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J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. December, 2007

Vol. 11(4) 5 - 9

A Study on Industrial Waste Effluents and Their Management at Selected Food and
Beverage Industries of Bangladesh
1

*ALAM, A S M M; 2HOSSAIN, K M; 2HOSSAIN, B; 1AHMED, A*; 1HOQUE, M J

*1 Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Khulna University-9208, Bangladesh.
2
Globe Biscuit and Dairy Milk Ltd., Maizdicourt, Noakhali, Bangladesh
ABSTRACT: Various types of waste effluents produced by two industries were studied to verify their environmental
effects and to prepare a suggestion for management of those wastes. Two types of wastes were considered- wastewater
and solid wastes. Analysis on three samples of wastewater was performed to determine the physical, chemical, organic
and biological pollution. The pH values were 6.58, 6.75 & 6.64; amount of TDS were 235, 241 & 270 ppm; total
hardness were 126, 123 & 144 ppm; calcium hardness were 105, 99 & 122 ppm, all the values of P-alkalinity were zero
and values of M-alkalinity were 40, 40 & 45 mg/l. Iron concentrations were 0.21, 0.18 & 0.19 mg/l. Their Cl2 test
proved absence of Cl2 Molecule. Only one sample was analyzed for bacterial viable count (44x105 cfu/ml), fungal test
(fungi were absent), DO (6.8 mg/l), BOD (156 mg/1) and COD (267 mg/1). Results suggested that iron concentrations,
pH values, TDS and DO were within the standard range. Level of total hardness, alkalinity, BOD, COD and total
bacterial count exceeded level of standards. Their effects were evaluated from secondary data sources. Solid waste
quality and the current onsite waste management facilities were studied through questionnaire survey and direct
observations. Most of the cases, current waste management systems were old fashioned and indigenous. After studying
literature on waste management procedures, a waste management plan for these industries has been prepared. Study
results show that, these selected industries do produce few waste linked problems which can be minimized following
some strict management measures. @JASEM

Although the food and beverage industries are not as

polluting as some other sectors like metal or leather
industries, they have been responsible for air, water
and soil pollution by emitting dust and unpleasant
odor in the air, discharging liquid effluent with high
organic content and generating large quantities of
sludge and solid waste (European Commission,
1997). According to environmental report of
Coca-Cola Company, 2004 (www2.coca-cola.com,
2006), they do produce 1.72 liters of waste water and
11.67 grams solid wastes per 1 liter of drink
production. Some potato starch processing
companies produce 100,000 to 250,000 m3 of
starch-containing sludge annually. In the vegetable
processing and preservation sector, up to one-third of
the total quantity of raw materials may be rejected
(UNEP, 1995).
Wastewater is the primary area of concern at the food
and beverage industry. With the exception of some
toxic
cleaning
products,
wastewater
from
food-processing facilities is organic and can be
treated by conventional biological technologies
(Tchobanoglous, 1991). Primary issues associated
with food and beverage industrial wastewater are
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD); chemical
oxygen demand (COD); total suspended solids
(TSS); excessive nutrient loading viz. nitrogen and
phosphorus compounds; pH of the water; total
alkalinity and pathogenic organisms. Solid wastes
from the food and beverage industries include both
organic and packaging waste. Organic wastes from
raw materials such as food grain, flavoring and
coloring agents result out from processing
operations. Inorganic waste typically includes
excessive packaging items like plastic, glass, and
metal (Katzel, 1994).

