I have worked with whey ...

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I have worked with whey effluent at several sites.  Unless there is a high wastage of whey, AD isn't the solution because you will end up feeding it just to make the plant work and end up with phosphate and ammonia  as a waste to get rid of.  Aerobic activated sludge removes the majority of the COD.  If it is designed correctly using fine-bubble aeration, the phosphate is reduced to low levels.  Ammonia oxidising bacteria require fully aerobic conditions and a source of bicarbonate but they will convert ammonia, produced by the breakdown products of whey protein, into nitrate, which the other bacteria will use for growth.

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Thank you Don, yes the issue is that the effluent whey is variable depending on producer and production. AD is being considered for co-digestion with manure only. Would you have a case study with activated sludge financials for CAPEX / OPEX that you can share? Need some rough figures because we are considering all options. Best

 

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