EPA-R2-73-178
MARCH 1973 Environmental Protection Technology Series
National Meat-Packing
Waste Management Research
and Development Program
£
National Environmental Research Center
Office of Research and Monitoring
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Corvallis, Oregon 97330
-------
RESEARCH REPORTING SERIES
Research reports of the Office of Research and Monitoring, Environ-
mental Protection Agency, have been grouped into five series. These
five broad categories were established to facilitate further development
and application of environmental technology. Elimination of traditional
grouping was consciously planned to foster technology transfer and a
maximum interface in related fields. The five series are:
1. Environmental Health Effects Research
2. Environmental Protection Technology
3. Ecological Research
4. Environmental Monitoring
5. Socioeconomic Environmental Studies
This report has been assigned to the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
TECHNOLOGY series. This series describes research performed to
develop and demonstrate instrumentation, equipment and methodology
to repair or prevent environmental degradation from point and non-point
sources of pollution.. This work provides the new or improved technology
5 '
required for the control and treatment of pollution sources to meet en-
vironmental quality standards.
-------
EPA-R2-73-178
March 1973
NATIONAL MEAT-PACKING WASTE MANAGEMENT
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Jack L. Witherow, S. C. Yin and David M. Farmer
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory
Ada, Oklahoma 74820
Project 12060 FGF
Program Element 1B2037
National Environmental Research Center
Office of Research and Monitoring
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Corvallis, Oregon 97330
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402
Price 75 cents domestic postpaid or 50 cents GPO Bookstore
-------
ABSTRACT
The meat-packing process is viewed from the standpoint of its use and
discharge of water. The concept of integrated water management
through in-plant control, solids recovery and disposal, wastewater
treatment, and water reuse is presented. The necessity for in-plant
change in unit processes and housekeeping practices to reduce waste
loads is shown by the wide variation in wastewaters from packing-
houses .
The scope of the meat industry's waste management problem is defined,
and the objectives of the National Meat-Packing Waste Management
Research Program are categorized. Environmental Research Needs
are introduced as a means by which the meat industry can present its
waste treatment problems to the program.
The past and current research projects are briefly described according
to the objectives and accomplishments with more detailed information
referenced. The results of the recent waste survey of the meat industry
are given along with interpretation of their meaning. Future research
projects will evolve around closed-loop technology. Unit processes
which offer great potential in waste reduction are described as the
initiation point for a program to reach the goal of "no discharge of
pollutants."
KeyWords: Meat-Packing Wastes, Pollution Control, Pollution Abate-
ment, Water Quality, Industrial Wastes.
111
-------
CONTENTS
Section Page
I Summary and Conclusions 1
II Introduction 3
Meat-Packing Process 3
Waste Management Problems 5
Research Objectives 7
Research Need Statements 9
HI Current Research Program 13
In-House Projects 13
Grant Projects 16
Contract Project 21
IV Future Discharge Limitations 24
V Future Research Program 28
VI References 32
v
-------
FIGURES
No. Page
1 MEAT-PACKING PROCESS 4
2 ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH NEED 10
3 WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEMS FOR SMALL
MEAT-PACKERS 15
4 AEROBIC CHANNEL FOR TREATING PACKINGHOUSE
WASTES 18
5 TERTIARY TREATMENT OF COMBINED WASTES 18
6 EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY OF POLYMERIC
SEWAGE CLARIFICATION 20
7 WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY 20
8 ELIMINATION OF PAUNCH AND BLOOD AS WASTES 22
9 EVALUATION OF ROTATING BIOLOGICAL SURFACE
ON MEAT-PACKING WASTE 22
10 MEAT-PACKING WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PATH 31
VI
-------
TABLES
No. Page
I MEAT-PACKING WASTE LOAD CHARACTERISTICS 8
II ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH NEEDS 12
III SUMMARY OF RESULTS 25
vn
-------
SECTION I
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The status of the National Meat-Packing Waste Management Research
and Development Program is introduced by a brief review of the pro-
duction process and resulting waste problems. The meat-packing
process is presented from the viewpoint of water uses and discharges.
This viewpoint leads to the concepts of an integrated management of
water to reduce waste by recovery of solids from separated waste
streams and of design of wastewater treatment systems for water reuse.
The necessity for in-plant process changes is verified by statistics
from four waste surveys of the industry. From the large variation in
waste load between discharges from similar plants, it is concluded that
a 50 percent or more decrease in pollutants discharged to the treatment
system can be accomplished by existing in-plant improvements.
The objective of the research program is to develop and demonstrate the
necessary technology to achieve the required degree of pollution con-
trol for wastewaters from the red meat processing industry by least or
reasonable cost methods. The ultimate goal is to achieve a level of
technology capable of no discharge of pollutants through use of a
closed-loop water system. Meeting this goal will require an expanded
and systematic development program. Such a program must receive
support and direction from industry. The Environmental Research
Need Statement is a means for industry to add direction to the research
projects selected for partial funding under the EPA grant programs.
•Research projects which offer a new or novel solution to the wide-
spread needs of the meat industry are given high priority. To date,
ten research projects have been undertaken in this program at a total
project cost of $5 million. Federal participation has averaged 50 per-
cent. These projects, which include in-house and grant and contract
efforts, were to develop and demonstrate by-product recovery systems
and improved primary, secondary and tertiary treatment processes.
The major objectives and accomplishments of the projects are described
1
-------
to indicate their investigative scope and cooperation between industry,
universities, consultants, and the Federal government. Detailed
information on these projects can be obtained from the reports ref-
erenced .
Recent legislation terminates the issuing of permits for waste discharges
under the 1899 Refuse Act and authorizes a discharge permit system
within EPA. A recent EPA-sponsored waste survey of the meat products
industry developed mean raw waste load values for Biochemical Oxygen
Demand exerted in five days (BOD-), suspended solids, and grease. A
o
base level of discharge was determined by using the efficiencies of the
most common treatment system, anaerobic-aerobic lagoons. The best
levels of discharge were based on an existing highly efficient treatment
plant serving the meat industry. The next decade will see stringent
discharge limitations on the meat products industry, which are expected
to exceed present treatment process limitations or to eliminate discharge
of all pollutants. These two limits are so close that water reuse and
perhaps complete closed-loop waste systems will become common in the
industry.
The future research program is clearly defined by the goal of "no dis-
charge of pollutants." Because of the economic advantages for reuse
of such a high quality effluent, closed-loop technology is the planned
strategy. Present knowledge defines the point of initiation for such
technology as water and waste reduction through production changes.
