TECHNOLOGIES IN THE TREATMENT OF DAIRY EFFLUENTS IN THE VALE DO RIO BRAÇO DO NORTE, BRAZIL

Abstract

Great amounts of effluents produced in dairy processing are associated to dairy production activities. Choosing an efficient system in the removal of contaminants may be a highly complex process due to the composition, variation in production rates and the effluent´s composition. Current paper provides the techniques employed to this end and, at the same time, delineate the profile of technologies applied by dairy factories in the region Vale do rio Braço do Norte, in the south of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, coupled to other aspects related to the dairies´ environmental management. Data, retrieved by a questionnaire and document evaluation, showed that the region´s dairy establishments predominantly apply anaerobic systems for the removal of biodegradable organic matter, with removal rates complying with legislation. However, other parameters, such as oils, fats, pH and sediment solids had higher rates than those stipulated by environmental organs. The firms´ environmental management is largely outsourced; in other words, they lack proper personnel technically capacitated for such work.