Meat Processing Equipment

JWC offers a variety of meat processing equipment that can process wastewater (FRC DAFs), recover valuable solids from wastewater (IPEC screens), protect downstream equipment such as pumps from clogging (Monster Industrial Grinders).

Meat Processing Wastewater

Meat processing facilities produce wastewater with heavy loads of fats, oils, grease and solids. Before sending that water down the sewer drain, pre-treatment is required to remove as much of these solids and oils as possible. While removing these contaminants is simple with a properly designed screen and DAF system, devising the most cost-effective treatment process is where facilities directors stand to make the most meaningful impact on their bottom line. The right combination of equipment, chemicals, and training can greatly reduce wastewater expenses.

From pork, beef, and poultry to fish, scallops, clams, and shrimp, JWC Environmental has over 125 FRC DAF installations in meat processing and rendering plants around the world.

Where does the Meat Processing Wastewater Come From?

The preparation of meat products is a multi-stage process that produces wastewater in each respective step. In general here’s where wastewater comes from in the meat production process:

Stockyards and Pens: live animals stay in holding pens for less than one day prior to slaughter. Wastewater results from watering troughs, washdown, and urine from the animals. Rain run-off from uncovered pens can also contribute to the wastewater flow.
Slaughtering: as animals are stunned, suspended and bled, blood can spill or splash outside the containment area entering the waste stream during clean-up operations. Hogs are dehaired as they pass through a scalding tank. This and carcass washwater enter the wastewater stream.
Blood Processing: as albumin and fibrin are recovered from blood for various uses, the blood water is either evaporated or sent to wastewater.
Viscera Handling: beef and hog paunches are washed and saved for edible products. Wash water goes to waste.
Hide Processing: washing and curing of hides contributes wastewater with high levels of salts.
Cutting: as carcasses are cut and trimmed, some material adheres to saw blades and conveyors. Equipment washdown sends these solids to wastewater.
Meat Preparation: as cuts are cured, deboned, and packaged for distribution, spills from cooking equipment and curing solutions are sent to wastewater.
Rendering: edible and inedible products are created as fats and water are separated from animal tissue. Spills from cooking equipment, collection tanks, and discharge from washdown contribute to wastewater.

Beef Processing Wastewater

As cattle are processed blood, meat, fat, paunch contents, bedding, manure, hair, dirt and other materials enter the waste stream. Waste prevention practices help reduce the volume and loading of process wastewater but high TSS, FOG, and BOD are always persistent issues in beef production.

Of all waste products, blood has the highest polluting value with a BOD ranging between 150,000 – 200,000 mg/L. Paunch manure is the next largest polluter and can contribute greatly to TSS and BOD. Finally, animal tissue that is cleaned from processing areas and equipment make up the rest of the TSS and FOG.

Treating beef processing wastewater requires highly-durable process pumps that can withstand the gritty materials present in the fluids.

Pork Processing Wastewater

Pork processing is unique because of the scalding and hair removal phases that contribute high levels of fats, grease and solids to the wastewater stream. These processes produce unusually oily sludge that requires proper conditioning for effective dewatering.

DAF systems have to be sized to accommodate high flows and solids loading characteristic to hog processing plants.

Meat Processing Equipment for Particle Size and Volume Reduction

JWC meat processing equipment grinders are used to reduce the volume of waste and minimize transportation costs to rendering plants. JWC’s 7-SHRED-1 grinders can be used in pet food production as a pre-breaker for frozen blocks. Finally, JWC grinders, such as the HYDRO inline series, are used to protect pumps and other downstream equipment from troublesome solids.