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Candy Manufacturing Wastewater Treatment

The process water from a candy manufacturing process will usually constitute emulsified and free fats, oils, and grease (FOG). Free FOG will separate naturally from water because FOG is hydrophobic (water fearing) and weighs less than water.

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Ecologix DAF Model E-405 for candy wastewater treatment
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Free and emulsified FOG in candy wastewater

Free FOG floats on water and can be removed using an oil-water separator such as Ecologix SkimLoop or conventional oil-water separators.

Physically emulsified FOG is typically created by mechanical agitation, such as a centrifugal pump impellor. Agitation shears FOG into small droplets that can take time to combine and separate as free FOG.

Chemically emulsified FOG is stabilized through surfactants, including soaps, detergents, and industrial cleaning agents. These affect the charges around fatty acids and hydrocarbons, allowing them to interact with water molecules.

Breaking FOG emulsions

Chemical and mechanical FOG emulsions can be treated with a coagulant to destabilize charged particles and FOG. A flocculant then brings coagulated particles together to form sludge. The sludge can be separated through dissolved air flotation (DAF) or settled in a clarifier.

Candy wastewater treatment questions

Why not use only a grease interceptor for free FOG?

Candy manufacturers commonly produce both free and emulsified FOG. Oil-water separators can help remove vegetable-based free oils, while animal-based oils and emulsified FOG generally require DAF treatment.

How can an engineered solution reduce costs?

Removing free-floating FOG early in treatment can reduce coagulant and flocculant costs for removing remaining FOG and suspended solids at the DAF stage.

What is an ideal candy wastewater treatment setup?

A typical setup uses a chemical reaction tank between equalization and the DAF system, plus a chemical feed pump skid for coagulant and caustic soda. Activated polymer binds coagulated solids and FOG into sludge that is floated, scraped, and transferred to holding or dewatering equipment. Dewatering options include a sludge hopper or a filter press.