First advanced water recycling trial begins

AMPC has delivered its first water recycling unit to a meat processing plant in QLD as part of a pilot project for sustainable recycling of water for non-potable uses. 

The containerised microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Reverse Osmosis unit was delivered in January 2022 and has just started operations. 

The objective is low-cost Class A recycled water for use in plant heating and cooling systems.

AMPC program manager, Matthew Deegan said, “This is the first of three pilots that will be trialed by 9 meat processing hosts.”

“The research will first identify the most efficient and economic water treatment, with one objective being to achieve low-cost Class A recycled water for re-use in heating and cooling assets such as boiler make-up water, condensers and cooling towers.”

The pilot will establish and help progress a sustainable pathway to advanced water recycling in the meat processing sector. The containerized units will use suitable sub-process water streams, filtered for re-use in non-food production areas such as for heating and cooling. 

The results of the pilot study will include preliminary design, feasibility and business cases that outline the best uses for such recycled water within processing plants.

The red meat processing industry will be provided with a Class A water recycling handbook that will include tools such as a decision-making matrix to help operators determine when and where to use recycled water within their plants, including how much energy and water savings are likely to be provided.