ES2239914A1 - Tertiary processing of olive oil production dregs consists of separation of sludge and fat for dispensing after dregs oxygenation, with reduction of the phenols concentration - Google Patents

Abstract

The tertiary processing of olive oil production dregs comprises physical separation of sludge and fat for oxygenation of the dregs and chemical dispensing to decrease the organic matter content. - Also claimed is apparatus implementing the process. The apparatus also reduces the phenols concentration and the biological oxygen demand (BOD), with final filtration of the product of chemical dispensing.

Description

Procedure and installation for treatment tertiary of the alpechin.

The present invention relates to a treatment tertiary of the alpechin, which is usable to allow pouring of same in a way that respects the environment.

The elaboration of olive oil consists, basically, in passing the olives through a mill that, after generate approximately 20% oil, also produces approximately 30% of solid waste, called orujo, and approximately 50% aqueous waste, called Alpechin

The alpechin contains the water of the olive itself and the waters of its washing and processing. It is a colored liquid usually blackish and foul smell that usually contains in suspension remains of olive pulp, mucilage, substances peptides and even small amounts of emulsified oil of stable form The pH of alpechín is variable, being able to be acidic or alkaline.

As approximate average composition values The following may be the case of the alpechin:

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Water: 83%

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organic matter: 15%

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inorganic matter: 2%

Organic matter contains the following substances, expressed in kg substance / m3 alpechin.

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sugars: 20-88

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nitrogen substances: 12-24

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acids Organic: 5-15

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polyols: 5-15

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phenolic products: 3-8

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oil residual: 0.3-5

These values should be understood as very approximate, since they vary widely depending on the type of Olive, the station, type of collection and, above all, the process industrial used to obtain the oil.

Alpechin is an environmental problem of first order. Its degradation in nature is very difficult. Its effect on rivers, coastal beaches, fields and even treatment plants Municipal biologicals can be disastrous: it produces dirt, bad smells and the death of living organisms like plants and fish. It represents a huge contribution of organic matter (chemical demand of oxygen (COD) usually between 40,000 and 210,000 ppm and demand oxygen biochemistry (BDO) between 10,000 and 150,000 ppm). Generate one surface film in water and soil due to the oil present and Its toxicity to flora is remarkable. Another problem environmental effects produced by alpechin are its phytotoxic effects, in special for the germination of plants, the premature fall of the fruits and senescence of vegetables. The products phenolics are responsible for three polluting aspects of Alpechin: antibacterial power, phytotoxic power and color blackish. These factors further complicate the already complicated one. environmental impact on rivers, coastal fields and treatment plants Municipal To get an idea of the high polluting power, you must taking into account various studies have estimated that the processing of 1000 kg of olives, which comes to produce 200 kg of oil, causes a contamination can be compared to that of a population of 500-1000 inhabitants.

Until now, the treatment processes of Alpechin require storage in rafts for a long time time, to cause evaporation of the water contained. These rafts produce a great visual impact, bad smells and due to the soil permeability, can cause soil contamination and of groundwater, which is of great importance due to The difficult recovery of these elements. So, for example, the groundwater renewal time typically round the seven years. This forces expensive waterproofing works of the raft. In addition, rafts require the use of large extensions of land, which leads to a significant loss of capacity.

An objective of the present invention is to disclose an industrial treatment of alpechín that allows its rapid treatment in industrial facilities generating a waste that, due to its characteristics, can be discharged respecting the environment and the existing environmental legislation, in an economically sale manner -
Jose.

In particular, the present invention consists in a procedure for the tertiary treatment of alpechin that It comprises the following stages:

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physical separation of sludge and fat,

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oxygenation of alpechin,

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chemical dosage to destroy organic matter and reduction of Phenol, BOD and COD content,

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filtration of the product resulting from the dosage physical,

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optionally, pH neutralization, preferably by dosage of hydrochloric acid.

Preferably, the physical separation stage It will comprise the following stages:

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sludge removal,

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fat separation,

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filtered, preferably at 80 microns or less.

Preferably, the chemical dosage stage It will comprise the following stages:

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Saponification of fats by adding a strong base, such as an alkali metal hydroxide, at a dose of between 7 and 25 cubic centimeters per liter of alpechin.

