CDEnviro has installed a solids recovery plant at a UK food production facility to reduce decanter wear and lagoon loading, and increase the volume of recycled wash water.

The washing process recycles the wash water on a continuous basis. It no longer requires the provision of potable water, or the plant to go offline when the potable water for the system needs to be topped up. Disposal costs for solids and the associated transport costs have been eliminated and there is a suitable feed stock for the anaerobic digester.

The system integrates a solids recovery system and fines thickener within the existing equipment. This allows for a consistent flow process, meaning the wash water used to prepare the vegetable is recycled immediately after the washing phase.

The system allows for two solid particle streams to be recovered: small potatoes and organic matter, which can be used in anaerobic digestion; and fine sand and grit, which can be used in low grade reuse applications. The remaining silt fines are thickened into a sludge which is processed by the GEA decanter centrifuge on site. The recycled water is then stored in tanks and reused within the washing process.