Summary:

While product losses in food processing can never be eliminated, Meggle MilchIndustrie, a dairy plant in Wasserburg, Germany, has found a novel way to reduce product losses and hence reduce BOD loading and energy costs at its WWTP. Assessment was made of whether to use pH, turbidity, conductivity, density, COD or BOD as the monitored parameter to aid loss reduction. It was decided to install a rapid BOD monitor integrated with pH and conductivity sensors to locate the origin of the spills. The BOD monitor detects the spills within minutes and triggers an alarm. The plant supervisor determines the reason and origin of the spill which can then be stopped immediately. This system has resulted in a significant reduction of product losses and has drastically reduced BOD loads and electrictiy costs for the WWTP.