Pirjo Isosaari1, Slawomir Hermanowicz2, and Yoram Rubin2. (1) VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Espoo, Finland, (2) University of California, Berkeley, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 629 Davis Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720
Food processing effluents have to be treated to a certain level to meet the technological, environmental, human health, and aesthetic requirements of different reuse options, such as reuse in manufacturing process and irrigation. Reuse value and the number of feasible reuse options typically increase with the level of purification. However, maximal reuse potential does not imply that maximal environmental protection is achieved. To be able to assess the environmental impacts and sustainability of different reuse practices we should look at the ultimate sites of impacts, for example, the fate of salinity components.
This paper presents a review of state-of-the-art wastewater treatment technologies and relates them to feasible reuse and disposal practices available for food processing wastewater. The aim of the review is to help understand the life-cycle issues of wastewater reuse and how the different combinations of wastewater segregation, purification, reuse, and disposal help us to protect the environment, meet the regulations, and conserve water, material, and energy resources. The review facilitates selection of sustainable treatment and reuse practices for typical food processing effluents.