Separation of waste streams for by-product recovery and reuse of
high quality streams should precede treatment processes designed for
reuse of the effluents.
EPA is prepared and has the instrument to support financially, through
grants and contracts, those research projects that will aid in develop-
ment of closed-loop technology for the meat-packing industry.
-------
SECTION II
INTRODUCTION
Meat-Packing Process
Compared to operations of other industries, the meat-packing process
appears to be a topsy-turvy assembly line—a large product is first
stored, then disassembled, and finally repackaged into smaller units.
A general flow sheet of a packinghouse is shown in Figure 1. Fresh
meat, the most economically important output, is the product of the first
three stages of the primary process line: animal holding pens, the
slaughtering area, and the cutting area. The fourth stage, processing,
includes such operations as grinding, curing, pickling, smoking, cook-
ing, and canning. The secondary, or by-product, process line utilizes
materials discarded from the primary line for manufacture of a variety
of food, animal feed, and industrial raw materials. Major subsystems
of the secondary line include: blood processing, hide processing and
hair recovery, viscera handling and recovery, and edible and inedible
rendering (fat extraction) . Due to specialization and economics of
scale within the industry, not all of the aforementioned processes may
be found within a given plant, nor will the unit operations in a given
process necessarily be identical in each plant. The common element
in most subsystems, however, is the use of water during a processing
operation and cleanup. Because good quality water historically has
been cheap and abundantly available, a copious flow of this versatile
solvent and cleansing medium is inherent in the design of common
process machinery; thus, even in a well operated plant over a gallon
of water per pound of animal live weight is used during the production
operation. Despite the ingenuity demonstrated by the industry in re-
covering marginally profitable by-products, the large volume of
wastewater produced still contains vast quantities of organic process
residues; this, coupled with the intermittent production schedule,
places a severe burden on wastewater treatment systems.
-------
FIGURE - I
MEAT-PACKING PROCESS
ANIMAL
PENS
SLAUGHTERING
KILLING
HIDESHAIR
REMOVAL
EVISCERATING
BLOOD
PROCESSING
HIDE PROCESSING
a
HAIR RECOVERY
CUTTING
VISCERA
HANDLING
PROCESSING
RENDERING
EDIBLE 8
INEDIBLE
SOLIDS SEPARATION FOR UNIT PROCESS STREAMS
TMANURE]
! TRAP >
PROTEIN
"
L _?.§i2Y.EJ?!_
PAUNCH
RECVERY
T GREASE ~
L
_ . WATER JREATMENT ^ _
T PRIMARYnh-HrSECONDARY>-*rTERITIARY "I
I i i i i |
JL
TREATED WATER FOR REUSE
-------
Most of the primary and secondary process waste streams shown should
be separately handled to recover valuable material and/or reduce costs
in the treatment system. The manure trap and dry paunch recovery
are examples of such systems. A majority of treatment systems in the
meat-packing industry today consist of primary units for liquid-solids
separation, followed by secondary biological treatment systems to reduce
the BOD and suspended solids to levels suitable for discharge. Tertiary
treatment units, which are needed for further reduction of pollutants,
especially nutrients, will become more common as stricter discharge
limitations become effective. The necessity for further treatment and
the rising cost of water can make the reuse of treated waters from
tertiary systems economically practical.
Waste Management Problems
On a national basis the wastewater discharged from meat-packing plants
is the number-one potential polluter among the food and kindred products
industries; only pulp and paper processing, of all other agricultural
processing industries, has a higher potential for water pollution. This
statistic is based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture computations of
pollutional discharges using a raw waste load of 14.0 Ibs. Biochemical
Oxygen Demand (BOD) per 1,000 Ibs. Live Weight Killed (LWK) with 73
percent eliminated in treatment processes (1). Besides pollutional
loads, waste management problems are also measured by number and
distribution of plant discharges. There are over 4,000 meat slaughter-
ing and processing plants distributed across every state in the nation.
By comparison, there are about 400 pulp and paper mills located in
half of the states. Though these statistics indicate the national signifi-
cance of meat-packing wastes, more specific information is necessary
in order to achieve reduction in pollutional discharges. In a study
sponsored by EPA, North Star Research and Development Institute, in
cooperation with the American Meat Institute, recently completed a
survey of the waste load characteristics of representative slaughter-
houses , packinghouses, red meat processing plants, poultry processing
plants, and rendering plants (2) .
-------
Since most of the waste load is generated by packinghouses, the follow-
ing discussion is limited to this segment of the meat industry. Selected
pollutional parameters (BOD, suspended solids, grease, nitrogen) of
the North Star study and comparable data from three previous surveys
(3, 4) are summarized in Table I. The number of packinghouses sur-
veyed by North Star, Mohlman, Hill and Kerrigan are 52, 16, 10 and
10, respectively. In interpreting the data shown in Table I, a statistical
approach is helpful. For a given wastewater parameter, a comparison
of the average, or mean (M), values shows remarkable similarity among
the four studies; thus, although larger surveys would shift the mean
values slightly, the results of the studies are complementary. However,
mean values do not indicate the variation in water quality which exists
among the plants; this is given by a second statistical measure, the
standard deviation (a). Data from 66 percent of the plants surveyed
will be within plus or minus one standard deviation of the mean.
These limits exclude extremely high or low values and include the
maximum number of plants per unit of waste load. For example, with
a M of 13.3 Ibs. BODg/1,000 Ibs. LWK plus or minus a of 4.7, 66 per-
cent of the plants surveyed would be in the range of 8.6 to 18.0 Ibs.
BOD,/l,0001bs. LWK.
o
The ratio of the standard deviation to the mean is known as the "coeffi-
cient of variation" (Cv); this ratio permits comparison between the four
surveys of the variation in a particular waste load parameter. The
values are given in Table I. With one exception (North Star-nitrogen),
the values are similar for each parameter and averages are shown for
each parameter. The average coefficient in percent indicates that the
standard deviation is 35.6 percent of the mean BODg or that variation
about the mean BOD encompassing 66 percent of the plants is 71 per-
cent . Similar values for suspended solids, grease and nitrogen are
93 percent, 192 percent, and 62 percent, respectively.
