500.000 CUBIC METRES OF CLEAN WATER
23 PERCENT LESS CO2 EMISSIONS AND
Eighty percent of a potato consists of potato juice. This contains valuable components, such as proteins and salts. These substances are extracted from the potato juice at the potato starch factory in Ter Apelkanaal. Thanks to new filtration techniques with membranes, this will soon be possible more sustainably and efficiently.
The project is known at Avebe as Ducam, which stands for the sustainable concentration of potato juice with membranes. The project is an important part of the energy an CO2 reduction programme of Avebe's sustainability goals.
Energy and water saving
Operations manager Harry Travlos explains how the project will lead to a 23 percent reduction in CO2 emissions for the potato starch factory. For Avebe this represents a saving of 4% on the total CO2 emission.
In addition, no less than 500,000 cubic metres of clean water is extracted each year. As a result of this the potatoes can now be washed with water from the potato, which effectively saves a great deal of water. Travlos: “The potato juice is processed in two steps. First the potato juice is heated, so that the protein can be flocked out and separated. The remaining potato juice is then evaporated to extract the other valuable substances, such as salts. The heating required for both steps takes a lot of energy. With ultrafiltration membranes, we reduce the water volume for protein extraction and with special filtration, we reduce the evaporation volume. These smart filtration techniques enable us to save energy because less water needs to be heated and evaporated. And by using residual heat to preheat the concentrated amniotic fluid will save even more energy.”
Drastic change
The membranes for filtration are located in a large number of tubes. The installation is 4.5 metres high and 15 metres long. “Fortunately, we were able to install the system in an existing part of the production building. By concentrating the potato juice less water needs to be processed in the process steps after the membrane systems. That meant that adjustments were also needed in that part of the factory. The installation is now almost finished and testing started in June. By the end of this year, we'll be ready to switch with the whole factory.”
The Ducam project is made possible by a Top Sector Energy grant from the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The intention is to apply the Ducam technology at other Avebe potato starch factories.
23 PERCENT LESS CO2 EMISSIONS AND
500.000 CUBIC METRES OF CLEAN WATER
Eighty percent of a potato consists of potato juice. This contains valuable components, such as proteins and salts. These substances are extracted from the potato juice at the potato starch factory in Ter Apelkanaal. Thanks to new filtration techniques with membranes, this will soon be possible more sustainably and efficiently.
The project is known at Avebe as Ducam, which stands for the sustainable concentration of potato juice with membranes. The project is an important part of the energy an CO2 reduction programme of Avebe's sustainability goals.
Energy and water saving
Operations manager Harry Travlos explains how the project will lead to a 23 percent reduction in CO2 emissions for the potato starch factory. For Avebe this represents a saving of 4% on the total CO2 emission.
In addition, no less than 500,000 cubic metres of clean water is extracted each year. As a result of this the potatoes can now be washed with water from the potato, which effectively saves a great deal of water. Travlos: “The potato juice is processed in two steps. First the potato juice is heated, so that the protein can be flocked out and separated. The remaining potato juice is then evaporated to extract the other valuable substances, such as salts. The heating required for both steps takes a lot of energy. With ultrafiltration membranes, we reduce the water volume for protein extraction and with special filtration, we reduce the evaporation volume. These smart filtration techniques enable us to save energy because less water needs to be heated and evaporated. And by using residual heat to preheat the concentrated amniotic fluid will save even more energy.”
Drastic change
The membranes for filtration are located in a large number of tubes. The installation is 4.5 metres high and 15 metres long. “Fortunately, we were able to install the system in an existing part of the production building. By concentrating the potato juice less water needs to be processed in the process steps after the membrane systems. That meant that adjustments were also needed in that part of the factory. The installation is now almost finished and testing started in June. By the end of this year, we'll be ready to switch with the whole factory.”
The Ducam project is made possible by a Top Sector Energy grant from the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The intention is to apply the Ducam technology at other Avebe potato starch factories.