* Corresponding author: Alam, A S M M

If the effluents from the food and beverage industry

are contaminated with toxic metals, these can affect
adversely on human health as either acute or chronic
diseases. Livestock and agricultural production
around the industry and its disposal site can also be
hampered. Many industrial organic substances found
in water can cause death or reproductive failure in
fish, shellfish and wildlife. In addition, they can
accumulate in animal and fish tissue, be absorbed in
sediments, or find their way into drinking water
supplies, posing long-term health risks to human. The
presence of coliform bacteria indicates that there is a
high probability of other pathogenic organisms
present. When water is contaminated with a surface
drainage, non-coliform bacteria may also be present
in large numbers. The avoidance of waste formation
and pollution is always a key task. But on the other
hand, waste prevention, recycling, minimization &
valorization; and the use of energy efficient process
technologies are more and more desirable options in
waste management.
The present study was designed to evaluate various
quantitative and qualitative data associated with
industrial waste effluents with the following
objectives: (i) Identification of various types of
wastage being produced by the Globe Biscuit and
Dairy Milk Ltd. (GBDML) & Globe Soft Drinks Ltd.
(GSDL), Noakhali, Bangladesh and to study their
effects on the surrounding environment and (ii) to
prepare a suggestive planning for remedial measures
through management practices.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Physical, chemical, organic and biological
parameters were analyzed to evaluate wastewater
pollution. But for some limitations, only some
qualitative data were considered for solid waste. For

A Study on Industrial Waste Effluents

quantitative analysis of wastewater, pH, TDS, total

hardness, calcium hardness, alkalinity, iron test, Cl2
test, bacterial viable count, fungal test, DO, BOD5
and COD tests were considered. Some of the
qualitative data associated with wastewater and solid
wastes were studied through direct observational
method, and through both structured and
unstructured questionnaires. The current conditions
of various treatment and management procedures
followed by GSDL & GBDML for the waste
materials produced by them were also studied
through direct observational methods and structured
questionnaire. Considering the parameters of wastes,
current situation of waste management followed by
these two industries and modem management and
treatment procedures available at present, a waste
management plan was prepared.
Water sampling for analysis: Three samples were
collected at three different times and from three
different points of the drainage system of the GSDL
& GBDML and were labeled as Sample-1, Sample-2
and Sample-3. Amount of each of the samples was 2
liters. For collection, bottles were cleaned with tap
water, rinsed under the drain water, uncapped and
water was collected from beneath the surface. Air
bubbles were removed and the bottles were capped
immediately (Besselievre and Schwartz, 1976). Each
of the sample bottles was labeled with the necessary
information.
Color, odors & pH: Taking wastewater sample in a
clean glass test tube, the color was evaluated
visually. The odors of all three wastewater samples
were smelled at 280 C and noted. pH was measured
electrometrically using pH meter no. I-1000. It was
used by removing the protective cap from the tip of
probe; probe was washed with the sample water first
and stirred into sample beaker until the result was
displayed.
Total Dissolved Solid (TDS): Amount of TDS was
measured by using TDS meter no. I-1100. Taking a
requisite amount of sample wastewater in a beaker,
probe of the TDS meter was immersed, making sure
that the sensor was fully covered until the reading
was stabilized (Gilbert et al., 1992).
Alkalinity: Phenolphthalein indicator was added into
100 ml of sample water and the color was turned into
light pink. Then it was titrated with 0.02 N H2SO4.
P-alkalinity was calculated from the amount of the
H2SO4 required for titration. Two to three drops of
methyl orange indicator was added into 100 ml of
sample water and the color was turned into light
yellow. Then it was titrated with 0.02 N H2SO4.