In terms of reducing the waste management problem in the meat-packing
industry, this extreme variation in waste loads between plants is more
6
-------
significant than the mean values or even efficiencies of subsequent treat-
ment processes. If the reasons for low level waste loads at certain plants
can be determined and their in-plant improvements incorporated into
other plants, pollutants discharged to the treatment systems can be
decreased by 50 percent or more.
The importance of measuring the waste load variation of common opera-
tions between plants was recognized by the American Petroleum Institute
(API), a trade association for the oil refinery industry. The API, in
cooperation with the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory,
has completed an in-depth survey of 24 waste parameters for over 75
percent of the domestic refining capacity. The waste characteristics
of common refinery operations were established. Analysis of the
variation between plants showed that the waste load per unit of produc-
tion could be reduced by decreasing water usage. This and other
information obtained on waste load reduction establishes the importance
of investigating in-plant controls.
Research Objectives
The stated objective of the Meat-Packing Waste Management Research
Program is to develop and demonstrate the necessary technology to
achieve the degree of pollution control required of the red meat pro-
cessing industry by least, or reasonable, cost methods. This objective
can be subdivided into six areas:
1. In-plant control through characterization and reduction of
wastes by unit operations,
2. Solids recovery and disposal from separated waste streams,
3. Odor control from processing, rendering, and waste treat-
ment,
4. Treatment systems demonstrating future discharge limitations,
5. Utilization of waste waters and by-products in closed-loop
systems; and
6. Technology dissemination to implement environmental protec-
tion.
-------
TABLE I
MEAT-PACKING WASTE LOAD CHARACTERISTICS
Mean Values (Ibs./1,000 Ibs. LWK)
Survey by
North Star
Mohlman
Hill
Kerrigan
Average
BOD
12.1
14.6
15.0
11.8
13.3
Susp. Sol.
8.7
11.3
12.4
9.0
10.3
Grease
6.0
1.6
8.2
5.2
Nitrogen
1.0
1.7
1.7
0.9
1.3
Coefficient of Variation (Cv = 0/M)
Grease
.983
.877
1.03
.963
Survey by
North Star
Mohlman
Hill
Kerrigan
Average
BOD
.429
.315
.348
.332
.356
Susp. Sol.
.552
.362
.419
.533
.466
Nitrogen
1.58*
.217
.355
.364
.312
This extreme value was omitted in calculation of the average coefficient
of variation.
-------
Of these six areas, the first and second, both of which will reduce costs
of treatment necessary for water recycle, may produce the most dis-
cernible advancements with regard to pollution abatement. The meat-
packing industries as well as the EPA should give high priority to
these areas of technology.
The challenge is to meet the forthcoming goal of no discharge of pollu-
tants at costs commensurate with the industry's ability to attract
capital. This is a critical challenge to the meat industry. Obviously,
development of the necessary technology will require the best scientific
and engineering talent drawn from industry, universities, private re-
search groups, and consulting engineers. The goal is high; the time
is short; the technology needs are great. The talent must be mustered
and a critical research path must be coordinated and funded. It is in
this area of coordination and funding which the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency can be most helpful. The technology necessary to obtain
no discharge of pollutants will only be obtained by a well-financed,
systematic research program.
Research Need Statements
The Office of Research and Monitoring of the Environmental Protection
Agency has recently established a new planning system for the purpose
of developing a coordinated research, development, and demonstration
program. The system begins with the user community; without the
participation of industry, the most critical technology may not be
funded. In the first stage of the system, Environmental Research Need
Statements are solicited from industry, industrial organizations, re-
search groups, and governmental agencies. A copy of this form is
shown in Figure 2. In brief, the Need Statement pinpoints a specific
problem having general applicability to the industry and specifies the
form of solution which would be most useful. Related need statements
are grouped by EPA into packages termed Environmental Research
Objective Statements (EROS), each of which forms the basis for a
-------
FIGURE - 2
FORM APPROVED
OMB NO. 1S8-H-001*
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND MONI TORINO
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH NEED
DESCRIPTIVE TITLE
DEFINE THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED
WHAT ,IS THE EXTENT AND IMPORTANCE OF THE PROBLEM!
WHAT FORM OF A SOLUTION IS NEEDED? fe.£., instruction manual, research report, proceee or facility demonstration.).
HOW WILL THE SOLUTION BE USED AND BY WHOM?
WHEN WILL THE SOLUTION BE NEEDED AND WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES, IF ANY. OF DEFERRING ON THE PROBLEM'
NAME AND ORGANIZATION OF REQUESTOR
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE USE ONLY
EQUIVALENT NEEDS PROGRAM NUMBER IDENT. NUMBER
SPONSOR PRIORITY
REQ'O BY fAfo/VrJ
PROGRAM PRIORITY
RATING
REQ'D BY (Mo/Yt)
AGENCY PRIORITY
REO'D BY (Mo/Yt)
EPA Fe.m 5300-2 (7-71)
GPO »IB . 206
10
-------
coordinated effort in a particular area of research. From each Objec-
tive Statement, a corresponding Research Objective Achievement Plan
(ROAP) is developed, outlining the path and schedule by which the
solution will proceed. These objective and achievement statements are
the basis for setting priority and funding levels. Thus the future level
of Federal funds to be allotted to meat-packing waste management re-
search can be directly affected by written Need Statements from the
public. The one-page form shown in Figure 2 has been designed to
simplify the effort of writing the Need Statement and to assist the user
in evaluation of his needs. Completed forms can be forwarded to the
National Meat-Packing Waste Management Research Program, Robert S.
Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory, Ada, Oklahoma, or sent to
the nearest EPA Regional Office.
Table II lists Environmental Research Needs of the meat-packing industry
which have been submitted to date.
Because of the goal of "no discharge of pollutants," water reuse or
closed-loop water systems will probably emerge as the most economical
alternatives for the meat-packing industry. Need Statements related to
development of components for such systems may well be given top
priority.
