Specialised separation of milk fats, whey proteins, and casein residues from dairy processing operations. Our DAF flotation systems achieve 95%+ fat removal while enabling valuable resource recovery for animal feed and protein concentrate production.
Nordic dairy wastewater standards. Norwegian, Swedish, Danish and Finnish effluent limits for milk and cheese processing.
Wastewater treatment for fluid milk processing plants. Handle CIP chemical consumption, spill milk and packaging residues.
Specialised wastewater treatment for dairy wastewater standards.
Australian dairy wastewater standards including AS 1210, AS/NZS 4020 and state EPA requirements for milk processing equipment.
Milk fats and proteins in dairy wastewater represent valuable resources that can be recovered and repurposed. Our DAF flotation systems effectively separate and concentrate these materials for animal feed, protein concentrate production, or energy recovery through anaerobic digestion.
DAF flotation achieves 95%+ removal of milk fats and oils from dairy wastewater. Micro-bubbles attach to fat droplets, floating them to the surface for skimming. The concentrated fat layer can be processed for animal feed or biodiesel production, creating value from waste.
Whey proteins can be concentrated through ultrafiltration before wastewater treatment, creating valuable WPC (Whey Protein Concentrate) products. Remaining permeate requires advanced biological treatment but with significantly reduced organic load and treatment costs.
Casein residues from cheese production and equipment washdown can be recovered through coagulation and separation processes. Recovered casein can be repurposed for industrial applications or further processed, reducing waste disposal requirements and costs.
High-strength dairy wastewater with fats and proteins is ideal for anaerobic digestion. Biogas production provides renewable energy for plant operations while achieving 80-90% COD removal. Energy recovery can offset 30-50% of treatment operating overheads.
Our DAF systems with optimised polymer chemistry achieve exceptional removal of milk fats and proteins. The concentrated float can be processed for animal feed, protein concentrate, or directed to anaerobic digestion for energy recovery.
Saturator systems generate 20-50 micron air bubbles that attach to fat and protein particles, achieving rapid flotation. Bubble size optimisation ensures efficient separation even with emulsified dairy fats that resist gravity separation.
View DAF SystemsSpecialised cationic polymers enhance coagulation of negatively charged dairy proteins and fats. Our polymer dosing systems automatically adjust to varying wastewater loads, ensuring consistent performance during production cycles.
View Polymer SystemsDAF systems concentrate fats and proteins to 4-8% solids content, significantly reducing volumes for disposal or further processing. Concentrated float is ideal for screw press dewatering or direct animal feed applications.
View Screw PressesIntegrated monitoring systems track inlet and outlet fat/protein levels, chemical dosing rates, and float thickness. Real-time data enables optimisation and ensures consistent compliance with discharge requirements.
View SCADA OptionsCheese production whey contains valuable proteins that can be concentrated through ultrafiltration before wastewater treatment. This creates additional value streams while significantly reducing treatment load and operating overheads.
UF membranes concentrate whey proteins to 35-80% protein content (WPC 35-80), creating valuable products for sports nutrition and food ingredients. Permeate with reduced protein content requires less intensive advanced biological treatment.
Further processing through microfiltration and ion exchange produces WPI with 90%+ protein content. Premium product commands higher rates but requires more sophisticated processing equipment and quality control.
Crystallisation of permeate lactose creates food-grade lactose for pharmaceutical and infant formula applications. Further reduces organic load and generates additional output from what would otherwise be waste.
