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Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management
World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) - University of Port Harcourt
ISSN: 1119-8362
Vol. 11, Num. 4, 2007, pp. 5-9

Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, Vol. 11, No. 4, 2007, pp. 5-9

A Study on Industrial Waste Effluents and Their Management at Selected Food and Beverage Industries of Bangladesh

1*ALAM, A S M M; 2HOSSAIN, K M; 2HOSSAIN, B; 1AHMED, A*; 1HOQUE, M J

*1 Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Khulna University-9208, Bangladesh.
2Globe Biscuit and Dairy Milk Ltd., Maizdicourt, Noakhali, Bangladesh

* Corresponding Author: Alam, A S M M

Code Number: ja07084

ABSTRACT

Various types of waste effluents produced by two industries were studied to verify their environmental effects and to prepare a suggestion for management of those wastes. Two types of wastes were considered- wastewater and solid wastes. Analysis on three samples of wastewater was performed to determine the physical, chemical, organic and biological pollution. The pH values were 6.58, 6.75 & 6.64; amount of TDS were 235, 241 & 270 ppm; total hardness were 126, 123 & 144 ppm; calcium hardness were 105, 99 & 122 ppm, all the values of P-alkalinity were zero and values of M-alkalinity were 40, 40 & 45 mg/l. Iron concentrations were 0.21, 0.18 & 0.19 mg/l. Their Cl2 test proved absence of Cl2 Molecule. Only one sample was analyzed for bacterial viable count (44x105 cfu/ml), fungal test (fungi were absent), DO (6.8 mg/l), BOD (156 mg/1) and COD (267 mg/1). Results suggested that iron concentrations, pH values, TDS and DO were within the standard range. Level of total hardness, alkalinity, BOD, COD and total bacterial count exceeded level of standards. Their effects were evaluated from secondary data sources. Solid waste quality and the current onsite waste management facilities were studied through questionnaire survey and direct observations. Most of the cases, current waste management systems were old fashioned and indigenous. After studying literature on waste management procedures, a waste management plan for these industries has been prepared. Study results show that, these selected industries do produce few waste linked problems which can be minimized following some strict management measures.

Although the food and beverage industries are not as polluting as some other sectors like metal or leather industries, they have been responsible for air, water and soil pollution by emitting dust and unpleasant odor in the air, discharging liquid effluent with high organic content and generating large quantities of sludge and solid waste (European Commission, 1997). According to environmental report of Coca - Cola Company, 2004 (www2.coca-cola.com, 2006), they do produce 1.72 liters of waste water and 11.67 grams solid wastes per 1 liter of drink production. Some potato starch processing companies produce 100,000 to 250,000 m3 of starch-containing sludge annually. In the vegetable processing and preservation sector, up to one?third of the total quantity of raw materials may be rejected (UNEP, 1995).

Wastewater is the primary area of concern at the food and beverage industry. With the exception of some toxic cleaning products, wastewater from food-processing facilities is organic and can be treated by conventional biological technologies (Tchobanoglous, 1991). Primary issues associated with food and beverage industrial wastewater are biochemical oxygen demand (BOD); chemical oxygen demand (COD); total suspended solids (TSS); excessive nutrient loading viz. nitrogen and phosphorus compounds; pH of the water; total alkalinity and pathogenic organisms. Solid wastes from the food and beverage industries include both organic and packaging waste. Organic wastes from raw materials such as food grain, flavoring and coloring agents result out from processing operations. Inorganic waste typically includes excessive packaging items like plastic, glass, and metal (Katzel, 1994).

If the effluents from the food and beverage industry are contaminated with toxic metals, these can affect adversely on human health as either acute or chronic diseases. Livestock and agricultural production around the industry and its disposal site can also be hampered. Many industrial organic substances found in water can cause death or reproductive failure in fish, shellfish and wildlife. In addition, they can accumulate in animal and fish tissue, be absorbed in sediments, or find their way into drinking water supplies, posing long-term health risks to human. The presence of coliform bacteria indicates that there is a high probability of other pathogenic organisms present. When water is contaminated with a surface drainage, non?coliform bacteria may also be present in large numbers. The avoidance of waste formation and pollution is always a key task. But on the other hand, waste prevention, recycling, minimization & valorization; and the use of energy efficient process technologies are more and more desirable options in waste management.