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addition of a chlorinated component, preferably a solution of 150 g / l liquid sodium hypochlorite at a dose between 7 and 25 cubic centimeters per liter of alpechin, for the destruction of the phenols

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 plus preferably, oxygenation steps after each of the previous stages of addition.

In another preferred mode, the filtration stage of the resulting product will include the following phases sequential:

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filtered at 20 microns,

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filtered to 5 microns,

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filtered to 1 micron.

Preferably, the 20 micron filtrate is made using a flint and anthracite filter of type self-cleaning

Preferably, the 5 micron filtrate is will be carried out by means of a filter with a load of diatoms, of type self-cleaning

Preferably, the 1 micron filtrate is will perform through a filter with a garnet load and, optionally, a subsequent filter by a filter of the type called pleated or corrugated 1 micron.

In another preferred mode of the invention, the procedure will comprise a stage of self-cleaning agents responsible for filtering based on the parameters of functioning.

The invention also consists of an installation for performing the above procedure, which comprises the following equipment:

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A Alpechín separating device equipped with elements for oxygenation of the alpechin and for the physical separation of elements.

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 A chemical dosing device for decrease of the phenol, BOD and COD content.

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A product filtering device from the device dispenser

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Optionally, a device dispenser equipped with product pH control means effluent.

In a preferred embodiment, the device Alpechín separator will comprise the following elements:

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A decanter tank.

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A fat separator

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A filter, preferably a fabric filter with a pore size of 80 microns or less.

More preferably, the separating device It will also be equipped with:

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A cleaning water inlet to the filter cleaning circuit and of the deposit.

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A evacuation system for rejection cleaning products, located on a level of the decanter tank.

Also, the installation preferably presents at the exit of the separator device a regulating tank equipped of a level probe and a recirculation system for oxygenation of the alpechin.

Preferably, the dosing device Chemistry will have the following elements:

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 A dosing device equipped with control means for saponification of fats contained in the vegetable water from separating device

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A intermediate tank located behind said dosing device for Saponification

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A dosing device of a chlorinated component equipped with control.

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A intermediate tank located behind the dosing device of a chlorinated compound

More preferably, the device chemical dosing will also have the following elements:

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Recirculation devices for each one of the intermediate deposits.

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Flow control devices treated product associated with each of the dosers.

The filtering device, preferably, It will comprise the following elements located sequentially:

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A flint and anthracite filter.

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A diatomaceous filter

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A garnet filter

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Optionally, a pleated filter of 1 micron or less.

Preferably, there will be a device that allow self-cleaning of flint and anthracite filters, diatoms and garnet by means of water, for example, from a well or from a network, which will preferably comprise a set of valves that make that the water travels the filters in the opposite direction to the flow of Alpechin

Optionally, there will be means of detecting installation pressure, which will activate the device self-cleaning of filters based on the circuit pressure of Alpechin

The installation according to the present invention may have electronic media that completely control the operation of the installation.

For better compression, it is attached as explanatory but not limiting example, some drawings of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 represents a flow chart of an installation according to the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a detail of the diagram of flow of figure 1, in which the devices are represented responsible for performing the phases of physical separation, filtering and oxygenation of the alpechin.

Figure 3 represents a detail of the diagram of flow of figure 1, in which the devices are represented responsible for performing the fat saponification phase.

Figure 4 represents a detail of the diagram of flow of figure 1, in which the devices are represented responsible for performing the chemical dosage of a compound chlorinated

Figure 5 represents a detail of the diagram of flow of figure 1, in which the devices are represented responsible for performing the filtering and final adjustment phases of the pH

In figure 1 represents a flow chart of an installation according to the present invention. As seen in the figures, the installation has been divided into four sectors (1), (2), (3) and (4), which correspond to a spatial arrangement of a possible implementation of the installation represented in the diagram of flow, although other provisions and a division could be chosen in sectors other than the one represented here, as will be Obvious to experts in the field. In the diagrams shown in the figures the lines of alpechín have been represented by continuous line while cleaning water lines have been represented by dashed line.