11
-------
TABLE II
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH NEEDS AS OF FY 1973
Objective
In-Plant Control
Solids Recovery
and Disposal
Odor Control
Treatment for
Discharge
Utilization in
Closed Loop
Dissemination
Title
"Meat Industry In-Plant Prevention of Pollution
Losses"
"Determine Quality Variability and Possible
Reduction of Major Process Wastes that Make Up
Meat-Packing Wastewaters"
"Establish Range and Average of Flow from Various
Parts of the Meat-Packing Operation and
Characterize the Wastewater"
"Process Change for Reduction of Wastewaters"
"Product and By-Product Recovery from Food
Processing Wastes"
"Cattle Paunch Recovery Systems for Small
Meat-Packers"
"Blood Recovery Systems for Small Meat-Packers"
"Recovery of Proteinaceous Nitrogen from
Meat-Packing Wastewater"
"Meat-Packing Paunch Manure Handling and Dis-
posal System"
"Meat-Packing Blood Handling and Disposal System"
"Meat-Packing Grease Handling and Disposal
System"
"Meat-Packing Wastewater Lagoon System Odor
Control"
"Reduction of Odors Emanating from Anaerobic
Lagoons Treating Meat-Packing Wastewaters"
"Small Meat-Packers—Waste Treatment Systems"
"Ammonia Removal from Treated Packinghouse
Wastewaters"
"Prevention of Algal Suspended Solids Discharge
from Meat Industry Lagoon System"
"All Season Meat Industry Effluent Irrigation with
Pollutional Side Effects"
"Treatment of Anaerobic Effluents at Meat-Packing
Plants"
"Development of Methods for Increased Utilization
of Slaughterhouse Waste By-Products"
"Meat-Packing and Slaughterhouse Waste Control--
Updating State of the Art"
12
-------
SECTION III
CURRENT RESEARCH PROGRAM
Responsibility for the administration and implementation of the meat-
packing wastes research program of the Environmental Protection Agency
is at the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory in Ada,
Oklahoma. The program goals are achieved through three avenues:
in-house research, grants, and contracts. Because of the lack of man-
power, in-house efforts have been restricted, the major efforts having
been expended in the grant and contract areas. To date, ten research
projects have been undertaken in this program. The total project
estimated cost is $5 million, with Federal participation at about 50 per-
cent of total cost. Five of these projects have been completed. Final
reports are being prepared or are at the printers, and all will be
available for distribution within the year. Three projects are in the
evaluation state; these are scheduled for completion next year. The
two remaining projects were terminated prior to construction after
completing the feasibility studies.
In-House Projects
There are currently two in-house research projects within the program.
One is development of waste treatment systems and the other is develop-
ment of by-product recovery systems; both are slanted toward the
special needs of small meat-packers.
1. Project No. 12060 GPP—"Small Meatpackers Waste Treatment
Systems." The waste treatment project is a cooperative effort between
industry, education, and government. The parties involved are:
W. E. Reeves Packinghouse, East Central State College, and the
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory, all located in
Ada, Oklahoma. The project incorporates construction and evaluation
of three full-scale treatment ponds and three pilot-scale soil treatment
plots. Five biological treatment processes are to be evaluated; these
13
-------
are: anaerobic pond, transitional pond, stabilization pond, aerated
pond, and spray-runoff irrigation. Figure 3 shows the completed treat-
ment units drawn to scale. The piping is arranged so that 12 different
treatment systems could be operated and evaluated.
The investigation is divided into two phases. The first phase is almost
completed. During this phase, the common system of an anaerobic pond
followed by a transitional pond and a stabilization pond was evaluated.
The pond system has operated as expected with high removals of BOD
and suspended solids, but with a discharge averaging 14 mg/1 of ammonia.
During the second phase, the anaerobic pond is to be converted to a
batch-operated aerated pond. This all-aerobic system is expected to
be utilized where hydrogen sulfide odors would create a nuisance or
where ammonia discharges are restricted.
The objective of the spray-runoff irrigation units is to meet future
nitrogen and phosphorus effluent limitations. The influent for the
units can be tapped from any of the three ponds. These units will be
evaluated in series with the anaerobic pond, the anaerobic-aerobic
pond, and the aerated-aerobic ponds. Evaluation thus far has been on
effluent from the anaerobic pond. The units have performed equiva-
lent to the transitional and stabilization ponds, but under present loading
rates nitrogen and phosphorus have not been reduced to the desired
levels.
2. Project No. 12060 HVQ—"Utilization of Paunch Manure as a
By-Product Feed for Channel Catfish and Its Effects on Water Quality."
The by-product development investigation is to air-dry and demon-
strate the suitability of paunch contents as a food for commercial
catfish production. A preliminary report (5) showed the feasibility of
air-drying paunch and the potential of dried paunch as a feed supple-
ment in catfish culture. It was demonstrated that paunch can be air-
dried successfully and that the dehydrated product can be stored for
months without spoilage. The data collected on time required for
14
-------
FIGURE - 3
WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEMS FOR SMALL MEAT-PACKERS
Storog* AT90 —
-------
air-drying were inconclusive, but redesign of the drying facilities has
incorporated new techniques, and the desired information will be
obtained. These feasibility studies showed that catfish will readily
consume dried paunch material and that Salmonellae are not present
in fresh paunch. However, dehydrated paunch has an extended BOD,.
of over 200,000 mg/1,000 grams. This oxygen demand was exerted at
a rate of 2,000 to 4,000 mg/day/1,000 grams of dried paunch.
Oxygen depletion potential of dried paunch incorporated into fish feed
and other related factors require further studies. A full-scale
cooperative project with Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla-
homa, has been initiated to evaluate the use of dried paunch contents
(a potential economic by-product) as a feed supplement in commercial
channel catfish farming, and to determine the effects of the two methods
of commercial catfish cultures—pond and cage—on water quality. This
project will be completed by November 1972; the final report is expected
to be ready by June 1973.
Grant Projects
The objective of four of the five completed projects was to develop and
demonstrate improved treatment systems. That of the other completed
project was to evaluate a by-product recovery system for blood and
paunch. Brief descriptions of these projects follow; more detailed in-
formation is available in the referenced proceedings of technical con-
ferences at which the research data were presented and from the EPA
Environmental Protection Technology Series reports.
1. Project No. 12060 EUB—"Construction and Study of a Demonstra-
tion Plant Utilizing the Aerobic Channel Method for Treating Packinghouse
Wastes." The research project by John Morrell & Company was designed
primarily to investigate the effectiveness of using an oxidation channel
for the secondary treatment of meat-packing wastes. Figure 4 illustrates
the treatment system evaluated in the project. The oxidation channels
were operated to test effects of variation in retention time and mixed
16
-------
liquor solids levels on organic removal and waste sludge quantities.
Two final settling tank designs were evaluated at various hydraulic
and solid loadings. The removal of grease and grit in the primary
tanks was evaluated.