* Corresponding Author: Alam, A S M M

M-alkalinity was calculated from the amount of the

H2SO4 required for titration.
Hardness: Total hardness was determined through
adding 4 drops of buffer solution (NH3 + NH4Cl) and
0.1 gm of erichrome black T-indicator into 50 ml of
water sample and finally titrated with standard 0.02N
EDTA solution until the red color of the solution
turned to Prussian blue. Total hardness was
calculated from the equation: Total hardness =
(burette reading x 1000) (sample taken in ml).
Calcium hardness was determined through adding
1ml of 1N NaOH solution and 0.1 mg of murexide Pindicator into 50 ml of water sample and finally
titrated with standard 0.02N EDTA solution until the
red color of the solution turned to purple. Calcium
hardness was calculated from the equation: Calcium
hardness = (burette reading x 1000) (sample taken
in ml). Magnesium hardness was calculated from the
difference between total hardness and calcium
hardness.
Iron: The amount of iron was determined through
adding 5 ml of hydrochloric acid, few drops of
potassium permanganate (0.2N) solution and 5 ml of
2% potassium thiocyanate solution into 100 ml of
water sample. The brown color formed was then
compared with standard iron stock solution.
Chlorine: One ml of sample waste water was taken in
a 10 ml test tube and ortho-tolidine indicator was
added in it. Presence or absence of chlorine was
determined by the formation of yellow color.
Dissolved oxygen: Two ml of manganous sulphate
and 2 ml of alkaline azide solutions were pipetted
separately into the waste water sample collected in a
BOD glass bottle and it was stoppered. Brown
precipitate was developed and 2 ml of conc. H2SO4
was added in the bottle to dissolve the brown
precipitate. Ten ml of the waste water sample was
poured in a flask and was titrated against 0.025N
sodium thiosulphate solution in a burette until pale
straw color was developed. Two ml of starch solution
was added to the flask and the color of the content
was changed from pale to blue. This was again
titrated against sodium thiosulphate solution until the
blue color was disappeared. The volume of sodium
thiosulphate solution used in titration was noted
(Laboratory manual, Department of Applied
Microbiology, Madras University, India, 2004).
Biochemical Oxygen Demand: The sample was filled
in six BOD bottles. One ml of allyl thiourea was
added to each bottle. The amount of the dissolved
oxygen in 3 of the 6 BOD bottles were determined by

A Study on Industrial Waste Effluents

titration method as described earlier and the mean of

the 3 readings was noted as D1. The other three
bottles were incubated in an incubator in complete
darkness at 200 C for 5 days. Dissolved oxygen
readings in incubated samples were estimated by
titration and the mean reading was taken as D2
(www.ciese.org, 2006). The BOD of the wastewater
was determined by using formula: BOD (mg/1) =
(D1- D2)/(Amount of the sample taken/capacity of the
BOD bottles) (Laboratory manual, Department of
Applied Microbiology, Madras University, India,
2004).
Chemical Oxygen Demand: Chemical oxygen
demand (COD) is used as a measure of oxygen
requirement of a sample that is susceptible to
oxidation by strong chemical oxidant. The
Dichromate Reflux Technique Standard Method was
followed for measuring the amount of COD
(www.oasisenviro.co.uk, 2006).
Biological pollution: Master dilution was prepared
by mixing 90 ml of distilled water and 10 ml of
wastewater in a sterile conical flask. Then 10-2, 10-3,
l0-4, 10-5 and 10-6 times serial dilution were prepared
from the master dilution by adding sterile distilled
water. One ml of water from 10-4 and 10-5 times
diluted solution were taken in six (each in three)
sterile Petri plates by sterile pipette. Nutrient agar
(NA) media, McConkey's media and SDA media was
poured into the Petri plates (each into both 10-4 and
10-5 times diluted solution). After appropriate
incubation period the plates were observed for the
appearance of colonies and the numbers of colonies
were counted by an electronic colony counter
(Laboratory manual, Department of Applied
Microbiology, Madras University, India, 2004).
Some of the qualitative data associated with
wastewater, solid wastes and atmospheric emissions
were studied through direct observational method,
and through both structured and unstructured
questionnaires. The current conditions of various
treatment and management procedures followed by
GBDML and GSDL for the waste materials produced
by them were also studied through direct

observational methods and structured questionnaire.

