FOOD PROCESSING WASTEWATER RESEARCH GROUP

Researchers

Prof T.J. Britz - Researcher at Dept. Food Science, US
Dr Gunnar Sigge - Researcher at Dept. Food Science, US
Alison Ackerman - MSc student at Dept. Food Science, US
Maryke Lötter - MSc student at Dept. Food Science, US
Nicola Huisamen - MSc student at Dept. Food Science, US
Amanda Brand - MSc student at Dept. Food Science, US
Schalk van der Westhuizen - student/researcher at Dept. Food Science, US
Ashley Hendricks - student/researcher at Dept. Food Science, US
Corné Lamprecht - PhD student at Dept. Food Science, US
Dr C.A. Barnardt - Enviro Services
Dr R. Strydom - Oz Purification

Fltr: Prof TJ BRitz, Nicola Huisamen, Amanda Brand, Armelle Nstame Affane, Dr Gunnar Sigge,
Nadia Niemann, Schalk van der Westhuizen, Tshepo Kikine

Fields of Interest

Prototype 20 000 L UASB reactor

Anaerobic Digestion

Various projects have been undertaken, investigating aspec ts of anaerobic digestion of food and beverage processing industry wastewaters mostly by upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) technology.

The applicability of the process and optimization thereof are the main objectives, although some troubleshooting is also carried out for full-scale systems. Wastewaters recently studied include: Fruit canning, winery, distillery, fruit juice and gelatin effluents.

Effect of ozone on food processing wastewater

Advanced Oxidation Processes

Advanced oxidation processes (AOP's) are used to treat various wastewaters, especially those containing difficult to degrade compounds. Ozone, hydrogen peroxide, UV light and certain catalys ts are the main methods that have been used.
Ozone is especially useful and efficient and breaks down to environmentally friendly oxygen after use.
These processes are often used in combination with biological processes as pre- and post-treatments.

UASB granules

Granulation

Formation of granules in the UASB process is a serious rate-limiting process. The production of granules in batch systems and the enhancement of the granulation process are thus important areas of research.

Work is also done, using molecular techniques like PCR and DGGE to classify and group organisms present in granules and to follow the incorporation of potentially useful organisms into "tailor-made" granules.

Our PhD and MSc candidates

Corné van Schalkwyk
Mass culturing of granules for use in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) bioreactors by process induction and microbial stimulation.

Marijké Lötter
Impact of polluted irrigation water on agricultural products - pre- and post-harvest decay rates of contaminating organisms.
Study Leader: Prof. T.J. Britz (University of Stellenbosch). Co-Study Leader: Dr G.O. Sigge (University of Stellenbosch).

Alison Ackerman
Microbial investigation into the link between irrigation water quality and safety of raw and minimally processesd agricultural products.
Study Leader: Prof. T.J. Britz (University of Stellenbosch). Co-Study Leader: Dr G.O. Sigge (University of Stellenbosch).

Amanda Brand
Evaluation of the growth profiles of surrogate coliforms on minimally processed foods that had been spray-irrigated.
Study Leader: Prof. T.J. Britz (Stellenbosch University), Co-Study Leader: Dr. G.O. Sigge (Stellenbosch University).

Nicola Huisamen
Impact of polluted irrigation water on the safety factor of food products that are consumed raw.
Study Leader: Dr. G.O. Sigge (Stellenbosch University), Co-Study Leader: Prof. T.J. Britz (Stellenbosch University).

Schalk van der Westhuizen
Enhancement of the methanogenic activity in a UASB treating grain distillery wastewater.
Study Leader: Dr. G.O. Sigge (Stellenbosch University), Co-Study Leader: Prof. T.J. Britz (Stellenbosch University).

Nadia Niemann
Bacterial source tracing from irrigation water to fresh produce.
Study Leader: Prof. T.J. Britz (Stellenbosch University), Co-Study Leader: Dr. G.O. Sigge (Stellenbosch University).

Tshepo Kikine
Survival of index organisms during irrigation of vegetables.
Study Leader: Prof. T.J. Britz (Stellenbosch University), Co-Study Leader: Dr. G.O. Sigge (Stellenbosch University).

Ashley Henricks
Enhancement of the methane yield and bio-energy recovery from a UASB treating Grain Distillery Wastewater (GDWW). Study Leader: Dr. G.O. Sigge (Stellenbosch University), Co-Study Leader: Prof. T.J. Britz (Stellenbosch University).

Publications:

BRITZ, T.J., TRNOVEC, W., VAN SCHALKWYK, C. & ROOS, P. Enhanced granulation in upflow anaerobic sludge-bed digesters (UASB) by process induction and microbial stimulation. WRC, 1999, 116pp.

BRITZ, T.J., TRNOVEC W., & FOURIE P.C. Influence of retention times and influent pH on the performance of an upflow anaerobic sludge bioreactor treating cannery waste waters. International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2000; 35(1): 1-8.

SIGGE, G.O. 2000. Letting nature do the dirty work. South African Food and Beverage Manufacturing Review, 27(11), 32-33.

