by high levels of organic matter, high levels of oil, and high levels of suspended solids.

The core objective of wastewater treatment in the food processing industry is not merely to make the water cleaner, but to remove organic pollutants, grease, suspended solids, and nutrients to ensure that emissions meet local environmental standards or achieve water reuse.

Processing target Major pollutants Common processing equipment
Remove organic matter COD, BOD UASB, MBBR, MBR, Biochemical Systems
Remove suspended solids SS Bar screen, sedimentation tank, DAF
Remove grease FOG Oil separator, DAF
Removal of ammonia nitrogen NH₃-N A/O, A²/O, MBBR
Removal of total nitrogen and total phosphorus TN, TP Biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal, chemical phosphorus removal
Eliminate odor H₂S, NH₃ Deodorization system
Emissions meeting standards Comprehensive pollutants Complete wastewater treatment system
Reclaimed water reuse Residual pollutants UF + RO + UV/Ozone

BOD and COD removal from wastewater

Food production processes generate large amounts of:

  • Sugars
  • Starch
  • Proteins
  • Food residues
  • Animal and vegetable oils
These all lead to:
  • Extremely high COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)
  • Extremely high BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)

Direct discharge will deplete oxygen in water bodies, causing oxygen depletion in rivers and reservoirs, and impacting aquatic life.

Common Equipment used in BOD and COD removal

  • UASB
  • IC Reactor
  • Anaerobic Digester
  • MBBR
  • MBR
  • Activated Sludge System

Common Equipment used in BOD and COD removal

Treatment Objectives of BOD and COD removal

  • Reduce organic pollution load.
  • Meet environmental emission standards.

Removal of Suspended Solids from wastewater

Food processing generates SS:

  • Fruit peels
  • Vegetable leaves
  • Meat scraps
  • Bone scraps
  • Flour
  • Rice grains
  • Sediment
These SS can cause:
  • Pipe blockage
  • Difficulty operating subsequent equipment
  • Turbid effluent
Purpose of Treatment:
  • Reduce turbidity
  • Protect subsequent processing equipment

Common Equipment used in removing suspended solids from wastewater

  • Bar Screen
  • Rotary Drum Screen
  • Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)
  • Sedimentation Tank

Fat oil and grease removal from wastewater

This process especially suitable for:
  • Meat processing
  • Food processing plants
  • Central kitchens
  • Dairy plants
Grease will:
  • Clog pipes
  • Reduce the efficiency of the biological treatment system
  • Cause severe scum buildup
Purpose of fog removal in wastewater treatment：
  • Prevent pipe blockage
  • Improve biochemical treatment efficiency

Common Equipment used in FOG treatment:

  • Grease Trap
  • Oil Separator
  • DAF System

Common Equipment used in FOG treatment

 

Ammonia Nitrogen removal from wastewater

Main sources of ammonia nitrogen:

  • Protein decomposition
  • Meat processing
  • Seafood processing
  • Fermentation industry
Excessive ammonia nitrogen levels will:
  • Poison aquatic life
  • Failure to meet discharge standards
Ammonia nitrogen removal treatment can reduce the risk of eutrophication and ensure effluent meets discharge requirements.

Common Processes of ammonia nitrogen in wastewater treatment

  • Biological Nitrification & Denitrification
  • A/O Process
  • A²/O Process
  • MBBR

Removal of nitrogen and phosphorus

Wastewater from the food industry is often rich in:
  • Nitrogen
  • Phosphorus
If discharged into rivers, it can cause:
  • Eutrophication
  • Cyanobacterial blooms
  • Algal blooms

Treatment Methods of remove nitrogen and phosphorus

  • Biological Nutrient Removal
  • Chemical Phosphorus Removal
Food processing wastewater easily produces:
  • Hydrogen sulfide
  • Ammonia
  • Organic odor
Treatment objectives:
  • Improve the factory environment
  • Meet environmental protection requirements
The ultimate goal is to meet local environmental regulations, seperti:
  • COD
  • BOD
  • SS
  • NH₃-N
  • TN
  • TP
  • pH
Then to meet municipal pipeline discharge or direct discharge standards.

