Food and beverage wastewater is typically high in COD/BOD, fats/oils/grease (FOG), suspended solids, and can fluctuate sharply with production schedules and cleaning cycles (CIP). Stable pretreatment and sludge handling are essential to protect downstream biological systems, avoid odor and foaming issues, and meet discharge limits. Onschem provides coagulants and flocculants for food & beverage wastewater treatment to improve clarification/DAF performance, reduce COD/TSS loading, and optimize sludge dewatering cost.
Core products include Polyacrylamide (PAM) flocculants, Polyaluminium Chloride (PAC), Polyferric Sulfate (PFS) and Polyaluminium Ferric Chloride (PAFC)—supported by selection guidance based on your wastewater characteristics and separation equipment.
Common Pain Points (Why Systems Become Unstable)
DAF carryover and inconsistent clarity
Emulsified oils and fine organics can escape flotation, causing high effluent TSS/COD and downstream aeration stress.
Solution direction: optimized coagulant + PAM pairing to destabilize emulsions and build floatable flocs.
High chemical cost from overdosing
When wastewater load spikes, operators often increase dosage to “chase compliance,” which can increase sludge volume and hurt DAF performance.
Solution direction: match chemistry to wastewater type (protein-rich vs. oily vs. high-starch) and control dosing based on flow/load.
Excess sludge volume and poor dewatering
Food sludge can be sticky and compressible, leading to wet cake, high polymer usage, and costly disposal.
Solution direction: targeted sludge conditioning to increase cake solids and reduce hauling/disposal frequency.
pH swings reduce coagulation efficiency
CIP can cause rapid pH changes that destabilize treatment and increase variability.
Solution direction: select coagulants with suitable operating window and stabilize pH where needed.
Recommended Chemicals
✔ Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM)
For solid–liquid separation, sludge dewatering, and viscosity adjustment.
✔ Cationic PAM
Optimizes sludge dewatering and helps in color removal.
✔ PAC (Polyaluminum Chloride)
Strong coagulation for high-turbidity or high-COD wastewater.
✔ PAFC (Polyferric Chloride)
Wide pH adaptability, effective in complex wastewater matrices.
✔ Activated Carbon
Removes odor, color, and residual organic matter.
Key Benefits
High COD/BOD removal efficiency
Rapid floc formation and sedimentation
Lower chemical consumption and reduced operating cost
Wide pH and temperature tolerance
Clear effluent suitable for discharge or reuse
Industries Served
Breweries and distilleries
Sugar mills and confectionery plants
Dairy and beverage factories
Food processing and canning plants
Technical Support & Customization
We provide jar test optimization, dosage guidance, and tailor-made formulas to meet the specific needs of each plant and wastewater type.
FAQ?
Which works better for DAF—PAC, PFS or PAFC?
Selection depends on wastewater composition (FOG level, emulsification, protein/starch content), pH, and temperature. PAC is commonly used for general pretreatment, PFS provides strong coagulation for many high-strength streams, and PAFC can be effective when conditions fluctuate or wastewater is complex.
Why does DAF performance drop during CIP?
CIP can introduce surfactants and extreme pH, which stabilize emulsions and reduce floc strength. Coagulant selection, pH stabilization, and correct PAM dosing/mixing typically restore flotation stability.
How can I reduce sludge disposal cost?
Improving separation upstream (less excess chemical and water in sludge) and optimizing dewatering polymer selection often increases cake solids and reduces disposal frequency.
Can chemical optimization reduce odor issues?
Yes. Better primary removal of FOG and solids reduces anaerobic conditions in equalization and lowers odor potential, while also protecting biological treatment.