Plugging up the dollar drain
RO water polisher reclaims evaporator condensate
Money going down the drain. That's how many processors have come to view cow water, the evaporator condensate collected when milk products are concentrated. For many years, the condensate was considered unusable and was sent to the drain. With today's reverse osmosis technology and an ever-increasing awareness of the need to "reduce, reclaim, and reuse," smart processors have realized that this by-product is, indeed, money going down the drain.

Changing attitudes toward water conservation and the need for improved plant efficiency have greatly increased interest in water polishing. Using reverse osmosis (RO) systems developed by membrane System Specialists, cow water is now being reclaimed for further use in more and more plants across the country. RO permeates can be used directly for all contact washing applications, excluding final rinses of processing equipment. With further conditioning, the RO permeates can even meet potable water standards, which can then be used for final rinses of processing equipment.

Potable water standards are as follows: Maximum turbidity: 5 NTU Chemical oxygen demand maximum: 12 (mg/lit) {ppm} Total plate count: 500/ml Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) values of cow water, prior to RO processing, typically range from 40-240 parts per million (ppm). With polishing, which will remove 95-99% of the BOD, values would be expected to range from 4-8 ppm. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) would correlate to 6-12 ppm.

RO systems to polish water are designed with a safeguard mechanism that prevents the permeate from being used with COD levels exceeding 12 ppm. Using approved chemicals, such as chlorine, and a suitable detention period in a holding or storage tank, COD levels are reduced to Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) levels. (For more information on standards, see USDA Instruction 918-770, items 114, 115 and the National Drinking Water Regulation section of the EPA (40 CFR parts 141-143) and the PMO Appendix D - Section V.)

Membrane System Specialists' RO water polishing systems are so efficient at reclaiming water that many plants will find that they are actually able to generate more polished water than they can possibly use. Water may then send to the drain at levels acceptable without penalty or fines. Estimates are that far fewer than half the dairy processing plants in the world are currently taking advantage of RO polisher systems to reclaim cow water. Water conservation through the use of RO polishers can easily extend to other applications as well. "Any application where water is the medium used and where that water becomes contaminated could benefit from an MSS RO polishing system," said Gregory Pesko, vice president of operations for Membrane System Specialists.

Candidates include applications from vegetable washing to milk receiving plants. Even plants with RO systems currently in place for a different application may be able to convert these systems to polish water.

How can you save your dollars from "going down the drain?" The answer is as simple as contacting Membrane System Specialists to learn how an RO polisher can easily fit into your plans for the coming year.

Product Notes
It's element-ary
The role of vexars in processing
The mesh-like material that helps form an element may not always get the credit it is due as a critical component in the processing of a feed stream, for the vexar (or feed spacer) is actually a gate-keeper of sorts, forming the flow path for the feed stream through the membrane leaves.

Too thin and the feed stream may foul the element. Too thick and precious membrane capacity is lost.

Spiral-wound elements used for reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration processing also rely on vexars to create turbulence, which minimizes fouling at the membrane-liquid interface.

Understanding the characteristics of the feed stream, its temperature, total solids level, and viscosity, is essential in selecting elements that, by the nature of the vexar thickness and pattern, will maximize the amount of permeate generated in a given time.

Element manufacturers, too, have recognized the importance of maximizing membrane capacity by efficient use of vexars. As a result, over the past year we've seen the introduction of new, thinner vexars. The new vexars have been proven to provide the same benefits as their thicker counterparts, while increasing available membrane space and production capabilities.

Ask the Doctor
BOD in the membrane process
The relative potential of an aqueous stream to support microbiological activity can be measured in terms of the bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD). The BOD values reflect the levels of pollutant substrates in stream. It is not a measure of the concentration of micro-organisms in a stream, but, rather, a measure of substrate concentration (usually organic in nature) that can be oxidized (broken down into simpler substances and eventually into carbon dioxide and water) by micro-organisms. Now, how exactly do the BOD-causing substrates affect the environment? These substrates serve as food to the micro-organisms or bacteria. These bacteria require oxygen for their activity and they utilize the dissolved oxygen in water. This deprives the aquatic life (both plants and animals) of its oxygen source and consequently leads to their destruction and an ecological imbalance. This is the primary reason to reduce BOD levels in discharge streams.

Of particular interest to us are the BOD contents of typical dairy streams tabulated above.

Noted researcher Dr. Wayne Geilman joins technical sales team
Membrane System Specialists technical sales team on the west coast has been greatly enhanced by the recent addition of Dr. Wayne Geilman, widely known for his work in the development of new products and processes as a research scientist at Polytechnic State University in California.

Geilman has also established his expertise in the industry through his work as a dairy industry consultant and through his manufacturing and research work at Ridgeview Foods and Kraft. In addition, he has published numerous articles on emerging filtration applications for the dairy industry.

Geilman will service as a process/product adviser for MSS, as well as a sales representative in California.

Profile - Gary Meinhardt, Director of Sales & Marketing
By the year 2000, only those companies that are competing according to a world-wide standard will be thriving, believes Gary Meinhardt, Membrane System's new director of sales & marketing. He fully expects Membrane System Specialists to be among the prospering companies.

Gary's understanding of the competitive nature of the international marketplace comes from first-hand experience. As the manager of IWT-Europe in the late 1980's, he saw a rapid evolution of products and services to meet the quickly changing European market.

"Sales isn't going to be just sales anymore; engineering isn't just engineering. We're focusing on integrating the specialty nature of specific disciplines into a whole, increasing the overlap of responsibilities and capabilities," he said.

Understanding the customer's market and business objectives, distinguishing wants from needs, and then satisfying the customer's total requirements is key in Gary's plan to continue the impressive growth MSS has seen in the past five-plus years. The equipment and services we provide must integrate into our customer's's business to enhance their ability to become more efficient and profitable, he said.

Gary's immediate focus is three-fold: location, markets, and products. Under his strong sales and marketing leadership, you can expect to see: increased sales representation world-wide, further expansion in the food industry, and a fully-integrated approach in the development of products and services to meet customer needs.

Before joining MSS, Gary spent 15 years at the Illinois Water Treatment Company, which specializes in engineering and manufacturing liquid separation/purification equipment for the high purity water and sweetener industries. He received an M.S. in physical chemistry from Purdue University.

Micro-Steel^TM - still the best game in town
There may be new players in the marketplace, but Membrane System Specialists' Micro-Steel^TM caustic recovery system is still the best choice for caustic recovery.

Utilizing a unique, stainless steel membrane, the Micro-Steel^TM , introduced more than a year ago, has proven to be an effective method for recovery of most of your plant's caustic.

In addition to its eminent suitability in the dairy industry, the Micro-Steel^TM is also an excellent choice for meat plants, fruit processors, and beer manufacturers. The Micro-Steel^TM system effectively operates within pH ranges of 1-14 and temperatures up to 250^O, environments in which ceramic or polymeric-based system have failed.

If you're interested in reducing your caustic usage and caustic costs, the Micro-Steel^TM is the best game in town. Call MSS for our best pitch.

MSS integration increases your profitability
"Good Morning, MSS, Your Integrated Membrane Technology Source."

If you've called Membrane System Specialists recently, you've probably noticed we're answering our phone in a different way. The change reflects a new emphasis in our company to adopt a whole process approach to problem solving and creation of opportunities for your business.

The next time you call, ask what this can mean for your business's bottom line.

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