Strauss Dairy, part of the Health & Wellness segment of Strauss Group Ltd., is Israel’s largest private dairy. The family-run business processes cheese, yogurt, and flavored milk drinks.
Strauss’ dairy facility in Misgav, Israel, was in the market for a wastewater treatment plant. The dairy required reliable treatment of its process wastewater, and it also saw potential to recover green energy from anaerobic treatment.
The BVF reactor provides Strauss Dairy with a highly effective, yet low-maintenance pretreatment system that is resilient to a variety of operating conditions and loads. Effluent COD is less than 750 mg/l, and SS is less than 300 mg/l at design loading.
The BVF reactor is well suited for treating dairy wastewater due to its superior ability to handle wastes that contain the high concentrations of SS, and fat, oil, and grease (FOG). This technology has proven highly successful in dairy applications, the oldest of which has been in service for over 25 years.
In addition to improved wastewater treatment capabilities, the dairy is now benefiting from the introduction of a renewable green energy source. Biogas is collected under the geomembrane cover of the reactor and used in a plant boiler, reducing energy consumption. The production of biogas replaces 30% of the condensed hydrocarbon gas required for heating the steam boilers at the dairy.
ADI Systems was selected for the project after a competitive call for bids. ADI Systems supplied a technology package that included process design, supply and installation of proprietary equipment, start-up, and follow-up services.
The plant’s wastewater is pretreated anaerobically in a proprietary low-rate anaerobic ADI-BVF® reactor prior to discharge to the municipal sewer. This reactor receives raw wastewater from the plant following equalization and screening.
The anaerobic reactor that ADI Systems provided for the dairy was designed to treat 1,500 m3/d (396,000 gal/d) of wastewater from the plant with a design raw wastewater chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 11,200 mg/l. The reactor was designed to achieve an effluent quality of 2,000 mg/l COD and 1,000 mg/l suspended solids (SS) while operating at 25°-35°C (77°-95°F).
The BVF® reactor is equipped with a flexible, insulated geomembrane cover system that helps retain heat, prevent odors around the treatment facility, and collect valuable biogas generated in the anaerobic digestion process.
