Tofu Wastewater Treatment Information and the Growth of the Tofu Manufacturing Industry

Hello, I'm Sohee Jeon from ARK. Today, I'd like to share information about tofu wastewater.

First, a brief discussion of the tofu industry, Tofuis gaining traction as a wellness food globally, growing at an average annual rate of 10.81 TP3T, with consumption in Europe and the U.S. growing the most.

Recently, CJ CheilJedang's Bibigo dumplingsbecame a smash hit in the U.S., and small businesses in South Korea experienced shortages of frozen kimbap.

As you can see, Asian foods are no longer just for Asia, they have spread to the US and Europe and are becoming everyday foods, and tofu is at the center of the picture as the vegan craze takes hold in the US and Canada, where the role of wellness food and escape from hyper-obesity is on the rise.

The following is a summary of the tofu market research findings from the above report.

• Largest consumer of Doobie in 2022: Europe
• North America: second largest tofu consumer globally / continued investment in plant-based protein and growing veganism
• Major market share players

1. House Food Group
2. GitKoman
3. Morinaga Dairy
4. PullMember
5. VitaSoy

In Korea, Fulmuwon and CJ CheilJedang are leading the global K-food craze by expanding production facilities in the U.S. In addition to brands like Bibigo, tofu is also popular in a variety of recipes and products.

Pulmuwon has doubled monthly production at its tofu production line in the U.S., demonstrating the growing demand for tofu, which is still unfamiliar in Western culture.

Soy is such a valuable ingredient that it has been called a food semiconductor, and according to the market research report above, its value as a major food source in the future will only increase as plant-based proteins + veganism become more commonplace.

In recent years, as the number of single-person households has increased, wellness food has become the mainstream to reduce the amount of rice and consume protein rather than carbohydrates, and tofu recipes have become popular on YouTube.

For more detailed research on the tofu market, see theHere> in the documentation.

So, we'd like to give you a quick rundown on tofu wastewater.

Wastewater from the tofu manufacturing process is not toxic, but protein (BOD) is the main component.

So, tofu wastewater = high concentration of organic wastewater, and if it is discharged without authorization, it will smell rotten and will be resented by the residents.
Tofu is made with both inorganic and organic coagulants, and the inorganic coagulant is ‘soy water'. The main component of soy water is magnesium chloride, which coagulates the soy protein to make tofu and requires proper processing.

Pure water is the water that comes out of the tofu when it's pressurized, and it contains nutrients and female hormone-benefiting properties.

However, due to these influential components, wastewater can become moldy and cause various complaints, so it is important to understand the relevant environmental laws and regulations before treating wastewater.

Article 6 and Appendix 4 of the Enforcement Rules of the Water Environment Protection Act
Source: https://www.law.go.kr/법령별표서식/ (Water Conservation Act Implementation Rules, 20240101, Appendix 4)

1. criteria for wastewater dischargers
a. Omit
2) Omit
a) When the maximum wastewater volume per day is 20 cubic meters or less, and wastewater that does not contain mineral oil (oil obtained from mineral raw materials such as petroleum) is introduced into public sewage treatment facilities and private sewage treatment facilities in accordance with Article 2 (9) and (13) of the Sewage Act.

b. The maximum amount of wastewater per day in this subparagraph shall be calculated by summing the wastewater discharged from all facilities of the business based on the day when the most wastewater is generated throughout the year, and shall include all wastewater that is outsourced, reused, or treated in a prevention facility during the wastewater discharge process, except in the following cases. 
1) When wastewater generated from tofu and mochi manufacturing facilities is introduced into public sewage treatment facilities and private sewage treatment facilities in accordance with Article 2 (9) and (13) of the Sewage Act, wastewater from cooling or soaking tofu and mochi products is excluded from the maximum daily wastewater volume.Do.

• Screening: Remove large solids.
• Equalize: Make the wastewater's composition uniform.
• Flocculation/Condensation: Adding chemicals to bind small particles together.
• Flotation: Use air bubbles to remove suspended solids.
• Biological treatment: Use microorganisms to break down organic matter.
• Sedimentation: Sinks solids.
• Filter: Remove any remaining suspended solids.
• Discharge: Discharge the treated water.

ARLK Screw Press : View

The Value of Recycling Paper Resources - Examples from Murim P&P, Hansol Paper, and Jeonju Paper

Following the first installment on secondary batteries, this is the second installment of AAK's environmental magazine, Treatment of Pulp Wastewater and Resource Recycling Vol. 2, which discusses black liquor and resource recycling.

vol.1 > From paper and pulp wastewater treatment to nanocellulose and bio-aerosols
Current Articles vol.2 > Hansol Paper and Murim P&P, domestic paper and pulp companies, and resource recycling cases overseas
vol.3 > Overseas research activities related to paper/pulp black liquor (tentative)
vol4. > Introduction of environmental facility construction companies and contractors related to paper wastewater in Korea (tentative)

First, we discussed the wastewater treatment process last time, but as a refresher, let's talk about black liquor.

