ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNOLOGIES are only effective when they are used. Understanding the changes and options involved is critical, if a company is to avoid fines and reduce overall treatment operations cost. But learning about them -- and knowing how they fit into policy and regulations -- can be difficult and time-consuming.

Research engineer John Pierson is putting finishing touches on a pilot-test unit to evaluate a wastewater-treatment technology called dissolved air flotation (DAF).

Georgia's food processing industry, like those of other states, continually faces changing environmental regulations, plant-operating situations and waste minimization and treatment options.

Using and expanding resources at state and regional universities, Georgia Tech researchers are part of a statewide network of environmental experts. This group assists food processing plant personnel in adopting techniques for conserving water, addressing oil and grease issues, and controlling pH in wastewater discharge. In addition, the team provides technical assistance to food processors to identify and address their specific environmental problems, senior research engineer Jim Walsh says.

"We also conducted half-day workshops designed to provide a summary of all the environmental regulations that the food processing industry must comply with," says Walsh. "This year we are investigating the use of distance learning for the workshops as a means of reaching more industries."

Research engineer John Pierson is putting the finishing touches on a pilot-test unit to evaluate a wastewater-treatment technology called dissolved air flotation (DAF). DAF removes pollutants from wastewater using a pressurized-air separation technique. Although many Georgia food processors are aware of treatment technologies such as DAF, they do not always know how to operate them optimally at their plants, Pierson says.

"DAF is often used to pretreat wastewaters that contain suspended solids, oil and grease -- common effluents from food plants," Walsh explains. "There are techniques available to optimize these technologies at existing plants."

Additionally, Pierson and his team are evaluating available add-on hardware to facilitate automation of all DAF processes.
-- Dara O'Neil

Further information is available from:

John Pierson, Electro-optics, Environment and Materials Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0837. (Telephone: 404/894-8059) (E-mail: john.pierson@gtri.gatech.edu)

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Last updated: 12 Sept. 1996