SIGGE, G.O., BRITZ, T.J., FOURIE, P.C., BARNARDT, C. & STRYDOM, R. 2001. Use of ozone and hydrogen peroxide in the post-treatment of UASB treated alkaline fruit cannery effluent. Water Science and Technology, 44(5), 69-74.

STRYDOM, J.P., MOSTERT, J.F. & BRITZ, T.J. 2001. Anaerobic digestion of dairy factory effluen ts . WRC Report No 455/1/01. ISBN 1868457249. Published by the Water Research Commission, Pretoria, South Africa.

SIGGE, G.O., BRITZ, T.J., FOURIE, P.C., BARNARDT, C. & STRYDOM, R. 2002. Combining UASB technology and advanced oxidation processes (AOP's) to treat food processing wastewaters, Water Science and Technology, 45(10), 329-334.

SIGGE, G.O., BRITZ, T.J., FOURIE, P.C. & BARNARDT, C. 2005. The efficacy of ozone as a pre- and post-treatment option for UASB-treated food processing wastewaters, Water Science and Technology, 52(1&2), 167-173.

SIGGE, G.O. & BRITZ, T.J. 2007. UASB Treatment of a highly alkaline fruit cannery lye-peeling wastewater. Water SA, 33(2), 275-278.

SIGGE, G.O., GREEN, J., DU PLESSIS, K.R. & BRITZ, T.J. 2007. Investigating the effect of ozone on the biodegradability of distillery wastewater. South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 28(2), 155-162.

SIGGE, G.O., GIE, L-M. & BRITZ, T.J. 2008. Improving the biodegradability of grain distillery wastewater for use as UASB substrate by combinations of ozonation/enzymatic pre-treatments. Water Science and Technology, 57(4), 547-552.

Presentations 2001-2008:

BRITZ, T.J., RONQUEST, L-C., KEYSER, M. & WITTHUHN, R.C. Tailor-made UASB granules used for the treatment of winery effluent, Cape Biotech 2001, Cape Town.

BRITZ, T.J., RONQUEST, L-C. & WITTHUHN, R.C. UASB treatment of winery effluent with tailor-made granular sludge. IWA World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion 2001, Antwerpen, Belgium.

SIGGE, G.O., BRITZ, T.J., FOURIE, P.C., BARNARDT, C. & STRYDOM, R. Combining UASB technology and advanced oxidation processes (AOP's) to treat food processing wastewaters, IWA World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion 2001, Antwerpen, Belgium.

BRITZ TJ, SIGGE GO, & VAN SCHALKWYK N. Use of ozone as a pre-treatment to eliminate pectin gelling from fruit processing wastewaters before anaerobic digestion. 10th Anaerobic Digestion Congress, Montreal, Canada 2004.

ELS ER, VAN ZYL PJ, & BRITZ TJ. Bioreactor for mass culturing of UASB granules in twenty days. 10th Anaerobic Digestion Congress, Montreal, Canada 2004.

KEYSER M, WITTHUHN RC, & BRITZ TJ. PCR-based DGGE fingerprinting and identification of 'Eubacteria' present in four different UASB granules. Anaerobic Digestion 2004, Montreal, Canada 2004.

SIGGE GO, BRITZ TJ, FOURIE PC, & BARNARDT CA. The efficacy of ozone as a pre- and post-treatment option for UASB treated food processing wastewaters. 10th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, Montreal, Canada 2004.

KEYSER M, WITTHUHN RC, & BRITZ TJ. Fingerprinting of the 'Eubacteria' in different UASB granules using PCR-based DGGE. 13th Biennial Congress of South African Society for Microbiology, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2004.

GREEN, J., SIGGE, G.O. & BRITZ, T.J. 2005. The impact of ozonation on wetland systems for cellar effluent degradation. South African Association for Food Science and Technology Eigteenth Biennial Congress, Stellenbosch. 4 - 8 September 2005.

GIE, L-M., SIGGE, G.O. & BRITZ, T.J. 2005. Effect of grain distillery wastewater on the efficiency of UASB granules. South African Association for Food Science and Technology Eighteenth Biennial Congress, Stellenbosch. 4 - 8 September 2005.

BRITZ, T.J., SIGGE, G.O. & VAN SCHALKWYK, N. 2005. Impact Of Ozone Treatment On Pectin Gelling Of Apple Juice Processing Wastewater. South African Association for Food Science and Technology Eigteenth Biennial Congress, Stellenbosch. 4 - 8 September 2005.

ACKERMANN, A., SIGGE, G.O. & BRITZ, T.J. 2007. Impact of irrigating minimally-processed foods with river water containing a high potentially-pathogenic load: A review. South African Association for Food Science and Technology Nineteenth Biennial Congress, Durban. 2 - 5 September 2007.

NTSAME AFFANE, A.L., SIGGE, G.O., KIDD, M. & BRITZ, T.J. 2007. Demonstration of kefir grains microbial stability using metabolic profiles as indicators. South African Association for Food Science and Technology Nineteenth Biennial Congress, Durban. 2 - 5 September 2007.