Black liquid(Black liquor) is a by-product of the papermaking process, created during the pulping of wood. Black liquor contains lignin, hemicellulose, organic acids, and minerals. Lignin is the main component that binds the cellulose in wood cell walls and provides structural strength, and is dissolved in the black liquor when the cellulose is separated during the pulping process.

So, while the black liquor contains lignin, the black liquor itself is not lignin, it is a mixture of several components.

‘As there is a saying that 'paper/pulper is an industry that consumes 100 tons of water to produce 1 ton', it is a field that generates a lot of greenhouse gases due to high energy and water consumption, but I also mentioned that the recycling of wastewater and waste heat has developed to more than 501 TP3T.

Let's take a look at a specific example of this.

Resource recycling in the domestic pulp industry

The image above was created by AI and is not affiliated with any paper/pulp company.

Murim P&P's black liquor resource recycling and new material performance

1.Biomass fuel from black liquor utilization at the Ulsan plant - how does the plant generate electricity?

MurimP&P's process is known as the pulp and paper consistency process. It is a company that uses ‘bleaching chemical process' in various pulp manufacturing processes in the previous vol.1, and it is a company that uses wood chips, discharges black liquid, and recycles it.

Recycled paper does not go through the drying and chemical process of wood chips as it recycles various recyclable food containers, but the pulp process processed from wood chips varies from company to company, but Murim P&P does not consume oil energy sources such as LNC used in the process as it dries and bleaches wood chips.

2.Murimphy & P's Recycling Data Metrics

MurimP&P uses 850,000 tons of wood chips per year as raw material, with nearly half, 450,000 tons, produced as natural pulp.

So how much black liquor is produced? It is about 750,000 tons, and the black liquor is used to recycle 831 TP3 tons of steam (62.2 tons) and 171 TP3 tons of electricity (12.7 tons). The cost of eliminating this waste is said to be 168 billion.

In other words, the black liquid lignin and cellulose that are separated when processing wood chips into pulp are separated, and the black liquid component itself, which can be incinerated, is recycled back into the boiler, so the cost of purchasing raw materials such as oil and gas is significantly lowered.

This means that the Approximately 870,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions avoidedfrom the file.

In vol.1, we explained that the final purpose of lignin separation is to extract and process cellulose, the actual raw material of paper, and we also mentioned that ‘nanocellulose' is attracting attention as a big new material because it is related to the nano industry, which has been active in R&D research for many years around the world.

New products born from Murimpi & P's R&D of new materials

1.nanocellulose (CNF) : Nano-field products with potential in various fields such as cosmetics, film, space industry, etc.

2.CellRimⓇ : biodegradable eco-friendly plastic made of wood + plastic
Wood Particle (WP: sawdust by-product processing) + Pulp Flake (cellulose market pulp processed into powder)

As such, Murimpi NP is a leading environmental company with a variety of products born from R&D achievements in energy resource recycling technology and new materials that are comparable to the technology of foreign paper companies in black liquor recycling.

Source: https://www.moorim.co.kr:13002/product/nano.php?conarea

Hansol Paper is a member of the Hansol Group, which includes environmental engineering EPC business, chemicals, IT, and distribution in its environmental business division. As such, it has various high technology levels as an environmental company in resource recycling.

Hansol Paper also routinizes resource recycling and recycles resources into energy. Hansol manufactures interior materials under the ‘Hansol Home Deco' business, which generates waste wood from furniture. In addition, the company pursues ESG in the paper industry in various ways through various plant projects and has been awarded a gold rating by EcoVadis, a French-based organization.

EcoVadisprovides holistic sustainability assessment services for companies through a global cloud-based SaaS platform. Assessments cover a wide range of non-financial management systems, including environmental, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement impacts. Each company is assessed on material issues relevant to its size, location, and industry.

Hansol Paper has also been recognized as one of the ‘Most Admired Companies" by the Efficiency Association, which shows how much the company values the environment in its operations.

Hansol Paper's paper-related resource recycling cases are as follows.

1. DecoHome's waste wood is recycled to provide energy, which represents a savings of about KRW 5.9 billion.
2. We conduct various resource recycling projects through the ‘CO-ECO’ business agreement, which collects recycled paper from various B2B customers. Examples include recycling sterilization packs to use as raw materials for white cardboard and plastic pallets.
3. Hansol ME has EPC experience in wastewater treatment plants for the water industry and has a wide range of technologies.

Hansol Paper is also a technology company with EPC capabilities for environmental plants and chemical technology, but above all, Hansol Paper is the most active company in recycling resources with local governments, B2B business agreements, and the private sector. There are many companies with them, and they have received many accolades for their active recycling practices.

