Abstract |
This paper reports a comprehensive study of the state-of-the-art of dairy wastes, their control and treatment, both from the point of view of past literature and current industrial knowledge and practice. The dairy industry has only limited knowledge of the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of its waste waters. BOD-COD relationships are reviewed together with available knowledge on all aspects of waste composition. Sources and control of in-plant wastes are presented. Detergents and sanitizers contribute to the BOD load, to refractory COD and to the toxicity of some dairy food plant wastes. Problems of shock loading, whey, cottage cheese wash water and the presence of surfactants appear to contribute to the difficulty of continuing efficient dairy food plant waste treatment. (Modified author abstract) |