After protein/lactose recovery, permeate still contains dissolved organics requiring treatment. Anaerobic digestion is ideal for permeate, producing biogas while achieving high COD removal with minimal energy input.
| Parameter | Typical Inlet | After DAF | After Biological | Removal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fats & Oils | 200-1000 mg/L | < 15 mg/L | < 5 mg/L | 98-99% |
| BOD | 2000-5000 mg/L | 1500-3500 mg/L | < 100 mg/L | 95-98% |
| COD | 4000-10000 mg/L | 3000-7000 mg/L | < 200 mg/L | 95-98% |
| TSS | 500-2000 mg/L | < 100 mg/L | < 30 mg/L | 95-98% |
| pH | 4.5-9.0 | 6.5-8.5 | 6.5-8.5 | Neutralised |
High-efficiency fat and protein separation with optimised polymer dosing and automated float removal. Stainless steel construction for dairy environments.
View DAF SystemsAutomated polymer preparation and dosing systems for optimal coagulation and flocculation. Ensures consistent DAF performance with minimal chemical consumption.
View Polymer SystemsDewater DAF float to 18-22% dry solids for reduced disposal requirements or animal feed production. Low-energy operation with minimal maintenance.
View Screw PressesUASB and EGSB reactors for high-strength dairy wastewater. Biogas production provides renewable energy while achieving 80-90% COD removal.
View Biological Treatment| Density | 0.93-0.94 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 32-36°C |
| Particle Size | 0.1-20 μm |
| BOD Contribution | ~2.9 g O2/g fat |
| Types | Casein (80%), Whey (20%) |
| Molecular Weight | 14-375 kDa |
| Isoelectric Point | pH 4.6 (casein) |
| BOD Contribution | ~1.0 g O2/g protein |
| Product Type | Fat (%) | Protein (%) | Wastewater FOG (mg/L) | Wastewater Protein (mg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Milk Processing | 3.5-4.0 | 3.2-3.5 | 200-500 | 300-800 |
| Cheese Production | 20-35 | 20-30 | 500-2,000 | 1,000-5,000 |
| Butter Production | 80-82 | 0.5-1.0 | 2,000-10,000 | 100-300 |
| Whey Processing | 0.2-0.5 | 0.8-1.0 | 50-200 | 800-1,200 |
| Ice Cream Production | 10-16 | 3-5 | 300-1,000 | 400-1,000 |
Primary separation of fats and proteins
UF/MF for protein concentration
High-speed fat separation
Recovered fat and protein can be used in animal feed formulations, providing high-energy nutrition for livestock.
Milk fat derivatives are used in soaps, lotions, and cosmetic products for their moisturizing properties.
Whey protein concentrate and isolate are premium ingredients for protein powders and sports supplements.
Residual organic matter can be anaerobically digested to produce biogas for energy generation.
Treatment for high-BOD dairy effluent from cheese, whey and milk powder production.
View PageThe two components that drive every dairy DAF design decision.
Native milk fat globules 0.1–15 μm with phospholipid + protein membrane. Homogenisation reduces to 0.5–2 μm, increasing emulsion stability. Removal requires chemical destabilisation.
Casein micelles (50–300 nm) stable at neutral pH via Ca-phosphate bridges. Below pH 4.6 (isoelectric point), micelles aggregate. Above pH 12, hydrolysis releases free amino acids.
Three options: pH shock to 4.6 (acid demulsification), high-charge cationic polymer (5–25 mg/L), or thermal stress (>70°C for 20 min). Combined treatment gives best DAF performance.
FeCl₃ 80–300 mg/L breaks fat-protein emulsion via charge neutralisation + sweep flocculation. Alum less effective for dairy. PACl alternative for low-alkalinity streams.
Ultrafiltration at 10 kDa MWCO retains whey proteins (β-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin). Permeate (lactose + minerals) goes to biology; retentate sold as 35–80% protein concentrate.
Ca²⁺ bridges stabilise casein; CIP softening or sequestration with EDTA / citrate destabilises. pH adjustments require lime (Ca-bearing) or NaOH (sequestration-safe). See pH correction + comparative oil-gas pH.
Our dairy wastewater experts can design a system tailored to your specific requirements, from DAF flotation to complete treatment processes with resource recovery.
Our expertise spans multiple industries with sector-specific water treatment solutions.