Hansol Paper's major eco-friendly products and new materials

1. Terrabars: ‘containers for nature'. A water-based coating that replaces the plastic-like polyethylene (PE) coating.
2. Duracle : Nanocellulose Products. Applied in cosmetics, medical, sports, automotive, chemical, etc.

Virtual Green Pavilion https://www.hansolexhibition.com/

Jeonju Paper's Green Biogas Power Generation

Like its predecessors, Jeonju Paper is a historic company that started as Sehan Paper in 1965 and is now part of the Seah Group.

Jeonju Paper is a company that practices biogas power generation from wastewater treatment facilities, as explained on the official website. As explained in vol.1, the pulp manufacturing process requires desulfurization, which requires a desulfurization facility, and it is reused for steam and electricity.

Wastewater purification and biogas generation by applying eco-friendly new technologies to the wastewater treatment process (biogas utilization and eco-friendly power generation)

We are actively participating in global low-carbon green growth and climate change policies by treating wastewater generated from raw material production facilities with anaerobic microorganisms that live in natural ecosystems and generating electricity using biogas (methane) from the wastewater treatment process.                

The existing wastewater treatment biological method uses aerobic microorganisms to decompose the wastewater, adding an eco-friendly new process (anaerobic microbial treatment) to the existing process to generate biogas (methane=LNG) and sell eco-friendly electricity through biogas power generation facilities. Renewable energy certificates (RECs)in the application.        

Sources: Jeonju Paper https://jeonjupaper.com/productionprocess

Environmental Certification of Jeonju Paper

First in paper industry, first in Jeonbuk region to be designated as a green company

Dilemmas and efforts to overcome them

The paper and pulp industry is more of a traditional B2B business than a B2C one.

As explained in vol.1, office paper has exploded due to digital transformation, while the rise of contactless e-commerce due to the pandemic and the upscaling of renewable paper due to eco-friendly policies of food and beverage franchises are driving paper companies to modernize their B2B strategy with green technologies.

The paper industry itself is about making paper that is consumed, and paper that is consumed, so while revenue and operating margins for paper and pulp companies around the world have been shaky, the trend is now toward B2B.

There are two main ways to market the company as environmentally friendly to customers: branding, and technically, reusing black liquor in plant facilities and steam and power through self-generation to overcome limitations in energy-hungry areas.

And there is still a lot of work to be done on commercialization and cost reduction through technology development, mass production, and the discovery of various values for ‘nanocellulose' to expand its applications.

As shown in the examples of Korean companies described above, it is safe to say that the level of Korea's paper and pulp industry has reached a ‘high level' due to the high level of environmental technology and advanced technology for plant business and power generation facilities.

We deeply appreciate the resource recycling activities, environmental protection activities, and community contribution activities of domestic paper and pulp manufacturers through wastewater recycling and black liquid recycling.

Series

vol1. Pulp Wastewater Treatment Information and Nanocellulose View

Why pulp wastewater treatment is important

Hello, I'm Sohee Jeon, a manager at ARK. Continuing our series on lithium-ion batteries, today we'll be looking at the paper industry, which is in the midst of a global R&D battle to replace plastic with nanocellulose.

We'll start with information on wastewater treatment and end with the recycling of lignin and black liquor. We will continue the series with the following parts.

vol.1 > From paper and pulp wastewater treatment to nanocellulose and bio-aerosols
vol.2 > Domestic paper and pulp companies Hansol Paper and Murim P&P and overseas resource recycling cases (tentative)
vol.3 > Overseas research activities related to paper/pulp black liquor (tentative)
vol4. > Introduction of environmental facility construction companies and contractors related to paper wastewater in Korea (tentative)

Pulping process and pulp wastewater generation

Key processing methods

Flocculation, pressurized flotation, and activated sludge methods are used.

Paper pulp production produces black liquor during lignin separation, which is too high in BOD to be treated by popular and common water treatment methods. Previously, black liquor was collected and recycled to industries such as fuel use or nylon raw materials, but recently, the value of recycling black liquor is gradually increasing due to various research and development.

The most common treatment methods for paper pulp wastewater with suspended solids are flocculation or pressurized flotation combined with biotreatment for organic matter.

In the case of pressurized flotation tanks, the pH is adjusted to around 8 with aluminum sulfate/polyaluminum chloride, and the flotation flocs are sent to the sludge tank for biotreatment in the aeration tank.

‘Have you ever heard the phrase ’it takes 100 tons of water to produce one ton of paper‘? Paper and pulp products, which you may only think of as A4, are as ubiquitous in our lives as plastics. While plastics in general have become 'biodegradable', the environmental and biological impacts of microplastics are still relatively unknown, and the perception is that they are not as good for the environment as the image of trees.