In sector (1) stages of physical separation of sludge and fats and oxygenation of Alpechin

In sectors (2) and (3) they are carried out chemical dosages to destroy organic matter and reduce the phenolic content, the BOD, and the COD. In particular, the sector (2) the dosing of a strong base is carried out to produce a saponification of fats and in sector (3) the dosage of a chlorinated compound for the destruction of phenols, coagulation, destruction of microorganisms, etc.

In the sector (4) the processes of filtered and the final pH adjustment device.

Figure 2 is a more detailed representation of the sector (1).

The system receives the alpechin, for example, from a cistern through a motor pump and from the solenoid valve (5) and enters the sludge decanter (6). The Decanter function (6) is to precipitate the remains of materials that by their weight they can decant, as for example, earth. Of the Decanter (6) the apricot passes through a filter separator fats (7), consisting, for example, of a fat separator modified at its exit with an 80 micron filter cloth. This Thus, the function of the separator filter (7) is twofold. On one side, separates fats that may have the alpechin and on the other, prevents the passage to the rest of the installation of particles larger than 80 microns, to avoid possible obstructions in the components of the rest of the installation The separator may be equipped with a level probe for the purpose of regulation and safety of the installation. The decanter also has a device for self-cleaning consisting of an inlet (8) of cleaning water, such as mains water or well water essentially free of dirt, that enters the tank (6) through the filter (7), and an outlet (9) of evacuation of cleaning products, located on one level bottom of the decanter tank (6). The opening and closing of said inlet (8) and outlet (9) are governed by two valves (10) and (11), which can be solenoid valves. When opening the valves (10) and (11) water enters the decanter tank (6) and exits through the outlet (9) thus facilitating the selective cleaning of the installation. The opening of said valves can be performed based on their parameters operation, that is, of the dirt accumulated in the installation. The output (9) can be connected with the aforementioned cistern of the alpechin, thus avoiding unwanted spills of Polluting substances.

From the separator (6) and through the filter (7) the Alpechin passes, in the installation shown, to a regulatory tank (12). The regulating tank has a level probe (13) for control the motor pump maneuver (14) that the alpechín removes tank filtering (12). The motor pump's output forks at two pipes, one of which, indicated in figure 2 with numeral (15) returns to the deposit (12) by pouring by its upper part, thus facilitating oxygenation of the Alpechin The other channeling (40) leads the alpechin to the stage of chemical dosage, which has been distributed in the example shown in a first sector (2) of fat saponification and a second sector (3) of addition of a chlorinated compound.

Figure 3 represents in more detail the sector (2) in which the saponification of the fat The water jet from the motor pump (14) passes through a flowmeter or rotameter (16) used for flow control of alpechin, with a view to obtaining an optimized dosage of chemical products. Subsequently, a strong base is dosed at Alpechin to produce saponification of fats, according to a process that is known in the industry. To do this, a increase of the pH of the vegetable water by adding compounds known as sodium or potassium hydroxide. The dosage is produced by means of a dispenser (17), which may preferably be Peristaltic or electronic type. The deposit (18) of the substance to be dosed may be equipped with a minimum level probe for prevent the operation of the empty doser. Then, the alpechín is collected in a deposit intermediate (19). Said deposit (19) fulfills several functions: regulation, provides a residence time to the alpechin for complete the saponification and reoxygenation reaction of Alpechin Similar to the regulatory tank (12), the tank (19) has a maximum level probe (20), a motor pump (21) for extraction of saponified vegetable water and a system of recirculation (22) that will preferably also be used for reoxygenate the alpechin. After the motor pump (21) is the channeling (41) that sends the treated alpechin to the sector (4).

In figure 4, a diagram is shown corresponding to sector (3), in which the Dosage of a chlorinated product. At this stage chlorine is dosed for the destruction of phenols, coagulation and destruction of microorganisms The chlorinated compound dosed will be preferably sodium hypochlorite, although others could be used known chlorinated components. On the other hand, the equipment can be arrange in this sector (3) in a manner analogous to those in sector (2), presenting a flow control element (23), dispenser (24) with tank (25), and intermediate tank (26) with probe (27), motor pump (28), recirculation (29) and pipeline (42) for delivery to Next sector

After overcoming sectors (2) and (3), the alpechin saponified and chlorinated passes to the filtering sector (4), represented in more detail in figure 5. In this sector a filtration of the products of the reactions of the stage of dosage, sectors (2) and (3). In the example installation, it passes the saponified and chlorinated alpechin consecutively to through three filters:

The first filter (30) is composed of flint and anthracite, and its function is to filter at 20 microns.

