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Project Code [2004-CP2-AD]

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Project title

Spent caustic recovery plant

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Diageo Great Northern Brewery

Lead Applicant

Robbie Linehan

Project Abstract

The Diageo brewery is located in Dundalk town. The brewery currently employs 60 permanent staff and a number of contract staff. The brewery brews Harp Carlsberg Satzenbrau Kaliber McArdles and Smithwicks. The brewery keg Smirnoff Ice Harp Carlsberg Smithwicks and McArdles.The goal of this project was to install a production scale membrane filtration plant for the purposes of recovering spent caustic for reuse in the plant. The recovery plant incorporating nanofiltration membrane technology was successfully installed and is currently operational in the brewery. A dirty caustic solution from the regeneration of a brewing filter aid (PVPP) that was previously put to drain is now recovered in the membrane plant and reused again in PVPP regeneration.A Volume Concentration Factor (VCF) of 10 is being consistently achieved which translates into a caustic recovery rate of 90%.Benefits that have resulted include:i Savings of 30000 litres of fresh caustic per yeari Savings of 129 tonnes of steam per year for heating caustici Savings of 15000 litres of acid for pH balancing in the effluent treatment plant.Annual net savings generated by the membrane filtration plant amount to over 34000 per annum.

Grant Approved

�70,371.00

Research Hub

Cleaner Production - Green Enterprise - Innovation and Demonstration

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

20/12/2004

Initial Projected Completion Date

n/a