BeWaRe

The ThWIC project BeWaRe aims to enable resource-efficient and sustainable treatment of process liquids and wastewater in the dairy industry.

Large food production facilities consume millions of litres of water every day, particularly for legally required hygiene procedures in so-called Cleaning-in-Place (CIP) systems. These cleaning processes generate large volumes of hot cleaning solutions. After use, these liquids are typically discharged, resulting in the loss of water, energy and cleaning chemicals.

The BeWaRe project addresses this challenge by developing innovative membrane-based technologies for the treatment and regeneration of process liquids. The technologies include nanofiltration and novel 3D-printed ceramic membranes, which enable contaminants as well as substances such as starch and proteins to be separated directly from hot cleaning solutions. This allows valuable process liquids to be regenerated and reused. In addition, an integrated water and resource management concept is being developed to maximise efficiency and sustainability.

The project partners Milch-Land GmbH Veilsdorf and frischli Milchwerk Weißenfels GmbH serve as real-world demonstration sites where further water analysis and treatment technologies developed within ThWIC can be tested and validated under industrial conditions.

By reducing water, energy and chemical consumption, BeWaRe contributes to a more resource-efficient and future-proof food production industry.