The study evaluates the peel removal ability and rinse water characteristics for the first commercially sized equipment using the principle of rapidly rotating rubber discs to gently wipe softened peel off Clingstone peaches. The conventional process utilizes large volumes of fresh water to remove the softened peel and flush it into the liquid effluent from the plant from where it cannot be easily separated. The dry caustic unit demonstrates that gentle abrasion can remove the softened peel, yield a peach suitable for commercial canning and allow for separation and collection of a major portion of this solid residue; thereby preventing its entry into the liquid waste stream. In addition to an approximately 60% reduction in the BOD loading in the liquid waste stream, an approximately 90% reduction in the fresh water requirement for this phase of the preparation of Cling peaches is demonstrated. These reductions in volume of liquid effluent and in the total pounds of organic matter which must be treated are beneficial to both private and public wastewater treatment facilities.

Prepared for National Environmental Research Center, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under grant 12060 HFY, program element 1BB037, ROAP/TASK no. 21 BAB/025. "This report was submitted in fulfillment of Grant No. 12060 HFY by Del Monte Corporation under partial sponsorship of the Environmental Protection Agency. Work was completed as of October 1973."--Page ii. Project Officer Harold W. Thompson"--Title page. Includes bibliographical references. Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency