Characterization of Waste Water from Slaughterhouses and Optimization of Its Final Treatment

Abstract

This research work presents characterization of wastewater generated in the different stages of work in the slaughterhouses. As it well known the most important environmental issue in slaughterhouses is the high-water consumption. High water consumption has a negative impact on the environment through the discharge different pollutions through the waste water, but also because of the consumption of natural resources The intention of the research was to obtain data on wastewater characteristic, and based on these data, in accordance with the best available techniques, propose measures to improve the final treatment in a given food industry. The study was conducted in a case study slaughterhouse in Sarajevo Canton, which is diagnosed in terms of production and environmental impact using MOED methodology, and from where the samples of waste water were taken in different stages of production process.  Furthermore, taken samples were analyzed by physicochemical methods, in order to obtain the required values of the parameters, then that value is compared with the legally prescribed maximum allowable concentrations. As this work was focused on inspection of existing water consumption practices in slaughterhouses it has been confirmed that the daily wastewater in slaughterhouses comes from several technological operations: watering and washing livestock, slaughtering, cutting, meat processing, processing of secondary products (by-products) and cleaning of equipment and slaughtering and cutting lines. The amount of waste water generated in the slaughterhouse is about 8-13 m³/t of live weight.  In terms of percentage, water consumption by individual stages looked like this: receiving and maintaining animals - 22%, slaughtering and bleeding animals - 28%, cutting and confectioning process - 21%, primary meat processing - 22% and hygiene and sanitation 7%. By comparing these results to water consumption indicator, that recommended for medium to large slaughterhouses, it can be concluded that the water consumption extremely high. The aim of this research is to identify areas of low water consumption efficiency and inadequate management in the case study slaughterhouse with meat processing, and to identify the best available techniques that address the identified and resolve a problem.