The paper and pulp industry as we know uses a lot of water and heat energy, and the efficiency of recycling waste heat and waste liquids has been raised to a considerable level, and furthermore, the black liquid generated in the process of separating lignin, which keeps the hardness of wood, and cellulose, which is actually used for paper pulp, is also used as incineration fuel, and the separated lignin is also being researched and developed to produce new biofuels and ‘nanocellulose' by recycling it worldwide. Therefore, trees are eco-friendly with nothing to waste.

Wastewater treatment in paper pulp is very important, but when it comes to resource recycling beyond wastewater treatment, nanocellulose technology is getting more attention than lignin and cellulose.

The global technology leaders in nanocellulose are Canada, Japan, Finland, and Norway, which are leading the way in manufacturing technology and research and development (R&D). Major companies include Kruger Inc. in Canada, Nippon Paper Group in Japan, Beauregard in Norway, and Fiberlean Technologies in the UK. Canada is a global leader in nanocellulose technology, and its use in a variety of applications is growing.

Korea is another country where Murimphy & P excels in technology.

Therefore, this series will start with paper and pulp wastewater treatment, but we will also share the environmental talk with you by providing insights into the resource recycling efforts of Korea's proud paper and pulp manufacturers and nanocellulose.

First, the domestic major paper and pulp companies are the white cardboard industry's Hansol Paper, Clean Country, Hanzhong PaperThe printing paper is manufactured by Hansol Paper, Forest Paper, MurimP&P and more.

It is also a highly technologically advanced and competitive industry with excellent performance of domestic companies that have become world-class luxury papers. It has become an important everyday consumer product with the growth of e-commerce, while being eco-friendly and contributing significantly to ESG management.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid growth of contactless distribution has brought many changes to our society. In particular, the expansion of online shopping markets and delivery systems has dramatically changed the way consumers buy. In this environment, the demand for white paperboard has increased significantly. While the production of traditional printed paper has decreased globally due to the one-to-one digital machine replacement, the market for e-commerce paperboard used for parcel boxes and thermal paper has increased.

White paperboard is used as a high-end packaging material in various fields such as confectionery, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and more, enhancing the quality of products. In 2020, sales reached approximately KRW 189.5 billion, an increase of 6.71 TP3T year-on-year, followed by KRW 204.4 billion, an increase of 7.91 TP3T in 2021, and KRW 227.3 billion, an increase of 11.21 TP3T in 2022. This growth is attributed to consumers' desire for high-quality packaging.

Currently, whiteboard is gaining more emphasis as an alternative to plastic due to growing environmental concerns. The market outlook for the future is very positive and it is expected to become a sustainable packaging solution.

That's why it's important for everyday paper, paper and pulp consumers to pay attention to wastewater treatment.

Celluloseplays a critical role in the paper and pulp manufacturing process, and its utilization is expanding throughout the industry. An understanding of cellulose is essential for a deeper understanding of the paper and pulp industry. Below, we'll discuss the role and uses of cellulose in more detail.

The role of cellulose

1. Function as a principal component
   • Cellulose is a polymeric substance derived primarily from wood pulp and is a fundamental component of paper and pulp. As the main component of wood, cellulose directly affects the physical properties of paper and contributes to the production of high-quality paper. For example, the higher the content of cellulose, the stronger and better quality pulp is produced.
2. Structural contributions
   • Cellulose is a fiber-forming substance that forms the cellular structure that makes up pulp. This structure has a significant impact on the strength, durability, and texture of the final product, paper, which is why it's so important to handle cellulose properly in the papermaking process.
3. Chemical modifiability
   • Cellulose can be subjected to a variety of chemical reactions to create esters and ester derivatives with unique properties. These chemical modifications broaden the range of applications for cellulose, allowing it to be used in food packaging, as an excipient in pharmaceuticals, and more.

Where to use

1. Paper products
   • Cellulose is used as the main ingredient in paper, cardboard, and card stock. These products are essential to our daily lives and are an important resource for the paper industry.
2. Textile Industry
   • Cellulose can also be converted into fibers like rayon, which is used in combination with natural fibers like cotton and linen. Rayon is an important fiber that has been around since the early 20th century and is used as an important textile product based on cellulose.
3. Unique new materials
   • In recent years, derivatives such as nanocellulose have been developed and found applications in a variety of industries, including automotive interiors, building materials, and cosmetics. Nanocellulose is often referred to as the ‘second carbon fiber" because of its biodegradable, lightweight, and high strength properties.
4. New applications
   • Cellulose is gaining traction as an alternative to synthetic fibers and is seen as an important resource as consumer demand for more environmentally friendly products grows. It is also increasingly used in the medical, electronics, and packaging industries.

Wood > What lignin is discarded in the production of paper pulp?

Lignin, a discarded treasure, gets a colorful makeover ✨.

Do you know the secret to keeping wood hard? It's a friend called lignin. Along with cellulose, lignin is the main component of wood, and it's responsible for giving trees their rigid backbone.