Achieving Water Reuse

More and more food companies are looking to:
  • Save water
  • Reduce operating costs
  • Meet ESG and sustainability requirements
Treatment water can be used for:
  • Floor washing
  • Cooling circulation
  • Green space irrigation
  • Process auxiliary water (depending on water quality requirements)

Commonly used methods in water reuse:

  • Ultrafiltration (UF)
  • Reverse Osmosis (RO)
  • UV Sterilization
  • Ozone Disinfection

What are the main problems addressed by water treatment process in beverage industry

The core objective of wastewater treatment in beverage factories is to remove high concentrations of organic pollutants, sugars, suspended solids, and nutrients, adjust pH levels, and ensure that wastewater meets discharge standards or is reused as greywater.
During beverage production (such as juice, carbonated drinks, tea drinks, dairy drinks, beer, and functional beverages), wastewater mainly originates from equipment cleaning (CIP), bottling, ingredient mixing, floor washing, and production line discharge. Karena itu, it is characterized by high COD, high BOD, high sugar content, and large pH fluctuations.
Processing target Major pollutants Common processing equipment
Remove organic matter COD, BOD Anaerobic and Aerobic biological treatment
Remove sugars Sucrose, glucose, fructose Biodegradation
Remove suspended solids Fruit pulp, tea leaves, and packaging debris Bar screen, DAF, sedimentation tank
Adjust pH Acid and alkali cleaning solutions Neutralization and Regulation
Removal of nitrogen and phosphorus NH₃-N, TN, TP Biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal
Remove color and odor Pigments, organic matter Deep processing
Reclaimed water reuse Residual pollutants UF + RO + UV/Ozone

BOD and COD removal from wastewater

Major sources of pollution include:
  • Syrups
  • Fruit juices
  • Alcohol
  • Starch
  • Organic acids
  • Food additives

major sources cause high cod and bod

These organic substances lead to high COD and BOD concentrations in wastewater. Direct discharge will deplete dissolved oxygen in water bodies and negatively impact the ecological environment.

Common Treatment Processes of bod & cod removal from beverage wastewater:

  • UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket)
  • IC Reactor (Internal Circulation Anaerobic Reactor)
  • MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor)
  • MBR (Membrane Bioreactor)
  • Activated sludge process

Sugar Removal from beverage wastewater

One of the most prominent characteristics of beverage wastewater is its high sugar content. Sugar rapidly increases COD and BOD and easily ferments during storage and transportation, producing off-flavors. Karena itu, it needs to be degraded through a biological treatment system.
Main sources of sugars:
  • Fructose
  • Glucose
  • Sucrose
  • Syrup
The purpose of this treatment is to reduce COD and prevent fermentation and off-flavors.

Removal of Suspended Solids from beverage waste water

Beverage industry wastewater may contain:
  • Fruit pulp
  • Tea leaves
  • Coffee residue
  • Label scraps
  • Packaging fragments
Treatment objectives:
  • Reduce turbidity
  • Prevent clogging of downstream equipment

Common equipment in beverage wastewater treatment:

  • Bar screen
  • Rotary drum screen
  • Sedimentation tank
  • Dissolved air flotation (DAF)

pH adjustment in wastewater treatment

In beverage production, equipment cleaning (CIP) typically uses:
  • Sodium hydroxide cleaning solution
  • Nitric acid
  • Phosphoric acid
  • Citric acid
  • Carbonic acid
  • CIP cleaning system
Karena itu, the wastewater may be acidic or alkaline, requiring pH adjustment before entering the biological treatment system to provide a suitable environment for subsequent biological treatment.

Removal of color and odor

If producing:
  • Tea beverages
  • Coffee beverages
  • Fruit juice beverages
  • Functional beverages
  • Beer
Wastewater may have a certain degree of color and odor, requiring further improvement in water quality through biological treatment, activated carbon adsorption, or advanced treatment.

Removal of Nitrogen and Phosphorus

Some beverage wastewater (especially dairy and fermented beverages) contains a certain amount of nitrogen and phosphorus, which need to be reduced through biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal processes to prevent eutrophication of water bodies.

Achieving emission standards or enabling wastewater reuse

After complete treatment, the effluent can achieve the following:
  • Meet local environmental emission standards
  • Discharge into the municipal sewage network
  • Reuse for non-potable purposes such as equipment flushing, greening irrigation, and cooling circulation, reducing water costs for businesses.

In total

Food and beverage wastewater treatment focuses on removing high concentrations of organic pollutants (COD/BOD), suspended solids (SS), fats, oils and grease (FOG), sugars, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), warna, and pH fluctuations. Advanced treatment systems ensure regulatory compliance, reduce environmental impact, and enable sustainable water reuse.