Wastewater Management in a Food processing Plant in Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

Processes and systems using water today are being subjected to increasingly stringent environmental regulations on effluents and there is growing demand for fresh water. This study was conducted in a factory of carbonated soft drinks in Khartoum North industrial area. The aim of the study is to identify all the processes using fresh water, then minimize the water consumption in these processes, also to develop a wastewater management system by studying the possibility of reuse, recycling and treatment. During the year of 2007-2008 , the water consumption was (1900 m3 /day) and the wastewater generated was (1300 m3 /day), also samples of wastewater were collected and analyzed in order to evaluate the existing conditions of the waste and to determine the impact of each activity inside the plant on the effluent quantity and quality . The results of the analysis of wastewater samples from the final effluent were compared with the discharge standards to the public sewer of the Sudanese Standards & metrology Organization(SSMO). The results showed that – with the exception of few cases – the quality of wastewaters generated falls within the specified limits . However the operating SWI is considered high (4.13 m3 per m3 of final product) consequently the amount of wastewater discharge – which is 69% of the water intake – is high . The bottle washer is the main source of wastewater (69% from the final effluent) with high values of Chemical oxygen demand(3200 mg/L) , Total dissolved solids (2900mg/L) and pH(10.26). The factory has a pretreatment unit (precipitation tanks) which reduces the Total dissolved solids (from 790 to 350 mg/L) , Total suspended solids (from 450 to 100 mg/L) and also reduces the Chemical oxygen demand (from 695 to 120 mg/L. XII It is recommended to segregate The bottle washer wastewater and treat it separately to reduce the TDS,COD and pH values. Also to reuse of the wastewater generated from the back wash in other activities that do not require a high quality of water such as floor washing and irrigation of the green yards in the plant.