The present study was designed to evaluate various quantitative and qualitative data associated with industrial waste effluents with the following objectives: (i) Identification of various types of wastage being produced by the Globe Biscuit and Dairy Milk Ltd. (GBDML) & Globe Soft Drinks Ltd. (GSDL), Noakhali, Bangladesh and to study their effects on the surrounding environment and (ii) to prepare a suggestive planning for remedial measures through management practices.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Physical, chemical, organic and biological parameters were analyzed to evaluate wastewater pollution. But for some limitations, only some qualitative data were considered for solid waste. For quantitative analysis of wastewater, pH, TDS, total hardness, calcium hardness, alkalinity, iron test, Cl2 test, bacterial viable count, fungal test, DO, BOD5 and COD tests were considered. Some of the qualitative data associated with wastewater and solid wastes were studied through direct observational method, and through both structured and unstructured questionnaires. The current conditions of various treatment and management procedures followed by GSDL & GBDML for the waste materials produced by them were also studied through direct observational methods and structured questionnaire. Considering the parameters of wastes, current situation of waste management followed by these two industries and modem management and treatment procedures available at present, a waste management plan was prepared.

Water sampling for analysis: Three samples were collected at three different times and from three different points of the drainage system of the GSDL & GBDML and were labeled as Sample-1, Sample-2 and Sample-3. Amount of each of the samples was 2 liters. For collection, bottles were cleaned with tap water, rinsed under the drain water, uncapped and water was collected from beneath the surface. Air bubbles were removed and the bottles were capped immediately (Besselievre and Schwartz, 1976). Each of the sample bottles was labeled with the necessary information.

Color, odors & pH: Taking wastewater sample in a clean glass test tube, the color was evaluated visually. The odors of all three wastewater samples were smelled at 280 C and noted. pH was measured electrometrically using pH meter no. I-1000. It was used by removing the protective cap from the tip of probe; probe was washed with the sample water first and stirred into sample beaker until the result was displayed.

Total Dissolved Solid (TDS): Amount of TDS was measured by using TDS meter no. I-1100. Taking a requisite amount of sample wastewater in a beaker, probe of the TDS meter was immersed, making sure that the sensor was fully covered until the reading was stabilized (Gilbert et al., 1992).

Alkalinity: Phenolphthalein indicator was added into 100 ml of sample water and the color was turned into light pink. Then it was titrated with 0.02 N H2SO4. P-alkalinity was calculated from the amount of the H2SO4 required for titration. Two to three drops of methyl orange indicator was added into 100 ml of sample water and the color was turned into light yellow. Then it was titrated with 0.02 N H2SO4. M-alkalinity was calculated from the amount of the H2SO4 required for titration.

Hardness: Total hardness was determined through adding 4 drops of buffer solution (NH3 + NH4Cl) and 0.1 gm of erichrome black T-indicator into 50 ml of water sample and finally titrated with standard 0.02N EDTA solution until the red color of the solution turned to Prussian blue. Total hardness was calculated from the equation: Total hardness = (burette reading x 1000) ÷ (sample taken in ml). Calcium hardness was determined through adding 1ml of 1N NaOH solution and 0.1 mg of murexide P-indicator into 50 ml of water sample and finally titrated with standard 0.02N EDTA solution until the red color of the solution turned to purple. Calcium hardness was calculated from the equation: Calcium hardness = (burette reading x 1000) ÷ (sample taken in ml). Magnesium hardness was calculated from the difference between total hardness and calcium hardness.

Iron: The amount of iron was determined through adding 5 ml of hydrochloric acid, few drops of potassium permanganate (0.2N) solution and 5 ml of 2% potassium thiocyanate solution into 100 ml of water sample. The brown color formed was then compared with standard iron stock solution.

Chlorine: One ml of sample waste water was taken in a 10 ml test tube and ortho-tolidine indicator was added in it. Presence or absence of chlorine was determined by the formation of yellow color.

