DAS-Wastewater Treatment for an Argentinean soft drink producer
Argentina is World Champion - World Champion of soft drink lovers. According to a study from Euro Monitor International, nowhere in the world are more of these soft drinks consumed. On average, each Argentinian drank 131 liters in 2012. Even in Chile (2nd place, 121 liters) and Mexico (3rd place, 119 liters) the drinks are popular. The South American soft drink producer Refres Now S.A. also benefits from this. The medium-sized company based in Buenos Aires has grown rapidly in recent years - and trusts in the environmental technology from the DAS Environmental Expert GmbH, Dresden for the treatment of their wastewater. Last year the environmental technology specialists installed four Trickle Flow Bioreactors. To continue to manage efficiently and reliably the growing volume of wastewater, these will be supplemented by additional DAS reactors soon.
Effectively optimize costs and processes with DAS wastewater treatment
The wastewater generated in the soft drink production pose special requirements on the wastewater treatment: The process water is usually contaminated by sugars and other easily degradable substances. Using the DAS technology this process water is treated, for example, it can be used for bottle washing several times. In this way, the Dresden solution helps to reduce costs for water supply and wastewater treatment, and contributes effectively to the competitiveness of the Argentine beverage producer.
Treatment of increasing wastewater flows with European environmental technology
Refres, founded in 2004, has more than doubled its production capacity in a short time:
The company is one of the five largest soft drink producers in Argentina. At full capacity,
6.5 million liters of the coveted soft drinks leave the factory daily, in which 180 employees work at eight production lines. This year alone, a new line started operations to produce drinks with fruit juices. As part of the company expansion Refres contracted the construction of a biological wastewater treatment plant to DAS Environmental Expert GmbH.
'Refres consciously focuses on European technology, as the company wants systems of the highest quality as well as high efficiency and reliability for the wastewater treatment', said Anke Reichardt, the South America representative of DAS Environmental Expert GmbH.
Trickle Flow Bioreactors treat wastewater efficiently and reliably
In 2012 DAS installed four Trickle Flow Bioreactors at the Argentinean beverage producer. The wastewater flow is from the top to the bottom through a substrate made of lightweight, small beads having a high specific surface area, described Anke Reichardt: 'Both organic loads and various pollutants are decomposed by microorganisms in our reactors, which settle in the form of biofilms on this carriers.' In addition to biomass, clean water and carbon dioxide are produced. A simple fan which blows air from the environment in to the bottom of the reactor in used to provide oxygen to the microorganisms growing within the reactor. „An increased pressure is not required because the reactor isn’t filled with water. Energy consumption and wear are low“, stressed Anke Reichardt. 'For regeneration surplus biomass is discharged at regular intervals. Otherwise, the system runs virtually maintenance free.' Therefore wear and operating costs are low. „ Our treatment technology is compact and light', said Reichardt on. Thanks to the Trickle Flow Bioreactors of the DAS Environmental Expert GmbH companies in the food and beverage industry, such as the Argentine soft drink producer, succeed to comply with very strict limits. The systems operate efficiently, quietly and without odor. They can be built with relatively little effort and they work even in tropical climates without limitations.
Reliable technology and local service of the DAS convince
Providers from all over the world had applied for the new wastewater treatment of the beverage producer. Looking for a supplement to the hitherto used sewage lagoon, Refres convinced themselves of the efficiency of the DAS technology on-site.
„The customer visited a treatment solution, which we installed in Uruguay at the Cooperativa Nacional de Productores de Leche (Conaprole) in Montevideo”, said Anke Reichardt further. Conaprole is the largest manufacturer of dairy products in Uruguay. Also, the Argentinian company visited a DAS system in a German beverage company. The technology convinced, - but the most important argument for the Dresden company was ultimately the closeness to the customer, Reichardt was sure: 'Refres places great value on a local contact - and we could offer our customer this service.' The Dresden-based company has opened an office in Argentina in the early summer of 2013. „ We take care of the customer systems, while building sales in the region', said Reichardt. Service is a key point at DAS Environmental Expert GmbH. The specialists from Saxony not only ensure that the system runs in a stable way despite high staff turnover at the customer. They support Refres by an intensive analysis of the production for a long term optimization of the production processes with a more efficient use of water.
Also, the DAS experts accompany the capacity extension locally: Two additional reactors in combination with a ventilated polishing pond should help now to cope the higher amounts of wastewater. 'It’s no problem, if Refres plans to expand their production even more. Anytime our systems can be quickly and with little effort adapted to new capacity needs due to their modular design,' said Anke Reichardt concluded.
Customer comments
No comments were found for DAS-Wastewater Treatment for an Argentinean soft drink producer. Be the first to comment!