Freixenet adopts the Biocarb purification system to purify its sewage

From the Department of environment of Freixenet was observed that, as a result of the process of production of cava, it generated a total of 1,250 cubic metres a week wastewater with a characteristic of winery waste water pollution load. As the old debugging - rafts of ventilation - system was inadequate to achieve the objectives of quality at the landfill, is decided to invest in improvements in the process of debugging. The objectives set by Freixenet were, first, get a process of purification that complete the current process in an efficient manner, that would increase at least a 20 percent reduction of the pollution load capacity and obtain a spill collector with a cod always below the limit set (1,500 ppm).

In addition, was intended to minimize the impact on surface occupied and respect the landscape, the facility would be located in a natural environment where some of the most appreciated for its high quality vineyards, which are very visible during the tours of the numerous visits that gets Winery.

The Biocarb process, taken by Condorchem, is a treatment of organic wastewater treatment by means of a reactor (tank) filled with an inert mineral - granules of lignite coal-. This porous bed allows host colonies of bacteria specialists grouped in a perfect symbiosis called 'biofilm' on its surface. Inside the reactor, air is injected to favour the aerobic regime of the process that helps to degrade organic matter.

In the process of purification, wastewater flows from the top of the bed down, going through it completely and debugging in a contact time shorter, because the burden of 'biofilm' is very high and that the water comes out of the reactor completely filteredfree of solids at the bottom. Studies of the project at the level of laboratory diagnosed that wastewaters were easily biodegradable. The problem was the heterogeneity of the organic load of the spill, which varies depending on the processes and of the time. After a long period of testing with a Biocarb pilot plant at the customer's own premises, it was verified that the technology was appropriate for the goals of Freixenet. Finally the solution adopted was the installation of two biological reactors Biocarb with an occupied area less than 20 cubic metres arranged in parallel to treat the landfill generated in the winery Freixenet caudal totaling 250 cubic metres a day.

The effluent comes to a raft of pre-existing aeration, from where is pumped into the sieve to make a reduction in the burden of suspended solids through screening of fine later solid and thick solids with rotary sieve with 0,5 mm. Subsequently the residual water is sent to the two reactors Biocarb. The reactor will enters the residual water from the top and get refined from the bottom, then it flows into a tank of large (250 m₃h) pre-existing where stores to carry out quality control and proceed with the disposal if meets the parameters either is sent to process header.

Valuation of Freixenet

Gloria Martí, responsible for environment of Freixenet

1. What are the benefits of the solution provided by Condorchem?

The benefits have been the decline of the organic load (expressed in COD) discharged. With this solution we have reduced by 20 per cent of our sewage pollution.

2. Why was the proposal of Condorchem chosen?

We chose Condorchem for several reasons. We looked for a sewage system was effective, easy to use, with a small, flexible maintenance and that would not generate many MUDs, and that is what gave us the solution proposed by Condorchem.

3. What are the next environmental projects that Freixenet intends to carry out?

There are three projects that are on our agenda today. These are:

-Water reuse of domestic rinsing of bottles for other uses (irrigation, external cleaning of bottles, cleaning of floors, etc.).

-Solar thermal energy.

-Reduce the by-product obtained from the external treatment of bottles by 85 per cent, through the purchase of an evapo-hub.