Laboratory evaluation was carried out on means of harvesting the waste
activated sludge solids and their suitability as a feed supplement. Bench-
scale chlorination of the final effluent was done in the laboratory, using
chlorine residual and fecal coliform counts as criteria for the measure-
ment of the effectiveness of this treatment. A preliminary report on
this project was presented at the Second National Symposium on Food
Processing Wastes (6) . The final results were presented at the 27th
Industrial Wastes Conference, Purdue University, May 1972.
2. Project No. 11060 DLF—"Tertiary Treatment of Combined
Domestic/Industrial Wastes." The project at Tualatin, Oregon, was
to develop improved secondary and tertiary treatment. A flow diagram
of systems shown in Figure 5 depicts a combination of unit processes
which constitute a waste treatment plant followed by a water treatment
plant. The project objectives were to demonstrate a high-rate, mixed
media filter following an extended aeration process and to determine
the economics of the systems in providing "drinking water" quality
effluent. Filter runs ranged from 1.5 to 1.0 hours and were dependent
upon solids discharged from the tube settler. This settler did not
prove to be an effective clarifier for the extended aeration unit, and
its effluent averaged 110 mg/1 suspended solids, resulting in an
average BOD of 70 mg/1. With dosage of 220 mg/1 of alum, final efflu-
ent averaged >0.1 mg/1 orthophosphate and >1.0 mg/1 suspended solids.
Evaluation is completed and the results were presented at the Third
National Symposium on Food Processing Wastes (7) .
3. Project No. 11060 EKK—"Efficiency and Economy of Polymeric
Sewage Clarification." Figure 6 is the flow diagram of the project at
South St. Paul, Minnesota, which added a combination of anionic-
cationic chemicals to a 90 percent meat-packing wastewater to improve
17
-------
FIGURE - 4
AEROBIC CHANNEL for TREATING
PACKINGHOUSE WASTE
AWARDED DEC 1966
FED. GRANT *489,OOO
TO JOHN MORRELL 8 CO.
PROJECT COST '815000
SETTLING
TANK
OXIDATION CHANNELS
GREASE
EFFLUENT
FIGURE - 5
TERTIARY TREATMENT of COMBINED WASTES
AWARDED 3/20/68
FED GRANT * 230,800
TO TUALATIN, OREGON
PROJECT COST X323,600
COMMINUTOR
TUBE
SETTLER
• FLOCCULATOR
CLARIFIER
BACKWASH
STORAGE
EFFLUENT
EXTENDED &
AERATION '
POND
POND
18
-------
primary treatment efficiency. Of the various treatment schemes demon-
strated, a dual system of ferric chloride followed by the addition of an
anionic organic polyelectrolyte proved to be the most successful. Chemi-
cal addition decreased suspended solids by 100 mg/1 and BOD by 140
mg/1 leaving effluent concentrations of 120 mg/1 and 550 mg/1, respec-
tively . The cost of chemical treatment was $0.045/1,000 gal. of waste
treated. The costs were 71 percent for chemicals, 15 percent for con-
struction, 12 percent for labor, and 2 percent for utilities. The
evaluation at a 10 mgd plant has been completed and the results
published (8) .
4. Project No. 12060 DFF—"Waste Treatment Facilities, Farmbest
Inc., Denison, Iowa." The waste treatment facilities are shown in
Figure 7. The facilities were designed to handle waste flow from the
plant having a capacity to slaughter and process 5,000 hogs per day.
Though the air flotation tank and anaerobic lagoons were evaluated, the
major objective was to demonstrate secondary treatment in two 22-foot-
deep plastic media trickling filters. These filters were evaluated in
both series and parallel operations, but only series operation was
successful. The BOD- removal in the filters averaged 74 percent
during the test year. Odors were noticeable at the anaerobic lagoon
weir and in the preaeration tank. The plant effluent was chlorinated;
to determine effectiveness, residual chlorine measurements, along with
pre- and post-chlorination coliform counts, were made. Evaluation is
complete, but the final report is being revised to analyze more thor-
oughly the data collected. Preliminary results were reported at the
Second National Symposium on Food Processing Wastes (9) .
5. Project No. 12060 FDS~"Elimination of Water Pollution by
Packing House Animals Paunch and Blood." Beefland International,
Inc., Council Bluffs, Iowa, evaluated a system to develop and demon-
strate a collection and drying process for blood and paunch contents
(two major pollutants in abattoirs), converting these wastes into
19
-------
FIGURE - 6
EFFICIENCY and ECONOMY of POLYMERIC
SEWAGE CLARIFICATION
AWARDED 6/15/67 TO SOUTH ST. RAUL, MINN.
FED. GRANT '450,000 PROJECT COST *845,I45
GRIT
TANKS
PAUNCH
GREASE
f
M
r*
'LASH
VXER
0
-txi —
POLYMER
1
xxxx
PARSHALL FLOCCULATION
FLUMES TANKS
L
I"~"1
U--J
xxxx
_ •
TEST
SETTLING
TANKS
CONTROL
EFFJ.UEN
EFFLUENT
SLUDGE
FIGURE - 7
WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY
AWARDED IO/ 5/68 TO FARMBEST INC.
FED. GRANT ' 289,790 PROJECT COST ^755,587
FLOTATION
TANK
PRE AERATION
TANK
CLARIFIER
EFFUJENT
GREASE
SLUDGE
20
-------
marketable by-products. This plant has a maximum daily capacity of
2,500 head of cattle. Through this process, the two major pollutants
were eliminated from the wastewater of the plant, substantially reducing
the waste load required for treatment. Figure 8 is a schematic drawing
of the process.
Laboratory studies included five-day BOD of whole blood and fresh
paunch, which were established to be 156,500 mg/1 and 50,200 mg/1,
respectively. The moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and other
contents of the dried products were also determined. Capital and
operating costs per ton of dehydrated products were $43.75 for blood
and $38.46 for paunch. The project has been completed and the final
report is available (10) .
6. Project No. 12060 FMF—"Evaluation of the Rotating Biological
Surface System on Meat Packing Wastes." Iowa Beef Packers, Inc.,
Dakota City, Iowa, is demonstrating the effectiveness of the rotating
biological surface (RBS) process as a secondary treatment system for
meat-packing wastes following anaerobic lagoon treatment. A flow dia-
gram of this system is shown in Figure 9. Based on pilot plant data,
the full-scale rotating biological surface is designed to have a loading
of 6.0 gallons per day per square foot of disc area. The units built for
this plant have a total disc area of 500,000 square feet. The rotating
speed of the discs will be varied to determine optimum treatment.
