Suntory Introduces Sludge-Free Wastewater Treatment System

Suntory Limited and Kurita Water Industries Ltd., Japan's leading companies in the beverage industry and the water treatment business respectively, have jointly developed a sludge-free decoloring system for wastewater generated in the process of manufacturing canned and bottled coffee and Oolong tea. This is the world's first success in this field for the soft drink industry. The system, introduced at Suntory's Haruna Plant, has been in full-scale operation since July 2003.

Industrial wastewater is usually decomposed biologically by anaerobic or aerobic microorganisms. This method, however, is not applicable to soft drink plants because its wastewater contains nonbiodegradable ingredients such as the pigments found in coffee and tea. Soft drink manufacturers therefore usually add chemical precipitating agents to the wastewater to separate the pigment from the water. Sludge produced through this treatment is utilized as compost.

The new system uses an oxidant and its catalyst to decolor the water by oxidizing the pigment in the wastewater. Without producing any sludge, the system can remove color from the wastewater containing normal levels of pigment, reducing environmental impact. Suntory has estimated that full fledged operation has reduced the daily sludge accumulation by some 45 percent in its Haruna Plant.




Posted: 2003/09/27 11:51:50 AM
Japanese version