Poultry processing water recovery and re-use process

Abstract

The inventions of the present disclosure are directed to processes designed to recover water used in certain aspects of the processing of poultry, treat the recovered water to remove solids, fats, oils and greases, animal proteins and pathogenic organisms and to reuse the treated water for poultry processing operations. The processes described herein reduce bacteria and microorganisms associated with the poultry and reuse water. The present disclosure can be employed with an approach that includes unexpected positive results of reacting ozone and chlorine with water being treated for reuse to generate hypochlorous acid and/or other effective biocides. Ozone reacts with fats, oils, and greases, dissolved in the reuse water, to produce specific surface-active agents and surfactants which reduce the surface tension of the water which it is dissolved. The combination of these surface-active agents and surfactants and the biocides cause an extraordinary release and destruction of bacteria from the poultry carcass as well as the reuse water.

1 . A method for recycling water used in the processing of poultry comprising the steps of: 
 recovering a portion of water used in poultry processing;    treating said recovered water said step of treating including reacting ozone with said recovered water to produce surfactants; and    reusing said treated water in at least one other step of poultry processing.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of recovering water is from at least one step in said poultry processing selected from the group consisting of wash steps, non-final rinse steps, water sprays, flumes and final rinse step.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of treating water to produce surfactants reduces the surface tension of said recovered water.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of treating includes removal of at least one contaminant selected from the group consisting of solid matter, floatable fats, oils, grease, lipids, blood proteins, carbohydrates, suspended and dissolved organic materials, animal parts and debris.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said treated water has a turbidity of less than or equal to 5 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU).  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of recovering water includes passing said water through a recovery sump comprising a basin having a first compartment for receiving said recovered water and barrier in said basin forming a second compartment, said first compartment having an apparatus for skimming solids from the surface of said recovered water leaving skimmed water which flows into said second compartment, and wherein said second compartment allows said skimmed water to exit said basin for further processing.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said recovery sump further comprises a means for screening said recovered water prior to said recovered water being received by said first compartment.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said basin further comprises at least one drain outlet.  
     
     
         9 . (canceled)  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of treating further comprises the steps of: 
 filtering said recovered water to remove non-dissolved components; and    disinfecting said filtered water.    
     
     
         11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . The method of processing poultry according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of reusing said treated water includes introduction of said treated water into pores and membranes of poultry.  
     
     
         13 . A method for recycling water used in the processing of poultry comprising the steps of: 
 recovering a portion of water used in poultry processing;    treating said recovered water said step of treating including introducing ozone and chlorine into said recovered water; and    reusing said treated water in at least one other step of poultry processing.    
     
     
         14 . The method of processing poultry according to  claim 13 , wherein said step of treating includes generating hypochlorous acid via said reaction of said ozone and said chlorine.  
     
     
         15 .- 17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said step of recovering water includes passing said water through a recovery sump comprising a basin having a first compartment for receiving said recovered water and barrier in said basin forming a second compartment, said first compartment having a means for skimming solids from the surface of said recovered water leaving skimmed water which flows into said second compartment, and wherein said second compartment allows said skimmed water to exit said basin for further processing.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said recovery sump further comprises means for screening said recovered water whereby the skimmed solids may be continuously removed from said recovered water.  
     
     
         20 . A method of processing poultry comprising the steps of: 
 recovering water used in at least one processing step associated with processing poultry;    treating said recovered water said step of treating including introducing ozone and chlorine into said recovered water, reacting ozone with said recovered water to produce surfactants said step of treating further including reacting said ozone with said chlorine to generate a biocide; and    reintroducing said treated water into at least one processing step whereby said and said introduction reduces the level of microorganisms within said poultry.    
     
     
         21 . A method for recycling water used in the processing of poultry comprising the steps of: 
 recovering a portion of water used in poultry processing, said recovered water containing animal fats;    treating said recovered water, said step of treating further including introducing ozone into said recovered water, wherein said introduction of said ozone produces a surfactant; and    reusing said treated water in at least one other step of poultry processing.    
     
     
         22 . (canceled)