1. Ingetecsa
  2. Starch recovery

Starch recovery

Starch recovery is interesting for manufacturing processes that lose starch to water by rinsing or cleaning. Reclaiming the starch from that wastewater is a cost effective way to recover a valuable product. On top of it, it reduces the BOD/COD content from the effluent, reducing trade waste.

Potatoes or other roots or tubers that are peeled, sliced or cut, are normally rinsed off with fresh water before the next process step. Significant starch concentrations in the plant’s wastewater flows accumulate and flow to the plant’s waste water treatment or discharged to sewer. Starch recovery is most beneficial close to the origin of the source as no to minimum contamination takes place.

Reclaimed starch. Starch recovery processes are gaining popularity.

A decanter centrifuge or a filter press are both suitable mechanical dewatering technologies to increase the starch concentration. As the (re)processing of the reclaimed starch cake takes place without addition of sulphur dioxide, micro organisms which abound in the water immediately attack the solids. For that reason the wet starch cake requires almost instant drying. Heating of the hot air can be for instance by natural gas, LPG, steam and most other heat carriers. Ingetecsa can re-use available waste energy to integrate in the drying plant for a further reduction of operational expenditures.

Starch recovery plants are gaining popularity. Often the manufacturing process can re-use the starch. Selling the starch as a high end product is a possibly lucrative alternative possibility. So long the starch finds its way back in a process, the payback time of a recovery plant is going to be short.

Read more about native starch drying here.

Starch recovery process flow diagram

 

Drying process

For drying of the wet starch cake, Ingetecsa employs the latest technology in starch drying: the Spiral Flash Dryer.

The Spiral Flash Dryer creates a very turbulent drying stage over the entire drying phase by moving air in a spiral pattern upwards. This results in lower drying temperatures compared to conventional flash dryers. The lower the product temperature is, the higher the product quality will become. Also, losses will be less since the exhaust gasses are cooler.

 

The Spiral Flash Dryer has no moving parts in the dryer. The unique dryer design disperses and fluidises the wet product intensively. This makes the dryer not only safer and maintenance free, but it also offers a 100% production availability.

Except for the cyclones, the entire drying line is self-supporting and can be placed on the ground. For the most compact layout the dryer can be placed on a small platform. The entire drying line is designed explosion tight for the unlikely event an explosion would occur.

Starch recovery dryer

Starch recovery drying facility during commissioning.
Note how compact the dryer in the yellow rectangle is.

Flash Cooler

If packaging occurs in a different area, a Flash Cooler would be beneficial as an effective, optional “add-on” cooling technology to the drying line. The Flash Cooler transports the starch while it cools it down and brings it to a higher point for gravity assisted packing.

Flash cooling is a practical and efficient way to keep starch hygienic while handling it.

 

Let us help you

The optimum recovery process depends on a several factors, such as the space available, the heat sources available, if the starch can be reused in the plant or not, etc. Ingetecsa can assist you in making the best selection of drying equipment and conduct tests in our test centre.

If you are interested how we can help you, please contact us. Our very experienced process team looks forward to discussing your questions and advise you what drying technology may suit you best.

In the interim, have a look at our brochures for more information on our technologies.

Starch recovery contact us

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