Unfortunately, in order to make the paper we use, we need to remove the lignin, which is just the cellulose, to make the soft pulp that makes paper. So for a long time, lignin was simply treated as a waste material, because its complex structure made it difficult to utilize. And every year, huge amounts of lignin were being thrown away around the world.

But with the recent interest in lignin, we're seeing a remarkable transformation! What used to be a discarded material is now a treasure trove of new value. There's a lot of research being done on lignin to create a variety of products, and more and more of them are actually being commercialized.

So what can you make with lignin? Nylon raw materials and fuel industries such as vanillin and carbon monoxide.

#Lignin #Eco-friendly #Biomass #Sustainable Development #New Materials

Chemical Pulp

• Chemical pulp: Chemicals are used to separate wood chips into lignin and cellulose, and mainly allyl-based materials use sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide to extract cellulose. Therefore, lignin separation generates lignin-containing wastewater and sulfide-containing wastewater as described above.

Types and features of mechanical pulses

1. Grinding Wood Pulp (Grinding Wood Pulp)
   • FeaturesThis method uses whole trees and crushes them under intense pressure. It is usually done at a temperature of 70 to 75 degrees Celsius, and yields a very high yield of about 98.51 TP3T. However, the paper quality can be poor due to the high lignin content.
   • Use: Mainly used for newsprint, low-grade magazines, toilet paper, and wallpaper. It is effective in increasing opacity and thickness, but has low durability.
2. Refiner Pulp
   • Features: A process of fiberizing using a machine called a refiner, where high shear forces are applied to crush the chips. The chips are physically processed, usually through a narrow gap between two rotating disks.
   • Efficiency: Often run in multiple stages to achieve the intended fiber length.
3. Pressure Grinding Wood Pulp (Pressure Grinding Wood Pulp)
   • FeaturesA method of punching using wood that has been cleaned after pressure is applied.
4. Thermal Grinding Wood Pulp (Thermal Grinding Wood Pulp)
   • FeaturesIt is a method of processing by heating with water and steam at around 80 degrees Celsius, which changes the physical properties of the pulp and allows for more effective fiberization.

Waste paper recycled pulp

Since it is made by recycling discarded waste paper and soaking it in water, it contains various foreign substances, printed ink, glue, metal stemplers, and harmful substances, and wastewater containing these substances is generated, and surfactants, hydrogen peroxide, formamidine, sodium silicate, etc. are used to separate them.

The types and main components of wastewater from paper and pulp mills are suspended solids, BOD organic matter, and black liquor.
It is important that the black liquid is incineration fuel and the white liquid is white liquid.

Categorize by nature

1. Black Liquor:
   • Definition: Black liquor, a mixture of chemicals, lignin, and other organic matter used in the pulping process, is the wastewater collected within the process. It typically has a high BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) and COD (chemical oxygen demand).
   • FeaturesBlack liquor can be hazardous to the environment and causes pollution problems if discharged without proper treatment. This black liquor is often recycled as a way to recover thermal energy.
2. Singer (Gray Water):
   • Definition: Water used in the pulp manufacturing process typically has low-grade water quality, containing organic matter, residual chemicals, etc.
   • FeaturesThis water has less impact on the environment, but still needs to be treated. If the water from pulp production is discharged outside of the process, it can cause water quality degradation.
3. Sludge:
   • Definition: Sludge, which remains as a sediment during pulp water treatment, is generated in the mechanical pulping process. It contains insoluble solids and contaminants.
   • FeaturesSludge must be disposed of as waste and can often cause environmental problems when dumped into the ocean or land. Efforts are being made to treat it and recycle it as a resource.

Other constituents in paper and pulp wastewater

Additional ingredients based on paper type: Calcium carbonate, starch, ink residue, dyes, etc.
For waste paper pulp : Printed ink, office stampers, etc.

Dairy Wastewater Treatment, Dairy Processing Industries Inform Changing Dietary Patterns

Hi, I'm Sohee Jeon from ARLK. What do you think about food consumption patterns in Korea?

If you remember the Korean family meals of white rice, soup, and side dishes, they've changed a lot since then, with coffee, dairy + bakery, high-quality fruits and vegetables, and fast food taking their place. Consumption of rice and kimchi has decreased, as evidenced by the proliferation of coffee franchises and the growth of dairy processing.

With the growth of the dairy processing industry and changing consumption patterns, companies should also consider investing in wastewater treatment to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption in wastewater treatment facilities.