Operational and economic data will also be collected on the flotation
tanks and the two anaerobic lagoons. Construction has been recently
completed. The evaluation is scheduled for completion by July 1973.
Contract Project
One contract has been let to survey the meat products industry. The
North Star Research and Development Institute completed a survey
designed to determine "Standard Raw Waste Load, Base Level of Treat-
ment, and Best Available Treatment." The results of this survey were
published (2) and are further described in Section IV, Future Discharge
Limitations.
21
-------
FIGURE - 8
ELIMINATION of PAUNCH 8 BLOOD AS WASTES
AWARDED 11/25/69
FED GRANT '161,398
TO BEEFLAND INTERNATIONAL
PROJECT COST ^367,870
BLOOD
STORAGE
TANKS
ROTARY DRYERS CYCLONES
PAUNCH
STACK
PRODUCT
STORAGE
STACK
FIGURE - 9
EVALUATION of ROTATING BIOLOGICAL
SURFACE on MEAT PACKING WASTE
AWARDED 6/30/70
FED. GRANT * 195,750
TO IOWA BEEF PROCESSORS
PROJECT COST '466,630
SLUDGE
FLOTATION
TANKS
GREASE
ANAEROBIC
LAGOONS
RBS
UNITS
EFFLUENT
CLARIFIER
22
-------
The projects described have provided some of the information and tech-
nology necessary for the abatement and elimination of pollution by the
meat products industry, but additional research is needed before the
ultimate goal of a closed-loop system envisioned for the industry can be
achieved.
23
-------
SECTION IV
FUTURE DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS
Under the 1899 Refuse Act, EPA found it necessary to develop discharge
guidelines for the meat products industry. North Star Research and
Development Institute, under an EPA contract, performed a survey of
the industry designed to determine "Standard Raw Waste Loads," "Base
Level of Treatment," and "Best Available Treatment" for the parameters:
BODg, suspended solids, and grease (2) . These data were expressed
in terms of "Ibs. of pollutants per 1,000 Ibs. LWK" in the case of
slaughterhouses and packinghouses and "Ibs. of pollutant per 1,000
Ibs. of product" for strictly processing operations (Table III) .
The "Standard Raw Waste Loads" are mean values developed from 11
slaughterhouses, 52 packing plants and 6 processing plants. The
suggested "Base Levels of Treatment" were based on removal efficien-
cies of the most common treatment system of an anaerobic lagoon
followed by aerobic lagoons. A well operated anaerobic-aerobic lagoon
system can readily achieve 95 percent reduction of BOD-, 90 percent
redaction in suspended solids, and 97 percent reduction of grease
content.
The suggested "Best Available Treatment" figures were based on an
existing, highly efficient poultry wastewater treatment plant which
consists of 24-hour extended aeration, a settling tank with sludge
collection, a polishing pond with a 9-day detention period, and chlori-
nation. The suggested "Best Available Treatment" values for BOD_ and
suspended solids correspond to a 99 percent reduction in the "Standard
Raw Waste Load." Grease was not detectable in the effluent from this
plant; Kjeldahl nitrogen values are based on 95 percent removal.
Utilizing the information in Table III and other information in the litera-
ture, EPA, after conferences with representatives of the meat industry,
developed a proposed Effluent Limitation Guidance for the Refuse Act
24
-------
TABLE III
to
01
Standard Raw Wasteload
BOD5
ss
Grease
Base Level of Treatment
BOD5
SS
Grease
Best Available Treatment
BOD,
5
SS
Grease
Kjeld.-N
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Slaughterhouse Packinghouse
(lbs/l,000#LWK) (lbs/l,000#LWK)
5.8 12.1
4.7 8.7
2.5 6.0
0.30
0.47
0.08
0.06
0.05
Trace
0.014
0.61
0.87
0.18
0.12
0.09
Trace
0.05
Processing Only
(lbs/l,000#Product)
5.7
2.7
2.1
0.30
0.27
0.06
0.06
0.03
Trace
0.04
-------
Permit Program. Two schedules of effluent limitations for BOD- and
SS were defined on a Ibs. per 1,000 Ibs. of LWK basis for slaughter-
houses and packinghouses. For processing plants the basis was Ibs.
per 1,000 Ibs. of product. Discreet criteria were also given for oil and
grease, coliform, and pH; conditions for the application of BODg, and
SS limitations were defined for grab samples, 24-hour composite samples
collected over any 20-consecutive-day operating periods and for a single
24-hour composite sample.
Since completion of the North Star survey, the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act Amendments of 1972 established a new wastewater discharge
permit system to be administered by EPA and terminated the permit sys-
tem under the 1899 Refuse Act. The new law requires toxic and
pretreatment effluent standards on meat plants which discharge to
municipal treatment works and national standards of performance on
meat plants which have their own treatment works and discharge to a
watercourse. The law also sets dates for compliance with the discharge
limitations. The two major deadlines are July 1, 1977 and July 1, 1983.
By July 1, 1977, meat industry treatment works shall apply the best
practicable control technology currently available and municipal treat-
ment effluent limitations are to be based upon secondary treatment.
Also by this date, compliance with more stringent limitations based on
water quality standards or other state or federal laws or regulations
are to be met. Pretreatment standards for discharge to municipal
systems will be effective prior to this date.
By July 1, 1983, meat industry treatment works shall apply the best
available technology economically achievable which will result in
reasonable further progress toward the national goal of eliminating
the discharge of all pollutants. Elimination of the discharge of all
pollutants shall be required if the EPA Administrator finds that such
elimination is technologically and economically achievable by the meat
26
-------
industry. By this date municipal treatment works will provide for the
application of the best practicable waste treatment technology over the
life of the works.
National pretreatment standards will limit discharges into municipal
treatment works necessitating in-plant controls and pretreatment
facilities in the meat plant. Pretreatment standards will prohibit the
discharge of toxic materials and establish limits on pollutants not
susceptible to treatment or which interfere with operation of the
municipal treatment works. For new sources, the pretreatment
standards shall prevent the discharge of pollutants which may inter-
fere with, pass through or otherwise be incompatible with the
municipal treatment works.
The law is quite inclusive and requires the Administrator of EPA to
define the best practical control technology, the best available tech-
nology economically sound and pretreatment standards. A contract
has recently been let to develop information to assist in defining these
terms for the red meat industry. The Administrator must also promul-
gate minimum requirements for acquisition of information from owners
and operators of point sources of discharge.