IIPUMBU, L.K., SIGGE G.O. & BRITZ, T.J. 2007. Proximate composition of South African grown carob (Ceratonia silliqua). South African Association for Food Science and Technology Nineteenth Biennial Congress, Durban. 2 - 5 September 2007.

LÖTTER, M., SIGGE, G.O. & BRITZ, T.J. 2007. Evaluation of the possible link between polluted irrigation water and microbially contaminated minimally processed foods in the Western Cape. South African Association for Food Science and Technology Nineteenth Biennial Congress, Durban. 2 - 5 September 2007.

BRITZ, T.J. & G.O. SIGGE. 2007. Impact and trends on food-borne infections. Keynote Speaker, Environmental Workshop, 2nd FIDSSA Congress, Cape Town. October 2007.

BRITZ, T.J., G.O. SIGGE., A. ACKERMANN & M. LÖTTER. 2007. Microbiological quality and safety scenarios as applied to raw and minimally processed food products. 2nd ICFMH Workshop: Food Safety in Africa. International Union of Microbiological Societies. Stellenbosch, 24-30 November 2007.

BRITZ, T.J., G.O. SIGGE, A. ACKERMANN & M. LÖTTER. 2007. Sustainability of irrigating food crops in areas with a high incidence of river pollution. CHEMRAWN XII conference. The Role of Chemistry in Sustainable Agriculture and Human Well-being in Africa. Stellenbosch, 2-5 December 2007.

SIGGE, G.O., L. IIPUMBU, C. MULLER & T.J. BRITZ. 2008. Carob – food product value-adding opportunities. IPUF 2008 – Indigenous Plant Use Forum. Graaff-Reinet, 7-10 July 2008.

SIGGE, G.O., BRITZ, T.J., FOURIE, P.C., BARNARDT, C. & STRYDOM, R. 2001. Combining UASB technology and advanced oxidation processes (AOP’s) to treat food processing wastewaters. 9th IWA World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion 2001, Antwerpen, Belgium, 2 – 5 September 2001.

SIGGE, G.O., BRITZ, T.J., FOURIE, P.C. & BARNARDT, C.A. 2003. Ozone as a pre- and post-treatment option to anaerobic digestion of fruit processing wastewaters. IWA Biofilm Symposium, Cape Town. 14 – 18 September 2003.

McLACHLAN, T., SIGGE, G.O. & BRITZ, T.J. 2003. UASB technology and its combination with ozonation in the treatment of cellar effluent. IWA Biofilm Symposium, Cape Town. 14 – 18 September 2003.

VAN SCHALKWYK, N., SIGGE, G.O. & BRITZ, T.J. 2003. The use of ozonation as a pre-treatment to eliminate pectin from fruit processing wastewaters before anaerobic digestion. IWA Biofilm Symposium, Cape Town. 14 – 18 September 2003.

SIGGE, G.O., BRITZ, T.J., FOURIE, P.C. & BARNARDT, C.A. 2004. The efficacy of ozone as a pre- and post-treatment option for UASB treated food processing wastewaters. 10th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, Montreal, Canada. 30 August – 3 September 2004.

BRITZ, T.J., SIGGE, G.O., VAN SCHALKWYK, N. 2004 Use of ozone as a pre-treatment to eliminate pectin gelling from fruit processing wastewaters before anaerobic digestion. 10th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, Montreal, Canada. 30 August – 3 September 2004.

SIGGE, G.O., BRITZ, T.J. & BARNARDT, C.A. 2006. Wastewater in the food industry – combining technologies to facilitate treatment efficiency. EnviroWater – International Conference and Exhibition on Water in the Environment, Stellenbosch, 20 – 22 February 2006.

SIGGE, G.O., GIE, L-M. & BRITZ, T.J. 2007. Improving the biodegradability of grain distillery wastewater for use as UASB substrate by combinations of ozonation/enzymatic pre-treatments. 11th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, Brisbane, Australia. 23 – 27 September 2007.

SIGGE, G.O., BRITZ, T.J. & BARNARDT, C.A. 2008. Combining technologies to facilitate treatment efficiency of food industry wastewaters. IFT Annual Meeting & Expo, New Orleans, USA, 29 June – 2 July 2008.

ACKERMANN, A., SIGGE, G.O. & BRITZ, T.J. 2008. Survival of potential pathogens (Escherichia coli) on green beans, peas and cocktail tomatoes treated with polluted irrigation water. Food Micro, Aberdeen, Scotland, 2008.

SIGGE, G.O., BARNARDT, C.A. & BRITZ, T.J. 2008. Effective wastewater treatment for small-scale food and beverage processors: The winery experience.14th IUFoST World Congress of Food Science and Technology “Food for Health and Wellbeing”, Shanghai, China, 19-23 October 2008.

Patents :

BRITZ, T.J. Method of microbial granule formation. SA Patent No. 99/1877, 1999