Briefing on South Korea's dairy processing industry, ranked 3rd among food industries

1. Industry Rankings: The South Korean dairy processing industry occupies an important position within the food and beverage industry, ranking around third within the food processing industry.
2. Number of companies: Since 2020, the number of companies involved in dairy processing is estimated to be around 500, with companies ranging in size from small to large.
3. Growth: Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in the food service industry have temporarily increased the demand for dairy products, but it has now stabilized, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 2.51 TP3T.
4. Increase or decrease the number of brandsThe number of dairy brands has been on a slight upward trend in recent years. Brands continue to emerge with new health trends and customized products.
5. Exports and companies with international presence: Overseas exports of dairy products are expected to reach about $100 million in 2023, with exports increasingly centered in Asia and the Middle East. Major players include Seoul Milk and Namyang Dairy.

Specific dairy types and their ups and downs

Types of dairy products, less white milk, more fermented milk and ice cream

• Fermented milk: The fermented milk market has seen significant growth in recent years. Drinking yogurt, liquid yogurt, and scoopable yogurt have become the mainstream, with benefits ranging from gut health to beauty and mental care, and health-oriented fermented dairy products like Greek yogurt are particularly popular.
• White milk: Traditionally a large consumer, the market has shrunk somewhat in recent years as a result of declining birthrates and a declining infant population.
• Ice creamIt is highly consumed, especially during the summer months, and is sold in a variety of forms. They are categorized according to their milk fat percentage and milk solids content, and are known for being high in calories and low in nutrition.
• YogurtYogurt is a product typically made by fermenting milk with lactic acid bacteria.

In addition to these, a variety of other dairy products are being sold in the domestic market, and products that take into account the health and functionality of consumers are gaining particular attention.

Changes in the dairy market Post-2020, a declining birthrate and an aging population demand high-functioning, high-nutrient, healthy foods.

• In 2020: 4,448,459 tons
• In 2021: 4,448,459 tons (peak)
• 2022: 4.41 million 490 tons (down slightly)
• 2023: 4.385 million tons (approximately 21 TP3T less)

This graph shows the impact of high prices, low birth rates, and the popularity of foreign pasteurized milk on the decline in domestic milk consumption. Additionally, imports of foreign pasteurized milk have been steadily increasing since 2020.

Looking at the change in consumption of milk-based dairy products in South Korea from 2020 to 2024, the traditional white milk market is declining, while the fermented milk market is growing.

Since 2020, the white milk market has been shrinking due to declining birthrates and a declining infant and child population. In 2023, the white milk market was valued at KRW 1.659 trillion, a decrease of 0.51 TP3T year-on-year. In contrast, the fermented milk market is growing rapidly. In 2023, the fermented milk market was valued at KRW 2.625 trillion, up 2.71 TP3T year-on-year, and is expected to grow to KRW 2.2498 trillion by 2026.

The growth of the fermented milk market is driven by the launch of various functional products and health trends. In particular, the popularity of fermented milk products with various functions ranging from gut health, beauty, and mental care has expanded the market.

As such, the domestic dairy industry is focusing on differentiated dairy products such as fermented milk to overcome the decline in traditional white milk consumption.

Dairy Wastewater Major Constituents

The products from the fractional distillation of crude oil are gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, and kerosene, which make up the majority of transportation fuels. It can also be used as a raw material for many chemical products such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, pesticides, and solvents.

Shale oil is primarily used as heating oil, fuel for ships, preservatives for wood for railroads, and other chemicals, and unlike crude oil, it is not used as a feedstock for chemical products.

On the other hand, the high-boiling compounds in shale oil can be used to produce intermediate oils such as kerosene, diesel, jet fuel, etc.

As such, crude oil, shale oil, and other ‘oils" are ubiquitous as energy and products in all sectors of industry and everyday life. The oil industry is still going strong and requires constant research and treatment of wastewater.

Oil, Renewables, and the Need for Oil

In fact, the fear of running out of oil has led the Middle East to invest in hydrogen, wind, and nuclear power as alternatives to oil.

This means that the energy industry is turning green, and countries around the world are aiming for a new paradigm shift in the environmental energy industry, with common protocols such as RE100 aiming for a low-carbon industry.

However, there are many arguments against the theory of oil depletion. Scientists and geologists have long expected oil to run out, but unexpectedly, new oil reserves and discoveries continue to grow even as new sources of oil are discovered and drilled.

Importantly, it is important to focus on alternative energy production because there is a goal and hypothesis of carbon reduction, and similarly, in wastewater treatment, we should focus on carbon reduction by recycling water and reducing the energy consumed in wastewater treatment.

There is no large company in Korea that does not invest in petroleum and refining, so the petroleum industry is a field that will always be in demand in terms of supply and demand if there is advanced plant technology, so we should be interested in advanced treatment methods for petroleum wastewater and refinery wastewater in terms of environmental technology and utilization of by-products.

Let's get down to business.

Types of Wastewater from Petroleum Refineries

The petroleum refining industry imports crude oil and refines the imported crude oil into extracts and by-products that are processed into products for each industry and then distributed and used.

During the refining process in petroleum refineries, wastewater is primarily refinery effluent and is categorized as follows.

