Process Water and Clean In Place (CIP) Sanitation

For the food processing industry, it is critically important that the water used throughout the processing chain is fully disinfected and of premium quality – thereby preventing any possible contamination during a long production process, from harvest to final packaging.

Ozone is compliant with Health Canada, the CFIA and the U.S. FDA for both food and surface sanitization.

To preserve the quality of water throughout the entire processing chain, ozone can be used in a Clean-in-Place (CIP) closed loop system that involves the cleaning and sanitizing all production equipment – including pipes, pump systems, tanks, hoses, filters and packaging lines.

Ozone is a no-rinse sanitizer and works best with cold water, saving water, chemicals and hydro costs while shortening cleaning time. Ozone breaks down to oxygen, improving wastewater quality or even offering non-potable reuse options.

Ozone is measured and adjusted in realtime, with operator and remote monitoring/control. Since it is gentler than many common chemicals currently used for CIP sanitation, ozone can significantly prolong the lifespan of the piping, cooling towers and other equipment.

The use of ozone also saves time, energy and water. If a food processer uses soaps, detergents, pressurized water and a chemical like chlorine, these can require multiple rinses, often with hot water or steam, to remove residues. This process takes time, is labour intensive, raises energy costs (to heat the water), poses worker safety concerns, and can consume significant amounts of water.

Ozone tests at a fruit and vegetable pilot plant at California Polytechnic State University showed ozone’s ability in reducing microbiological loading with a 2.0 ppm level that was sprayed on the surfaces to be sanitized. No other cleaning was used to ensure all reductions in bacteria were attributed to the aqueous ozone.

Wastewater and Re-Use

Wastewater produced during food processing presents both cost and regulatory challenges to the industry.

Ozone safely treats wastewater, helping to keep drain lines clear and only producing oxygenated water that is safe to discharge without concerns for septic systems and municipal requirements. It is a cost-effective treatment that’s enables food processers to achieve regulatory compliance and reduce fees and fines.

Moreover, ozone-treated wastewater in a CIP closed-loop system can be re-used for non-potable purposes. This is an obvious environmental benefit at a time when freshwater shortages are occurring, and also results in cost savings for food processers.

Ozone Aclarus engineers assess the wastewater needs for each processer and design a solution to fit the need through testing and/or pilot demonstrations. This is done to determine the level of treatment and ozone required (e.g. disinfection, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), etc.).

By using ozone in the CIP sanitation process, the run-off water requirements are lessened, “reducing at least by 50% the organic load in the cleaning waste waters produced” (Canut et al2013). This is due to ozone’s ability to reduce COD and remove many contaminants prior to discharge.