It would only be speculation to suggest the final definition of "best
practical" and "best available" in terms of loading or concentration of
standard parameter, but it is obvious that the next 10 years will see
much more stringent discharge limitations on the meat products indus-
try . The treatment works in the meat industry achieving the best
known results discharged, on an average, 3 mg/1 of BOD g and SS,
0.5 mg/1 phosphate as P and 0.3 mg/1 Kjeldahl nitrogen and no
detectable grease (2) . If these concentrations or elimination of the
discharge of all pollutants are required in the next decade, water
reuse and perhaps complete closed-loop water systems will become
common in the meat industry.
27
-------
SECTION V
FUTURE RESEARCH PROGRAM
Based on the "Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendment of 1972,"
the program's future research objective is closed-loop technology.
The goal of the National Meat-Packing Waste Management Program is
to develop the technology necessary to achieve the required degree of
pollution control—ultimately, no discharge of pollutants. The best
available technology presently demonstrated is identified in the North
Star report (2) as the Gold Kist Poultry treatment works in Florida.
The previously listed average concentration of pollutants discharged
are very close to no discharge of pollutants and lower than those in
some water supply sources. Because reuse of such high quality
effluents can be economically desirable, closed-loop technology is
considered as the optimum integrated water management strategy for
pollution control.
Review of previously published meat-packing literature suggests many
areas of potential water and waste reduction. For example, one of the
major sources of in-plant pollution is the blood from the kill floor.
Whole blood has a BODg of 156,500 to 198,000 mg/1 (10, 11) and an
ultimate biochemical oxygen demand (BOD,.) of 405,000 mg/1 (11); this
represents a potential BOD load of 7 to 15 Ibs. per 1,000 Ibs. LWK. By
enlarging the curbed area used for blood collection, by installing
separate sewers for blood drainage and for cleanup, and by use of
dry cleaning and/or high-pressure, low-volume cleanup hoses, this
potential waste load can be substantially reduced. If the blood is
coagulated prior to drying, the serum (blood water) has a BOD,, of
30,000 mg/1 and contributes a waste load of 1.3 per 1,000 Ibs. LWK.
This can be eliminated by evaporation of the blood water or by drying
of the whole blood. Drying of whole blood produces a profitable
by-product (10).
28
-------
Contents of the beef paunch, or rumen, also represent a primary pollu-
tion hazard. This partially digested material exerts a BODK of 50,200
5
mg/1 and aBODL of 104,000 mg/1 (10, 11) or 3 to 6 Ibs. per 1,000 Ibs.
of LWK. Sixty to eighty percent of the BOD in paunch is water soluble
and is thus not removed by the common solids separation screens used
in the industry. However, a simple process change, dry dumping of
paunch coupled with a press-open foot pedal valve for separate sack
washing, can practically eliminate this waste load.
A BODg value of 70,000 mg/1 was measured in effluent from the hasher-
washer machine, a visceral comminution-cleaning operation often per-
formed prior to rendering. In one plant, removal of the hasher and
washer, i.e., sending the viscera directly to rendering, reduced the
BODg to the waste treatment plant by 2,000 Ibs. per day, with an attend-
ant increase in rendered animal feed production (12). Waste loads of
wet rendering tank water (45,000 mg/1 BODg) or water centrifuged from
low temperature rendering (30,000 mg/1 BOD-) can be eliminated by
evaporation processes.
Efficient grease recovery not only improves the yield of valuable
by-products, but also has been found to improve aerobic biological
treatment efficiencies. Grease coats the media of trickling filters, thus
reducing the degree of treatment; its presence is also reported detri-
mental to the performance of activated sludge systems. Use of an air
flotation system has, in one plant, reduced the waste load discharged
to 3 Ibs. BOD, per 1,000 Ibs. LWK (12). These units are effective when
5
used in series with a catch basin, but their use must be coordinated
with subsequent sludge and skimmings processing operations.
Animal holding pens accumulate large quantities of manure. To minimize
fly and odor problems, these are usually washed down on either a daily
or a weekly basis. Designs which facilitate dry removal and disposal
of solids prior to flushing can effect a major reduction in waste loads.
29
-------
An excellent opportunity for waste load reduction through closed-loop
technology lies in recovery and reuse of salt and pickling brines. In
the use of present production techniques, only 25 percent of the pickling
brine remains in the product; through loss of the remainder and other
additions of salt to wastewater streams, a packinghouse typically adds
over 1,000 mg/1 of chloride to its effluent. In one plant, over 2,000 Ibs.
of dextrose, another brine constituent, was lost daily (12). The National
Canners Association, through its Western Research Laboratory, has
recently completed an EPA grant project entitled, "The Reduction of
Salt Contents of Food Processing Liquid Waste Effluents" (13). This
report describes a method for recycling the brines used in olive
processing; presumably, such technology could be transferred to
curing operations of the meat industry.
Through grants and contracts, EPA will support research projects that
are necessary to develop closed-loop technology for the meat-packing
industry. The Agency has means of assisting pilot-scale or full-scale
development as well as laboratory research. Such research grants
have been awarded to industries, industrial associations, universities,
consultants, and research institutions or combinations thereof. Most
grants have received about 50 percent Federal funds, but several pro-
jects under $50,000 have obtained greater percent of Federal participa-
tion . Prospective grantees are encouraged to prepare letter format
preproposals describing the scope, significance, and general design
and cost of their investigation. The authors will review such pre-
proposals , indicate EPA interest, and suggest desired details to reduce
the effort and time in preparing and submitting a formal proposal.
Figure 10 lists a number of specific research approaches which should
prove effective in the management of meat-packing wastewaters.
Along with the very stringent discharge goals that Congress has enacted,
increased funds for industrial waste research are authorized to develop
the necessary technology. We have only a decade to achieve this goal,
but certainly if other men could land on the moon in a decade we can
achieve "no discharge of pollutants."