The second filter (31) is a filter bottle with diatom load, and whose function is to filter at 5 microns.

The third filter (32) is a filter bottle with garnet load, whose function is to filter at 1 micron.

These filters are provided with a device for self-cleaning using cleaning water, that is, free from impurities Said device is composed of a series of pipes and a series of solenoid valves (33) that reverse the direction of the flow of the pipes through which the alpechin passes so that the cleaning water travels the filters in the direction contrary to that of the alpechin, which is achieved by closing the valves (33) located in the water line (continuous line) and opening the valves (33) located in the water line (line discontinuous). The output of the cleaning device can be directed to the cistern of alpechín, similar to how it was done with cleaning products from the outlet (9) of the Decanter tank cleaning device (6). The device It also includes non-return valves (34) that prevent entry from the water mill to the cleaning water feed and the flow of cleaning water towards the previous stages of the installation. By Finally, the device drive can be governed automatic by pressure switch pressure signal (35), and also have operating modes by time and / or manual.

After the three filters (30), (31), (32) it has placed, in the specific case of the example shown, a device filter (36) of type called pleated or corrugated, as a guarantee of filtration for the most conflicting alpechines, and then it has placed a flow measurement element (37) to control the outflow and determination of the filter speed of the filter bottles

The product thus obtained has a high pH, which it will be necessary to neutralize depending on the utility that is intended Give the product. Therefore, the installation shown in the figures It ends with a dosing system (38) and tank (39) that It may be similar to the other dosers (17) and (24).

The example installation is completed with media continuous type electronics that completely govern the operation of the installation. These means may include a electrical panel that governs all sectors, performing all the maneuvers an automaton, and a screen outside the frame, where through messages you can view the status of the process and its alarms, being able to be modified by the user the times of acting and cleaning.

Of course, there are numerous variants of procedure and installation described here that will result evident to the person skilled in the art, without leaving the scope of the invention.

Among these variations is, by example, the realization of the first phase of separation by means known to be considered equivalent, such as by example, electrocoagulation.

The advantages obtained through the procedure and the installation object of the present invention will remain more apparent after the explanation of an application example of procedure according to the present invention.

It was decanted and filtered through a 80 micron fabric a sample of alpechin.

The following were determined from said sample data: pH, BOD5, COD and phenolic content, obtaining the following average values:

Parameter analyzed Analysis Value pH 7.66 BOD 5 100 mg O2 / l COD 1270 mg O2 / l Phenols 1.4 ppm

Subsequently, said sample filtered at 80 microns was oxygenated, and, in a pilot installation it was dosed sodium hydroxide in a dose that varied between 7 to 25 centimeters cubic cubic meters of alpechin. Subsequently a 150 g / l sodium hypochlorite solution at a dose between 7 and 25 cubic centimeters per liter of alpechin. The resulting product was conducted successively by three filtering bottles with loads of flint and anthracite, diatoms and garnet.

The total process time was 60 minutes.

Product parameters were determined resulting, obtaining the following average values:

Parameter analyzed Analysis Value pH 12.77 BOD 5 <5 mg O2 / l COD 60.7 mg O2 / l Phenols <0.1 ppm

As a result of the procedure that has been submitted to alpechín, the product obtained does not present the problems pollutants referred to in terms of oxygen demand (BOD and COD) and in terms of antibacterial power, phytotoxic power and blackish color (content in phenols). The values reflected in the table meet with current legislation on spills.

Finally, the pH of the product obtained was adjusted by adding hydrochloric acid until a neutral pH is obtained, obtaining a product that exceeds the legislation current in terms of spills.

Claims (34)

1. Procedure for the tertiary treatment of alpechin from the manufacture of olive oil, characterized in that it comprises the following stages:

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physical separation of sludge and fat,

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oxygenation of alpechin,

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chemical dosage to destroy organic matter and decrease the content of phenols, BOD and COD,

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product filtration resulting from the previous stages.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a final stage of pH neutralization at a desired value. 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the step of adjusting the pH is carried out by dosing hydrochloric acid. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the physical separation stage comprises the following steps:

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sludge removal,

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fat separation, and

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filtered out.

