Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1974

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Civil Engineering

Abstract

The rapid increase in raw potato production has been accompanied by an even greater increase in the amount of processed potatoes. In 1946, only 4.6 percent of the annual potato production was processed into specialty items. By 1960, 32 percent of the total potato crop was being processed. Predictions for 1970 were that more than 50 percent of the raw potatoes would be processed into potato food products. Approximately 36 percent of the potatoes processed in 1964 consisted of frozen potato products. Predictions by DuPont indicate that by 1976, over 3926 million pounds of frozen potato products will be produced. This would represent an increase of 170 percent over the 1966 production of 1460 million pounds. According to the Department of Interior, frozen and dehydrated potato production will increase by 250 percent from 1965 to 1985. From the sources cited above, it is apparent that the potato industry has undergone a major change during the past 25 years. To increase product acceptance, many new industrial processes have been developed. A considerable amount of wastes has been generated from many of these new processes. For example, only 30 to 45 pounds of frozen French fries are obtained from 100 pounds of raw potatoes. As a result, 55 to 70 pounds of solid waste are generated per 100 pounds of raw potatoes processed in addition to several wastewater streams associated with the various steps of production. State and Federal laws require that the disposal of these wastes be accomplished without harming the natural environment. Various methods of treating these potato processing wastes have been utilized during the past 25 years. One of these methods has been anaerobic-aerated lagoon systems However, very limited data is available regarding the effectiveness of anaerobic-aerated lagoons in treating potato wastes. Midwest Foods Corporation, Clark, South Dakota, utilizes such a system to treat the wastewater generated from the production of frozen French fries. A previous study of this system by Hagin in 1971 and 1972 yielded very little information regarding the adequacy of the treatment system because the treatment units were overloaded organically. The 1973-74 waste discharge permit issued by the South Dakota Board of Environmental Protection required Midwest Foods Corporation to monitor its waste discharges and loadings to the various treatment units. The objectives of this investigation of the anaerobic-aerated lagoon treatment system employed by Midwest Foods Corporation were to determine the following: 1. the condition of the treatment units prior to the 1973-74 processing season, 2. the quantity and quality of the raw wastes entering the treatment system in terms of the amount of potatoes processed, 3. the removal efficiencies obtained by the treatment units during the 1973-74 campaign , and 4. the overall suitability of the anaerobic lagoon-aerated lagoon-stabilization pond system for treating wastewater from Midwest Food's frozen French fry processing plant.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Midwest Foods Corporation (Clark, S.D.)

Potatoes -- South Dakota

Sewage lagoons -- South Dakota

Sewage disposal plants -- South Dakota

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

101

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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