Dissolved oxygen: Two ml of manganous sulphate and 2 ml of alkaline azide solutions were pipetted separately into the waste water sample collected in a BOD glass bottle and it was stoppered. Brown precipitate was developed and 2 ml of conc. H2SO4 was added in the bottle to dissolve the brown precipitate. Ten ml of the waste water sample was poured in a flask and was titrated against 0.025N sodium thiosulphate solution in a burette until pale straw color was developed. Two ml of starch solution was added to the flask and the color of the content was changed from pale to blue. This was again titrated against sodium thiosulphate solution until the blue color was disappeared. The volume of sodium thiosulphate solution used in titration was noted (Laboratory manual, Department of Applied Microbiology, Madras University, India, 2004).

Biochemical Oxygen Demand: The sample was filled in six BOD bottles. One ml of allyl thiourea was added to each bottle. The amount of the dissolved oxygen in 3 of the 6 BOD bottles were determined by titration method as described earlier and the mean of the 3 readings was noted as D1. The other three bottles were incubated in an incubator in complete darkness at 20° C for 5 days. Dissolved oxygen readings in incubated samples were estimated by titration and the mean reading was taken as D2 (www.ciese.org, 2006). The BOD of the wastewater was determined by using formula: BOD (mg/1) = (D1- D2)/(Amount of the sample taken/capacity of the BOD bottles) (Laboratory manual, Department of Applied Microbiology, Madras University, India, 2004).

Chemical Oxygen Demand: Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is used as a measure of oxygen requirement of a sample that is susceptible to oxidation by strong chemical oxidant. The Dichromate Reflux Technique Standard Method was followed for measuring the amount of COD (www.oasisenviro.co.uk, 2006).

Biological pollution: Master dilution was prepared by mixing 90 ml of distilled water and 10 ml of wastewater in a sterile conical flask. Then 10-2, 10-3, l0-4, 10-5 and 10-6 times serial dilution were prepared from the master dilution by adding sterile distilled water. One ml of water from 10-4 and 10-5 times diluted solution were taken in six (each in three) sterile Petri plates by sterile pipette. Nutrient agar (NA) media, McConkey's media and SDA media was poured into the Petri plates (each into both 10-4 and 10-5 times diluted solution). After appropriate incubation period the plates were observed for the appearance of colonies and the numbers of colonies were counted by an electronic colony counter (Laboratory manual, Department of Applied Microbiology, Madras University, India, 2004).

Some of the qualitative data associated with wastewater, solid wastes and atmospheric emissions were studied through direct observational method, and through both structured and unstructured questionnaires. The current conditions of various treatment and management procedures followed by GBDML and GSDL for the waste materials produced by them were also studied through direct observational methods and structured questionnaire. Considering the parameters of wastes, current situation of waste management followed by these two industries and modem management and treatment procedures available at present, a waste management plan was prepared.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results obtained from the experimental analysis of the wastewater samples have been tabulated in the Table 1.

According to Science Junction (www.ncsu.edu, 2006), the optimal range of water pH for most of the aquatic species is from 6.5 to 8.5. pH values of the sample wastewater (Table 1) from GSDL & GBDML were within the optimal range but were marginal to lower limit. Therefore, prior to discharge, the wastewater should be taken under proper observation and if its pH lowers down below the lower limit, necessary treatment is needed. All of the TDS values (Table 1) were within the desirable range (below 500 ppm) as standardized by World Health Organization (WHO).

It was found that total hardness of all of the three samples (Table 1) were within the maximum permissible limit (500 ppm) but were higher then highest desirable limit for discharge (100 ppm) according to WHO standard. These high levels of hardness can cause some problems if the wastewater is to be reused and before reusing this wastewater, treatment for elimination of the hardness is essential.

As the P-values were zero, there were no normal hydroxide or carbonate and all the alkalinity was bicarbonate. A range of 80-120 ppm is considered optimum for alkalinity of the water (www.askalanaquestion.corn, 2006). Therefore, it was found that the amount of M-alkalinity (Table 1) was running below the lower limit of optimum range. That might allow for rapid pH fluctuations, makes pH control more difficult and might contribute to corrosion.

As wastewater effluent is treated with bleaching powder [Ca(OCl)Cl] in these sites, C12 was expected in the result bur was not found. It indicated poor monitoring and treatment system of wastewater. The maximum acceptable concentration of iron in water for discharging as waste is 1.0 mg/l (www.nea.gov.sg, 2006). Therefore, it was found that wastewater from beverage industries is not a significant source of iron that may defile environment.

