Reduction in water consumption and liquid effluent generation at a fish processing plant

Abstract

Abstract Brazilian fish processing industries have grown due to public investments and changes in population habits. However, these industries consume a large volume of water and generate, in the same proportion, effluents, with high organic loading. Given that the market for commerce has more and stricter regulations, and the importance of environmental sustainability for the industries of the sector becomes more present, it is necessary to propose strategies for the aid of water conservation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to propose the minimization of water use in the production process and the reduction of liquid effluents generated in the industrial fish processing stages. For the study, the points where there was higher water consumption, the characterization of the effluent and the evaluation of the reuse potential in a pilot fish warehouse were identified. The results showed that the theoretical reduction of water consumption, after applying the principles of minimization, was 10.3%. When recycle or reuse of the effluent was applied, the reduction was 15.92%. The sustainability of the process intensifies when there is the separation of streams, combined with the practices of reduction of water consumption and recycling/reuse of the effluents after submission to the appropriate treatment.