We all are aware that the dairy industry faces unique challenges when it comes to processing, water recovery, and wastewater treatment. Approximately 80-90% of the water used in dairy processing becomes wastewater which contains fats, proteins, lactose, and cleaning agents, making it challenging to treat. Now, how do we solve the biggest issue of recycling water from such wastewater streams? Dairy industries use membrane technology to treat wastewater and one of the major challenges with this technology is fouling, which reduces the efficiency of the membranes. Fouling can be caused by the accumulation of organic and inorganic materials on the membrane surface. Persistent membrane fouling, high chemical use, and significant water demand can lead to inefficiencies, downtime, and increased operating costs. Enter ZwitterCo’s fouling-immune membrane technology: an innovation that not only addresses these challenges but also aligns with sustainability goals. Let’s explore how ZwitterCo’s solutions along with MWTS’ operational capability are revolutionizing dairy processing with the latest watertech.

Whey & Milk Processing: Reduce Cleaning Costs by 50%

Whey protein concentrate (WPC) and milk protein concentrate (MPC) production are vital for dairy processors, but frequent and intensive cleaning cycles can hinder productivity. Traditional membranes often suffer from fouling, leading to long cleaning cycles with extensive chemical use and water demand.

ZwitterCo’s advanced membranes make a game-changing difference by offering:

• 50% Reduction in Cleaning Costs: With shorter, easier cleaning programs, dairy plants can cut cleaning costs in half. This leads to increased uptime and more production runs.
• Simplified Operations: Easier cleanings reduce the labor and time needed for maintenance, freeing operators to focus on other priorities.
• Sustainability Gains: Reduced freshwater demand, lower energy consumption, and decreased chemical usage make operations more eco-friendly.

According to industry estimates, dairy processing plants can consume 1,000 liters of water for every 1 kilogram of processed product. ZwitterCo membranes help lower this number significantly by reducing the need for freshwater during cleaning.

RO Water Polishing: Simplified Cleanings and OPEX Reduction

Reverse osmosis (RO) polishing is crucial for recovering high-quality water in dairy processing. However, traditional RO membranes are prone to fouling, resulting in downtime, excessive chemical use, and high operational expenses (OPEX).

ZwitterCo’s RO polishing membranes solve these issues with:

• Easier, Quicker Cleaning: The fouling-immune technology allows for faster cleaning cycles that require fewer chemicals, supporting sustainability efforts.
• Lower OPEX: ZwitterCo’s RO membranes reduce water and energy use, cut wastewater generation, and minimize chemical costs. As a drop-in replacement, no additional capital expenditure (CAPEX) is required.
• Sustainability Goals: By reducing freshwater demand and chemical use, dairy processors can meet environmental regulations without compromising performance.

The dairy industry generates approximately 3 liters of wastewater for every liter of milk processed. By integrating ZwitterCo’s RO membranes, processors can reduce wastewater hauling volumes by up to 50%, resulting in significant cost savings.

Wastewater Treatment: Lower Costs and Improve Sustainability

Wastewater treatment in dairy processing is notoriously challenging due to high levels of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) and other organic contaminants. Managing this wastewater can be costly, requiring extensive chemistry and significant hauling expenses.

ZwitterCo’s fouling-immune membranes revolutionize wastewater treatment by:

• Reducing Operating Expenses: Easier cleaning with full performance recovery reduces chemical use, downtime, and overall costs.
• Minimizing Chemistry Costs: ZwitterCo’s membranes can eliminate or reduce the need for coagulants, polymers, and dissolved air flotation (DAF) systems.
• Reducing Footprint: These membranes offer a space-efficient solution, eliminating the need for complex biological processes.
• Avoiding Surcharges and Violations: ZwitterCo membranes handle FOG levels up to 5%, ensuring dairy plants meet discharge limits and avoid costly fines.

By using ZwitterCo’s wastewater treatment solutions, dairy processors can lower wastewater hauling volumes by 50% or more, significantly cutting disposal costs and environmental impact.

ZwitterCo’s innovative membrane technology provides dairy processors with:

• Maximized Uptime: Shorter cleaning cycles mean more production time.
• Sustainable Operations: Reduced water, energy, and chemical use support sustainability goals.
• Lower OPEX: Simplified cleaning and wastewater management reduce overall costs.

By addressing critical challenges in whey and milk processing, RO polishing, and wastewater treatment, ZwitterCo’s membranes deliver unmatched performance and cost efficiency. The result? A more productive, sustainable, and profitable dairy operation.

Explore how ZwitterCo can transform your dairy processing facility and help you meet your operational and sustainability goals.