Rapid installation of food grade quality water purification

1. DESOTEC can set up filtration systems quickly in urgent situations, even for large-scale projects.
2. Our plug-and-play system, together with an extra unit on site, minimises downtime during filter exchange.
3. Our rental model limits customers’ upfront investment to piping and auxiliary equipment.

This large company produces collagen and gelatine products for use in food, healthcare, cosmetics and pharmaceutical goods. Its water consumption is high, so the firm uses tap water, recycled process water, and purified canal water in its processes.

Recently, regulations were tightened to ensure that all water used in such applications is of food grade quality.

This means that the canal water used by the client now requires even more rigorous purification, especially during dry periods when concentrations of unwanted organic micropollutants are higher.

The company has plans to build a bigger reverse osmosis (RO) unit to recycle its water in a few years’ time. Therefore, it wanted a reliable stop-gap solution with minimal investment costs to meet the terms of the new legislation.

DESOTEC was already in contact with another branch of the same group, who put us in touch in June 2023. By this time, the regulations were looming and our solution was needed fast.

To determine the best filter set-up and carbon grade to use, we analysed water measurements collected by the client. There were low concentrations of pesticides, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and sometimes pharmaceutical residues.

Due to the high flow rate of up 150-200m³/h, we determined that the best solution was to divide the stream and treat it with two filters sited in parallel.

In January 2024, we delivered two MOBICON filters containing carbon suited for food grade applications. A third filter is present on site, allowing for quick exchanges to minimise production downtime.

In most applications, DESOTEC customers are supplied with filters from our pool, cleaned and maintained between each use. However, to ensure food grade purity standards in this case, these filters are new and reserved exclusively for this customer and are cleaned with tap water before being refilled.

As DESOTEC provides services on a monthly rental model, with no upfront investment required, the company will be able to switch smoothly to thermal oxidisation and water recycling when ready.

Outlet measurements show that this set-up is successfully purifying the water to food grade quality. The company is pleased that it can comply easily and reliably with the new legislation.

Once the carbon is saturated, the filter is closed and transported to our facilities. DESOTEC’s off-site waste handling model ensures no dirt or dust is released at the customer’s site, where it is essential that conditions are kept pristine.

Instead, the carbon is emptied at DESOTEC’s facilities, and samples tested. The carbon is then treated thermally, completely destroying the adsorbed compounds and reactivating the carbon. This boosts sustainability and cuts waste disposal costs.

Due to the stringent purity standards in place, this client is always supplied with fresh carbon.