Poultries & Slaughterhouses
Advanced treatment solutions for biodegradable effluents in meat processing facilities. Ensuring environmental compliance while maintaining operational efficiency.
Explore SolutionsThe Challenge
Slaughterhouses and meat processing plants are among the top producers of biodegradable effluents, creating complex wastewater streams that require specialized treatment solutions.
Industry Overview
The meat processing industry encompasses operations varying by animal type (poultry, beef etc) and products (fresh cuts, cured meats, precooked items).
- ✓ Separate slaughtering and processing areas
- ✓ Hygiene standards maintenance
- ✓ Distinct waste management systems
Environmental Impact
High organic loads from biological by-products require complex treatment to meet
environmental and public health standards.
Water usage varies by species, but as a general benchmark, meat plants consume approximately:
Wastewater Sources
Understanding the various sources of wastewater in meat processing facilities is crucial for effective treatment design.
Animal Holding Areas
Feces, urine, and bedding materials from stables contribute to wastewater, especially in poultry operations.
Slaughter Process
Extensive water use for rinsing and cleaning animals creates wastewater containing blood, fat, and biological residues.
Cleaning & Sanitation
Regular washing of tools, floors, and machinery produces wastewater with organic debris and chemical residues.
By-product Handling
Processing of internal organs, bones, and fat requires washing, producing additional contaminated wastewater streams.
Skin & Hide Treatment
Leather processing involves tanning chemicals that require specialized treatment solutions.
Disposal Options
Direct discharge, municipal treatment, or on-site treatment and reuse for non-potable applications.
Wastewater Composition & Contaminants
Slaughterhouse effluents contain diverse pollutants requiring comprehensive analysis and treatment approaches.
Key Evaluation Parameters
Biological Oxygen Demand
Chemical Oxygen Demand
Total Organic Carbon
Total Nitrogen/Phosphorus
Fats, Oils & Grease
Total Suspended Solids
Suspended Solids
Organic residues including tissue fragments, hair, feathers, and undissolved particles from processing operations.
Organic Matter
High BOD/COD from blood, meat particles, and biological waste creating significant oxygen demand.
Fats, Oils & Grease
FOG from animal fat, processing oils, and equipment cleaning requiring specialized removal techniques.
Chemical Contaminants
Cleaning agents, disinfectants, sanitizers, and preservatives from processing and sanitation procedures.
Pathogens
Bacteria, viruses, and parasites from animal sources requiring disinfection for public health protection.
Nutrients
High nitrogen and phosphorus content from protein degradation potentially causing eutrophication.
Advanced Treatment Technologies
Comprehensive treatment systems designed to handle high organic loads and ensure environmental compliance.
Pretreatment: The First Line of Defense
Effective pretreatment protects downstream equipment and improves overall treatment efficiency through mechanical screening and homogenization.
Mechanical Screening
- Coarse screening (>30mm) for large solids
- Fine screening (~3mm) with automated cleaning
- Specialized feather screens for poultry
- Self-cleaning mechanisms with scrapers
Homogenization & pH Control
- Mixing and aeration systems
- Prevention of sedimentation and dead zones
- Automated pH adjustment with sensors
- Odor control through proper aeration
Coagulation-Flocculation
Destabilization and aggregation of suspended and colloidal particles using specialized chemical treatment.
Process Steps:
Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)
Advanced flotation system using microbubbles to separate fats, oils, and suspended solids effectively.
Key Features:
- Microbubble injection system
- Continuous surface scraping
- Automated flow rate adjustment
- High efficiency fat/oil removal
Biological Treatment
Biological treatment is a sustainable and efficient approach for managing slaughterhouse wastewater. When used after pretreatment steps like screening or flotation, it significantly reduces organic and nutrient loads—ensuring regulatory compliance with minimal chemical use.
Why It's Suitable
Slaughterhouse effluent typically has a favourable COD-to-nitrogen ratio, making it ideal for microbial processes like nitrification and denitrification. When properly balanced, these systems often don't require external carbon sources, preserving operational simplicity.
Treatment Process
This process relies on naturally occurring microorganisms to break down:
- Fats, proteins, and blood residues
- Dissolved and suspended organic matter
Under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, microbes convert pollutants into harmless by-products, producing cleaner effluent with lower environmental impact.
Our Solution: BIOWAVE™ Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR)
BIOWAVE™ is Nenner Haeuser's next-generation SBR platform—the most advanced sequencing batch technology on the market. A patented selector + RAS-recycle loop, static influent distributor, fine-bubble aeration grid, and high-rate air mixing combine to deliver simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and biological phosphorus removal in one compact, fully automated basin. The system excels with the variable flows and fat-protein spikes typical of slaughterhouse effluent.
Validated for:
- COD & BOD₅ removal
- Total-nitrogen reduction (nitrification + denitrification)
- Biological phosphorus (bio-P) removal
Its modular civil layout scales effortlessly from boutique abattoirs to large export plants.
System Highlights
- 100% biological nutrient removal—no chemical dosing
- Selector-driven, fast-settling sludge resists filament growth
- Fine-bubble aeration slashes blower energy and OPEX
- Proven stability under hydraulic and organic shock loads
- Low sludge yield, reducing haulage and disposal costs
- PLC/SCADA automation with secure remote monitoring
- Plug-and-play integration with Nenner Haeuser DAF pretreatment and downstream polishing or reuse systems
Post-Polishing Media Filtration
After biological treatment, Nenner Haeuser integrates high-performance media filters for advanced solids removal and final effluent polishing.
- Multimedia or deep-bed sand filters remove fine suspended solids and colloids through stratified granular layers.
- Optimised media gradation ensures high loading capacity and extended filtration cycles.
- Automated backwash sequences restore filter efficiency with minimal operator input.
- Corrosion-resistant construction (steel, FRP, or stainless) ensures long service life under varying effluent conditions.
- SCADA-ready control enables remote monitoring, performance tracking, and integration with plant-wide automation.
These filtration units deliver reliable, low-maintenance polishing—essential for achieving reuse-grade effluent or meeting strict discharge standards.