Treating vapour condensate – reducing water footprint

Dairies need large quantities of fresh water for production. Although dairies essentially produce dry products, vapour condensates are generated. If these are treated, the fresh water requirement can be reduced considerably.

The dairy cooperative wanted to improve its water footprint at a German site by treating vapour condensates. Their discharge into the wastewater treatment system was costly and time-consuming. The aim was to use water sustainably and reduce operating costs.

After a thorough analysis of the company’s processes, our industry experts suggested an Envopur® ReVap plant solution. This process combines a Biomar® biological treatment and an Envopur® membrane process. The substances contained in the vapour condensate are first biodegraded then filtered off via biofilters, after which microorganisms and residual turbidity are removed by ultrafiltration. Finally, salts and the final organic substances are removed by reverse osmosis.

Benefits

The dairy cleans approx. 120 m3 of vapour condensate an hour and, with the new plant solution, can reduce the volume of wastewater to 15–20 percent. The water recovered can be used in a variety of ways: as rinse water, cooling tower make-up water or boiler feed water.