1. Wastewater from petroleum refining processes
2. Tank Wastewater - Crude Oil Storage Tanks, Velastics
3. Steam generators
4. Cooling Wastewater
5. Other - Industrial wastewater (offices, restaurants, etc.)

The classifications by nature are 1,2,3,5 (process wastewater) and 4 (cooling wastewater).

Petroleum wastewater is mainly oily ‘oil wastewater' and is generated from crude oil distillation facilities, desalting and desulfurization facilities, and cleaning and washing facilities that are unique to petroleum plants.

Oil wastewater is easy to separate because it floats on water, but for other substances, pressurized flotation/biotreatment/sand filtration/activated carbon adsorption is used.

As shown in the chart, the four treatment processes generate about 13 different substances and oils.

Wastewater treatment process in petroleum refining

Primary oil-water separation: oil-water separators for API, CPI, PPI, etc.

As mentioned earlier, petroleum refinery wastewater, which includes refinery wastewater and cooling wastewater, is subjected to oil-water (oil and water) separation by API, CPI, and PPI.

Oil-water separators are used in petroleum refineries where oil and palm oil are generated, junkyards, military vehicle maintenance shops, hydroelectric power plants, nuclear power plants, chemical plants, paint shops, train stations and airports. Oil-water separators for primary treatment also require sludge treatment through dewatering and have a rather complex structure with secondary treatment.

Oil water is not difficult due to the nature of oil floating on water, but the 13 or so substances mentioned above require additional treatment.

Secondary processing

Pressurization injuries
Activated sludge
Sand filtration
Activated carbon adsorption

Petroleum Refinery Wastewater Treatment Explained

<As shown in Figure 2, the API oil separator can remove oil droplets down to 150 μm (microns). If there are other substances in the wastewater, such as emulsions, N-hexane, suspensions, etc.

1. The pressurized flotation treatment is adjusted to target a pH of 7.5-8.5, using an aluminum-based flocculant.
2. Adsorbs oils, suspended solids on the surface of the aluminum hydroxide floc.
3. Flotation separation of flocs: adding polymeric flocculants

The above API process + lateral flow pressurized flotation treatment is used for treatment facilities with large quantities, and the treated water comes out cleaner after passing through pressurized flotation tank > sand filtration tower > activated carbon tower.

CPI is suitable for low-volume facilities due to its high efficiency and compactness, and it can remove oil down to 60 μm (microns). Therefore, you can choose CPI for high-volume applications such as petroleum refineries and power plants for API and other oils, or for low-volume applications.

Engineer specializing in petroleum wastewater

Centrifugal dehydrator for petroleum wastewater : View

The Semiconductor Wastewater Story, Ultrapure Water Utilization and Wastewater

Hello, I'm Minhee Hwang from the public relations office.

Today, I would like to introduce wastewater treatment in the electrical and electronics industry, which is a core industry in Korea. The electrical and electronics industry, which is mainly related to the semiconductor process, uses ultra-pure water (UPW) for cleaning semiconductors, displays, and nano-research fields among other electronic components.

Ultrapure water is literally the purest water and is closest to the resistivity level (18.25㏁.cm). Even microscopic debris can interfere with semiconductor current flow, and ultrapure water is free of such debris.

Ultrapure water used to be a Japanese monopoly, but now South Korea has ultrapure water technology as well, and the ultrapure water process requires a 24-step process including ultraviolet oxidation and ion exchange.

Semiconductors are manufactured in ultra-clean environments because they need to be ultra-pure, as any impediment to the flow of current from microscopic particles can cause significant losses in the critical functions of electronics.

Ultrapure water used in the process of washing silicon wafers when making semiconductor wafers. And other electrical and electronic wastewater.

Semiconductor Processes and Cleaning

Silicon is extracted from sand as silicon crystal growth technology, in which silicon is melted to a high temperature into a solution and cooled to a single crystal, which is then made into an ingot.

This ingot is then saw-cut to produce semiconductor wafers, which generates primary wastewater.

Diagram of electrical and electronic production processes and wastewater generation

The production process of electrical and electronic products varies from product to product, but they are all subjected to ‘cleaning’ with ‘ultra-pure' water, and wastewater is generated during this process.

Inclusions by concentration in electrical and electronic wastewater

What is suspended solids, the primary effluent of electrical and electronic wastewater?

Suspension water from primary processing: This refers to water containing silica from cutting the primary ingot and processing the wafer in the above process. It is highly turbid but contains few soluble chemicals, so it is purified using membrane filtration technology and a large part of it is reused.

Inorganic Electrical and Electronic Wastewater Treatment Process Diagram

Since the wastewater contains hydrofluoric acid and hydrogen peroxide, the enzyme catalase is used to break it down, followed by neutralization/flocculation treatment with calcium chloride and calcium hydroxide.