5. Method according to any of claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the filtering of the physical separation stage is carried out at a pore size of 80 microns or less. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the chemical dosage stage comprises the following steps:

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saponification of fats by addition of a strong base.

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addition of a chlorinated component for decrease in phenols, BOD and COD.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises an oxygenation stage of the vegetable water after the saponification stage. Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises a step of oxygenation of the buckwheat after the step of adding a chlorinated component. 9. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the dosed base is an alkali metal hydroxide. 10. Method according to claim 9, characterized by the addition of liquid sodium hydroxide between 7 to 25 cubic centimeters per liter of alpechin. Method according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the chlorinated compound comprises sodium hypochlorite. 12. Method according to claim 11, in which is dosed a solution of sodium hypochlorite of 150 g / l a a dose of 7 to 25 cubic centimeters per liter of alpechin. 13. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the filtering stage of the product from the chemical dosage comprises the following sequential phases:

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filtered at 20 microns,

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filtered to 5 microns,

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filtered to 1 micron.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the filtering at 20 microns is carried out by means of a flint and anthracite filter. 15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the 5 micron filtration is carried out by means of a diatom filter. 16. Method according to any of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the filtering at 1 micron is carried out by a garnet-loaded filter. 17. Method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that an additional filtering stage is subsequently carried out through a pleated filter of 1 micron. 18. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 17, characterized in that it comprises a self-cleaning step of the agents in charge of filtering according to the operating parameters. 19. Installation for carrying out a process of tertiary treatment of the vegetable water according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that it comprises:

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a Alpechín separating device equipped with elements for oxygenation of the alpechin and for the physical separation of elements;

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a chemical dosing device for decrease of the phenolic, BOD and COD content, and

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a product filtering device from the device dispenser

20. Installation according to claim 19, characterized in that it further comprises a dosing device provided with means for controlling the effluent pH. 21. Installation according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the separating device comprises:

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a decanter tank,

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a fat separator,

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a filter.

22. Installation according to claim 21, characterized in that the filter comprises a filter cloth of 80 microns or less. 23. Installation according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the separating device further comprises:

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a cleaning water inlet to the filter cleaning circuit and of the deposit, and

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a evacuation system for rejection cleaning products, located on a level of the decanter tank.

24. Installation according to any one of claims 19 to 23, characterized in that the installation comprises, at the exit of the separator device, a regulating tank provided with level probe and recirculation system for oxygenation of the buckwheat. 25. Installation according to any of claims 19 to 24, characterized in that the chemical dosing device has the following elements:

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a dosing device equipped with control means for saponification of the fats contained in the appropriate vegetable water of the separating device,

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a intermediate tank located behind the dosing device for the saponification,

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a dosing device of a chlorinated component equipped with control,

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a intermediate tank located behind the dosing device of a chlorinated compound

26. Installation according to claim 25, characterized in that the dispensers are peristaltic or electronic. 27. Installation according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the chemical dosing device further comprises:

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recirculation devices for each one of the intermediate deposits,

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flow control devices of treated product associated with each of the dosers.

28. Installation according to any one of claims 25 to 27, characterized in that the doser for adjusting the pH comprises a reservoir of an alkali metal hydroxide. 29. Installation according to any one of claims 25 to 28, characterized in that the dispenser of a chlorinated compound comprises a deposit of sodium hypochlorite. 30. Installation according to any of claims 19 to 29, characterized in that it comprises the following elements located sequentially: - a flint and anthracite filter, - a diatom filter, - a garnet filter. 31. Installation according to claim 30, characterized in that it additionally comprises a pleated filter of 1 micron or less. 32. Installation according to claim 30 or 31, characterized in that it comprises a device for self-cleaning of the flint and anthracite filters, diatoms and garnet by water. 33. Installation according to claim 32, characterized in that the self-cleaning device comprises a set of valves that cause the water to travel through the filters in the opposite direction to the flow of alpechín. 34. Installation according to claim 32 or 33, characterized in that it comprises pressure sensing means that activate the self-cleaning device of the filters as a function of the pressure of the alpechin circuit.