According to website www.ciese.org (2006), DO concentration within 5-8 mg/l is fair for aquatic environment. Therefore, dissolved oxygen measured for sample-1 (Table 1) indicated that a fair concentration of oxygen was dissolved in the water at the moment of discharging it to the water body.

The BOD of the sample-1 (Table 1) was an indicator of very poor quality of water which contained organic waste. But this amount was not so high compared with the wastewater effluents of some other manufacturing industries such as 240 mg/l at a typical tomato possessing industry and 260 mg/l from the main sewer of a soap and detergent producing industry (Eckenfelder, 1989) or 2000 mg/l as measured from the wastewater of a mozzarella cheese manufacturing industry and a processed meats manufacturer (Griego et al., 2003). According to literature on website en.wikipedia.org (2006), efficiently treated sewage treated would have a BOD value of about 20 mg/l.

According to environmental pollution control act (chapter 94A, section 77-1) on website www.nea.gov.sg (2006), COD of any trade effluent to be discharged on watercourse will not greater than 100 mg/l. Therefore, the COD reading of Sample-1 (Table 1) indicated that before discharging the wastewater an effective treatment was required.

On nutrient agar (NA) media, the average count of bacteria (Table 1) indicated that the water was highly polluted by microbes. The result did not mean all of them were pathogenic. Some bacteria present naturally on the environment. No bacterial growth was found on McConkey’s agar media after 36 hours of inoculation. No fungal growth was observed on SDA media in any of the two dilutions (10-4 and 10-5) after 48 hours of inoculation. Therefore, the result showed that the wastewater was not polluted with fungi.

As found from questionnaire and direct observational survey, wastewater is the main concern regarding waste production at GSDL. Approximately 3 liters wastewater is generated for producing one liter of beverage product. Water is used in this plant as a product ingredient, as well as in operations for processes such as purification, washing and rinsing of packaging, cleaning of product mixing tanks and piping, steam production and cooling. Wastewater is also produced by GBDML from washing, cleaning and other manufacturing processes. Both of the industries produce varieties of solid wastes. These include ingredient containers, damaged product containers, shrink or stretch film that holds palletized products together, biosolids from wastewater drainage system damaged packaging materials, materials from ingredients and damage products. Procedures have not been developed yet regarding monitoring and measurement of the wastewater pollutant and quality. Wastewater from both of the two industries is treated with bleaching powder and is discharged into neighboring low land. Combustible solid waste portions are separated and are burnt into ash at the burning site aside the industries. After completion of burning, ashes are disposed and buried at neighboring land fill. Responsibilities have not been allocated yet on specialists for coordinating environmental management or waste management at these two sites. Wastewater is not treated here for making it fit for reusing. Any type of solid wastes is not being recycled. It was noted that, there was no any past record of accident during waste handling, storage, treatment or disposal from the time of their establishment till today.

In the business with food and beverage industries, a genuine attention should be given on environmental challenges regarding to waste effluents, they do produce. Procedures should be developed regarding monitoring and measurement of the wastewater pollutant and quality on a regular basis. The current poor onsite wastewater treatment procedure should be replaced with modern procedures as proposed in this research paper. This statement is also applicable for solid wastes. As water is the main ingredient of the beverage industry, recycling and reuse of the water should be brought into concern regarding sustainable use of it. Recycled water can be used for cleaning, cooling and many other purposes. Environmental impact of packaging materials, which contribute to solid waste, should be reduced through innovative design, resource efficiency and giving emphasis on recycling and reuse. Responsibilities should be allocated on specialists for coordinating environmental management or waste management at these two sites. Waste reduction and handling training should be given to all associated employees. Training should be repeated on a regular basis and should teach waste awareness, the impact of various wastes on the solid waste and wastewater stream.

During conducting this research, company's secrecy policy and limitation of time created some obstacles. Only survey and secondary data were considered for studying solid wastes due to lack of proper laboratory facilities for testing parameters. Only two selected food and beverage industries were studied in this research work. Therefore, it is needed to study many more such industries in Bangladesh and to develop an integrated waste management procedure after determining the wastes they do produce.

Acknowledgments: The whole research work was assisted by Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh and Globe Pharma Group of Co. Ltd., Bangladesh. Therefore, the authors are grateful to the authorities of these two institute/organization.

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