The flocculation precipitation byproduct is calcium fluoride sludge, which is sold to cement manufacturers, and the treated water is sand filtered and activated carbonized before being reused.

The above facility process is an inorganic process, and in the case of organic system, additional facilities such as flow adjustment tank, aeration tank, sand filtration tower, activated carbon tower, etc. are required to decompose flocculation treatment water into biological treatment activated sludge.

List of domestic pure/ultrapure water facilities

ElectricityPlating How is wastewater disposed of?

Electroplating wastewater is the process of electroplating the surface of metals used in various industries to produce metal parts with specialized features required by different industries.

Definition of electroplating

The steel industry is categorized into various production sectors, such as rolled steel, special steel, cold-rolled and galvanized steel, stainless steel, steel pipe, hot rolling, wire rod, and alloy steel, where electroplating is a technology for secondary processing.

The purpose of electroplating is to ‘build up a film" of chromium, nickel, copper, gold, and other materials that can fulfill the function of the intended application.

What electroplating does

The functions that can be achieved from electroplating include rust resistance, strength, wear resistance, and electroconductivity, and constant, pure, and ultrapure water is also used in semiconductor applications.

Major Substances in Electroplating Wastewater

As in the previous metal surface treatment industry, wastewater is generated, and wastewater containing heavy metals such as acid-alkali / cyan / chromium is the main substance due to substances such as chromium and nickel used to form surface films.

The main processes of electroplating wastewater are degreasing and water washing. These two processes complete the processed products, and acid-alkali wastewater and heavy metal wastewater depending on the cleaning agent are generated when the cleaning agent is added.

Cyanide electroplating wastewater has the same structure as above. The above treatment process diagram is an alkaline chlorine method, which adds acid to the second oxidation step to achieve a pH of 7~8. The role of the reducing bath is to remove iron and nickel, which cannot be decomposed by alkaline decomposition, so chlorine can be used to treat nickel and iron cyanide.

Produced by metal wastewater, metal surface treatment industries in industrial parks, mines, and plating companies

Hello, I'm Minhee Hwang from the public relations office of ARK. Recently, there was a controversy in the news about the unauthorized discharge of metal wastewater in Incheon Industrial Complex.

In addition, in Yanggam-myeon, Hwaseong-si, where ARK is located, there was an accident in which wastewater discharge from a factory fire contaminated the 7.4-kilometer Hwaseong-Pyeongtaek River.

While wastewater must be discharged through proper treatment facilities, it is also closely related to the safety of the factory, and the causes of wastewater are not limited to the management of equipment and processes.

Let's talk about metallic wastewater.

Industries that generate metallic wastewater

Metallic wastewater can be generated from the following categories. The main constituents of wastewater can vary from industry to industry, and may contain non-biodegradable substances in addition to heavy metals.

Therefore, practitioners should be familiar with the main components of metallic wastewater and categorize the type of wastewater to find the appropriate treatment method.

Knowing the types of metallic wastewater is key

Wastewater can be categorized into acid-alkaline / cyanide / chromium as shown below. After analyzing the raw water, it is necessary to identify which type it belongs to for proper treatment. After proper treatment according to the type of wastewater, high concentration wastewater liquids that cannot be treated are treated as industrial waste. The surface treatment industry can obtain various advantages that the raw materials, steel and aluminum, do not have by treating them. These include corrosion and heat resistance.

Surface treatment technologies include surface polishing, etching, coating, deposition, hot-dip coating, coating, and lining, and various chemicals used in degreasing and cleaning processes result in the following types of wastewater.

Processes and inclusions in the metal surface treatment industry

The surface treatment of metals is the process of treating the surface to achieve a superior finish, and to achieve a smooth surface, the first process is degreasing and the second is pickling.

The materials used in these two stages are as follows: raw steel and aluminum, which are processed through various treatments, and the processed metal is distributed to various industries, including machinery, construction, automobiles, electronics, and plants.

Key Points for Analyzing Metallic Wastewater Source Water for Metal Surface Processors

As mentioned earlier, the treatment process for the same metal wastewater varies depending on the ‘wastewater system'. The composition after analyzing the raw water is important, and most of the metal wastewater is acid-alkaline wastewater with about 50%.

For successful wastewater treatment, it is important to determine whether the wastewater is acid-alkaline, nitrate-containing, or cyanide-chromium-containing.

The main treatment methods are pH adjustment and flocculation.

The above treatment process diagram may vary depending on the design of the environmental facility contractor. The powdered activated carbon injection facility aims to remove soluble COD and TOC substances, and the inclined plate sedimentation tank aims to remove SS substances with excellent sedimentation efficiency.

Please note that metal wastewater can be generated in various places such as surface treatment industry, electroplating industry, and zinc production mines, and wastewater containing various heavy metals may be generated due to surface cleaning by degreasing and acid cleaning, and melt coating.

RK Centrifugal Dehydrator : View