Considering the parameters of wastes, current
situation of waste management followed by these two
industries and modem management and treatment
procedures available at present, a waste management
plan was prepared.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results obtained from the experimental analysis
of the wastewater samples have been tabulated in the
Table 1.
According to Science Junction (www.ncsu.edu,
2006), the optimal range of water pH for most of the
aquatic species is from 6.5 to 8.5. pH values of the
sample wastewater (Table 1) from GSDL & GBDML
were within the optimal range but were marginal to
lower limit. Therefore, prior to discharge, the
wastewater should be taken under proper observation
and if its pH lowers down below the lower limit,
necessary treatment is needed. All of the TDS values
(Table 1) were within the desirable range (below 500
ppm) as standardized by World Health Organization
(WHO).
It was found that total hardness of all of the three
samples (Table 1) were within the maximum
permissible limit (500 ppm) but were higher then
highest desirable limit for discharge (100 ppm)
according to WHO standard. These high levels of
hardness can cause some problems if the wastewater
is to be reused and before reusing this wastewater,
treatment for elimination of the hardness is essential.
As the P-values were zero, there were no normal
hydroxide or carbonate and all the alkalinity was
bicarbonate. A range of 80-120 ppm is considered
optimum
for
alkalinity
of
the
water
(www.askalanaquestion.corn, 2006). Therefore, it
was found that the amount of M-alkalinity (Table 1)
was running below the lower limit of optimum range.
That might allow for rapid pH fluctuations, makes
pH control more difficult and might contribute to
corrosion.

Table 1. The physical, chemical, organic and biological analysis of wastewater sample

* Corresponding Author: Alam, A S M M

A Study on Industrial Waste Effluents

Name of the parameters examined

Color
Odor
pH value
Total dissolved solids (ppm)
Total hardness (ppm)
Calcium hardness (ppm)
Magnesium hardness (ppm)
M-alkalinity (mg/l)
P-alkalinity (mg/l)
Chlorine (Cl2) test
Concentration of iron (mg/l)
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/1)
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (mg/1)
Chemical Oxygen Demand (mg/1)
Total bacterial count on NA media (cfu/ml)
Bacterial count on McConkey's agar media
Determination of fungal growth (SDA
media)

Sample-1
Light yellowish
Light pungent
6.58
235
126
105
21
40
nil
C12 absent
0.21
6.8
156
267
44x105
No growth
No growth

As wastewater effluent is treated with bleaching

powder [Ca(OCl)Cl] in these sites, C12 was expected
in the result bur was not found. It indicated poor
monitoring and treatment system of wastewater. The
maximum acceptable concentration of iron in water
for discharging as waste is 1.0 mg/l
(www.nea.gov.sg, 2006). Therefore, it was found
that wastewater from beverage industries is not a
significant source of iron that may defile
environment.
According to website www.ciese.org (2006), DO
concentration within 5-8 mg/l is fair for aquatic
environment. Therefore, dissolved oxygen measured
for sample-1 (Table 1) indicated that a fair
concentration of oxygen was dissolved in the water at
the moment of discharging it to the water body.
The BOD of the sample-1 (Table 1) was an indicator
of very poor quality of water which contained
organic waste. But this amount was not so high
compared with the wastewater effluents of some
other manufacturing industries such as 240 mg/l at a
typical tomato possessing industry and 260 mg/l
from the main sewer of a soap and detergent
producing industry (Eckenfelder, 1989) or 2000 mg/l
as measured from the wastewater of a mozzarella
cheese manufacturing industry and a processed meats
manufacturer (Griego et al., 2003). According to
literature on website en.wikipedia.org (2006),
efficiently treated sewage treated would have a BOD
value of about 20 mg/l.
According to environmental pollution control act
(chapter 94A, section 77-1) on website
www.nea.gov.sg (2006), COD of any trade effluent
to be discharged on watercourse will not greater than
100 mg/l. Therefore, the COD reading of Sample-1

* Corresponding Author: Alam, A S M M

Sample-2
Light yellowish
Light pungent
6.75
241
123
99
24
40
nil
C12 absent
0.18
-

Sample-3
More yellowish
Light pungent
6.64
270
144
122
22
45
Nil
C12 absent
0.19
-

