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Closing the water loop in a maltery: reuse tests at pilot-scale
H De Wever1, W Boënne, M Danau
1VITO, Environmental Technology, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium. heleen.dewever@vito.be
Summary
Water reuse in malting is feasible using a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and advanced treatments. Optimal water recycling in a closed-loop system maintained both water and malt quality over multiple cycles.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Food Science
Background:
- The malting industry faces water scarcity challenges, necessitating efficient water management strategies.
- Closing the water loop in malting operations is crucial for sustainability and resource conservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of water reuse in the malting sector.
- To evaluate different treatment technologies for achieving high-quality reused water.
- To assess the impact of a closed-loop water system on malting processes and product quality.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of three commercial submerged membranes for fouling potential, linked to extracellular polymeric substances (EPS).
- Treatment of membrane bioreactor (MBR) permeate using reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation processes.
- Water reuse tests across various treatment scenarios.
- Pilot-scale testing of the optimal scenario in a closed water loop over multiple malting cycles.
Main Results:
- Fouling potential of different membranes was assessed in relation to EPS content.
- MBR permeate quality was evaluated after reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation.
- Water reuse tests demonstrated varying degrees of success across different treatment scenarios.
- The optimal water reuse scenario maintained water and malt quality in a pilot-scale closed-loop system over several cycles.
Conclusions:
- Membrane bioreactors coupled with advanced treatments offer a viable solution for water reuse in malting.
- A closed-loop water system can be successfully implemented without compromising water or malt quality.
- This approach contributes to sustainable water management in the food processing industry.
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