Skip to content

Experts in Dewatering
& Separation Challenges

Home > Case Studies > Snack Food Plant – Texas

Snack Food Plant – Texas

Tony Langley of Langley Separation and Process recently completed a successful wastewater / effluent demonstration test at a San Antonio, Texas based snack food plant processing potatoes. The decanter centrifuge proved to be ideally suited for effectively reducing the BOD and TSS in the effluent generated from the potato washing, peeling and slicing processes. The machine also proved effective in helping free emulsified cooking oils for removal in the plants OWS system.

The test skid featured a small capacity decanter centrifuge fully equipped for easy, quick set-up on site for demonstration and application testing. Ancillary equipment includes controls, pumps, polymer systems, and sludge auger as well as connection hoses for a complete set-up.

Potato processing pilot test unit

The pilot test unit basic components are:

The test was conducted over a one week period making multiple runs. The centrifuge feed was taken from a pit where several waste streams combined ahead of an oil water separator (OWS). The objective was to:

  1. Reduce solids
  2. Reduce BOD
  3. Help free up the fats and oils allowing the OWS to function more effectively
  4. Reduce solids volume hauling
Potato processing samples: feed influent, centrifuge effluent, solids cake
  Plant Influent Centrifuge Effluent Reduction
Test # BOD TSS FOG BOD TSS FOG BOD TSS FOG
18 1930 2715 14.0 1119 216 29.7 42.0% 92.0% -112.14%
19 1266 1084 12.9 1014 120 11.3 19.9% 88.9% 12.40%
20 1033 1065 10.4 900 112 10.5 12.9% 89.5% -0.96%
21 1359 2270 14.0 576 96 7.9 57.6% 95.8% 43.57%
22 1119 824 12.9 891 140 10.3 20.4% 83.0% 20.16%
23 1239 992 12.0 963 124 11.0 22.3% 87.5% 8.33%
24 1770 4168 14.8 1386 256 16.2 21.7% 93.9% -9.46%
25 3700 6890 10.4 984 196 14.8 73.4% 97.2% -42.31%
Avg 1677 2501 12.7 979 158 14.0 34% 91% -10.05%
Photo of potato processing effluent, 3 photos of solids cake

Contact us today to learn how we can help your plant improve its wastewater pre-treatment process.