(Table 1) indicated that before discharging the

wastewater an effective treatment was required.
On nutrient agar (NA) media, the average count of
bacteria (Table 1) indicated that the water was highly
polluted by microbes. The result did not mean all of
them were pathogenic. Some bacteria present
naturally on the environment. No bacterial growth
was found on McConkeys agar media after 36 hours
of inoculation. No fungal growth was observed on
SDA media in any of the two dilutions (10-4 and 10-5)
after 48 hours of inoculation. Therefore, the result
showed that the wastewater was not polluted with
fungi.
As found from questionnaire and direct observational
survey, wastewater is the main concern regarding
waste production at GSDL. Approximately 3 liters
wastewater is generated for producing one liter of
beverage product. Water is used in this plant as a
product ingredient, as well as in operations for
processes such as purification, washing and rinsing
of packaging, cleaning of product mixing tanks and
piping, steam production and cooling. Wastewater is
also produced by GBDML from washing, cleaning
and other manufacturing processes. Both of the
industries produce varieties of solid wastes. These
include ingredient containers, damaged product
containers, shrink or stretch film that holds palletized
products together, biosolids from wastewater
drainage system damaged packaging materials,
materials from ingredients and damage products.
Procedures have not been developed yet regarding
monitoring and measurement of the wastewater
pollutant and quality. Wastewater from both of the
two industries is treated with bleaching powder and
is discharged into neighboring low land. Combustible
solid waste portions are separated and are burnt into
ash at the burning site aside the industries. After

A Study on Industrial Waste Effluents

completion of burning, ashes are disposed and buried

at neighboring land fill. Responsibilities have not
been allocated yet on specialists for coordinating
environmental management or waste management at
these two sites. Wastewater is not treated here for
making it fit for reusing. Any type of solid wastes is
not being recycled. It was noted that, there was no
any past record of accident during waste handling,
storage, treatment or disposal from the time of their
establishment till today.

REFFRENCES

In the business with food and beverage industries, a

genuine attention should be given on environmental
challenges regarding to waste effluents, they do
produce. Procedures should be developed regarding
monitoring and measurement of the wastewater
pollutant and quality on a regular basis. The current
poor onsite wastewater treatment procedure should
be replaced with modern procedures as proposed in
this research paper. This statement is also applicable
for solid wastes. As water is the main ingredient of
the beverage industry, recycling and reuse of the
water should be brought into concern regarding
sustainable use of it. Recycled water can be used for
cleaning, cooling and many other purposes.
Environmental impact of packaging materials, which
contribute to solid waste, should be reduced through
innovative design, resource efficiency and giving
emphasis on recycling and reuse. Responsibilities
should be allocated on specialists for coordinating
environmental management or waste management at
these two sites. Waste reduction and handling
training should be given to all associated employees.
Training should be repeated on a regular basis and
should teach waste awareness, the impact of various
wastes on the solid waste and wastewater stream.

Gilbert, T W; Behymer, T D; Castaneda, H B (1982).

Determination of dissolved oxygen in natural
and wastewater, American Laboratory, pp.
119-134.

During conducting this research, company's secrecy

policy and limitation of time created some obstacles.
Only survey and secondary data were considered for
studying solid wastes due to lack of proper laboratory
facilities for testing parameters. Only two selected
food and beverage industries were studied in this
research work. Therefore, it is needed to study many
more such industries in Bangladesh and to develop
an integrated waste management procedure after
determining the wastes they do produce.
Acknowledgments: The whole research work was
assisted by Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh and
Globe Pharma Group of Co. Ltd., Bangladesh.
Therefore, the authors are grateful to the authorities
of these two institute/organization.

* Corresponding Author: Alam, A S M M

Bessliever, E B; Schwartz, M (1976). The treatment

of industrial wastes, McGraw Hill Kogakusha
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Griego, J R; Del-valle, F R; Clason, D (2003).

Industrial wastewater treatment case studies of
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