30
-------
FIGURE 10
MEAT-PACKING WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PATH
UNIT WASTE LOAD
i
In-Plont Control
(50% Reduction)
0.5 WASTE LOAD
Pretreotment
(70% Reduction)
0.15 WASTE LOAD
4
Treatment for
Discharge
(90% Reduction)
i
0.015 WASTE LOAD
i
Treatment for
Reuse
(99.99% Reduction)
I
1.5 x IO"6WASTE LOAD
PROCESS
CHANGE
HOUSEKEEPING
CHANGE
SOLIDS
SEPARATION
SOLIDS
HANDLING
BIOLOGICAL
TREATMENT
CHEMICAL-
PHYSICAL
TREATMENT
SPECIFIC ITEMS
Paunch Handling Hide Handling
Blood Handling Salt Usage
Viscera Handling Carcass Washing
Rendering Odor Reduction
Water Reduction
Dry Cleaning
High Pressure
Cleanup Water
Dual Sewers
Automatic Catch
Basins
Screens
Air Flotation
Rendering
Drying for Use
Ensilage
Fertilization
Special Nozzles
On-Off Valves
Non-Phosphate
Cleanser
Coagulation
Protein
Precipitation
Manure Traps
Land Disposal
Incineration
Feeding
Composting
Anaerobic Lagoon
Aerated Lagoon
Trickling Filters
RBS
Spray Runoff
Oxygen Reactors
Coagulation
Filtration
Ultra Filtration
Electrodialysis
Distillation
Aerobic Lagoon
Extended Aeration
Activated Sludge
Anaerobic Contact
Disinfection
Oxidation Ditch
Sedimentation
Flotation
Adsorption
Reverse Osmosis
31
-------
SECTION VI
REFERENCES
Hoover, S. R., andL. B. Jaseqitz, "Agricultural Processing
Wastes: Magnitude of the Problem," Agriculture and the Quality
of our Environment. Am. Assoc. for the Adv. of Sci., Washing-
ton, B.C. (1967).
Pilney, J. P., E. E. Erickson, andH. O. Halvorson, "Results of
Industrial Waste Study," The National Provisioner. Vol. 166,
No. 8, pp. 27-52.
Anonymous, "An Industrial Waste Guide to the Meat Industry,"
U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health
Service, Publication No. 386 Revised (1965) .
Kerrigan, J. E., C. J. Crandall, and B. A. Rohlich, "The
Significance of Wastewater from the Meat Industry as Related to
the Problems of Eutrophication," prepared for the American Meat
Institute, Chicago (November 1970) .
Yin, S. C., and J. L. Witherow, "Dried Cattle Paunch Contents
as a Feed Supplement for Channel Catfish," presented at the
Third National Symposium on Food Processing Wastes, New
Orleans, La. (March 28-30, 1972) .
Paulson, W. L., D. R. Kueck, and W. E. Kramlich, "Oxidation
Ditch Treatment of Meat Packing Wastes," Second National Sympo-
sium on Food Processing Wastes Proceedings, EPA, Water Pollution
Control Research Series, No. 12060—03/71, pp. 617-635 (March
1971) .
Thompson, H. W., and K. A. Dostal, "Tertiary Treatment of
Combined Domestic and Industrial Wastes," presented at the
Third National Symposium on Food Processing Wastes, New
Orleans, La. (March 28-30, 1972) .
32
-------
8. Larson, K. P., E. E. Crowe, D. A. Maulwurf, and J. L.
Witherow, "Use of Polyelectrolytes in Treatment of Combined
Meat Packing and Domestic Wastes," Journal of Water Pollution
Control Federation, Vol. 43, No. 11, pp. 2218-2228 (November
1971).
9. Baker, D. A., and J. White, "Treatment of Meat Packing Waste
Using PVC Trickling Filters," Second National Symposium on
Food Processing Wastes Proceedings, EPA, Water Pollution Con-
trol Research Series, No. 12060—03/71, pp. 289-312 (March
1971) .
10. Baumann, D. J., "Elimination of Water Pollution by Packinghouse
Animal Paunch and Blood," EPA, Water Pollution Control Research
Series, No. 12060FDS11/71 (November 1971) .
11. Witherow, J. L., "Meat Packing Waste Management Research
Program," The National Provisioner, Vol. 164, No. 12, pp. 12-18
(March 20, 1971) .
12. Miedaner, W., "In-Plant Waste Water Control," presented at the
University of Wisconsin, Department of Engineering Extension
Course: Waste Water Treatment in the Meat Industry (April 17-18,
1972).
13. Mercer, W. A., and J. W. Rails, "Reduction of Salt Content of
Food Processing Liquid Waste Effluent," EPA, Water Pollution
Control Research Series, No. 12060DXL/01/71 (January 1971) .
ft U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1 973—514-153/228
33
-------
SELECTED WATER
RESOURCES ABSTRACTS
INPUT TRANSACTION FORM
1. Repar-tlto.
2,
w
NATIONAL MEAT-PACKING WASTE MANAGEMENT RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Witherow, J. L., Yin, S. C., and Farmer, D. M.
9, Organization
Agricultural Wastes Section
Treatment & Control Research Program
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory
, :i|.; SffoMartttf Otyuai -sties
NK» «. * «MI.'
IS, Supplementary Hates
Environmental Protection Agency report
number, EPA-R2-73-178, March 1973.
S- Report &aie
•6.
S, t9ff'rfora
'. Re.pott JSTo,
f3 ization
10, P.. ojei'Wo
12060 FGF
ft C^utrait/Grant No.
.-
J?* tiod- Co verm;
16. Abstract
The meat-packing process is viewed from the standpoint of its use and discharge of water.
The concept of integrated water management through in-plant control, solids recovery
and disposal, wastewater treatment, and water reuse is presented. The necessity for
in-plant change in unit processes and housekeeping practices to reduce waste loads is
shown by the wide variation in discharges from similar plants.
The scope of the meat industries' waste management problem is defined, and the objectives
of the National Meat-Packing Waste Management Research Program are categorized. Environ-
mental Research Need Statements are introduced as a means by which the meat industry
can present its waste treatment problems to the program.
The past and current research projects are briefly described according to objectives
and accomplishments with more detailed information referenced. The results of the
recent waste survey of the meat industry are given along with interpretation of their
meaning. Future research projects will evolve around closed-loop technology. Unit
processes which offer great potential in waste reduction are described as the initiation
point for a program to reach the goal of "no discharge of pollutants."
J7a. Descriptors
Industrial Wastes, *Wastewater Treatment, Water Pollution Sources, Pollution Control,
Canneries
17b. Identifiers
Meat-Packing Wastes, Research Program
17 c. COWRR Field & Group
18. A v atilability
WATER RESOURCES SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION CENTER
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
WASHINGTON. D. C. 2O24O
Environmenta
Abstractor Jack L. Witherow
Institution
Research Lab
WRSIC IO2 CRL'V. JUNE 197!)
------- |