Experimental study on using commercial membranes for treatment of wastewater generated by collagen production

Collagen production is generating wastewater with high organic loading. This type of wastewater is still containing valuable compounds that can be reused in other applications. In order to investigate the possibility to recover and reuse these compounds the membrane based processes were investigated. Four types of commercial available membranes were characterised and then used to recover the proteins. The results proved that membrane based processes represent a viable alternative to treatment of wastewater generated by collagen production facilities when recovery of valuable compounds is envisaged. It has to be stressed that on the other hand only membrane processes do not assure too reach the quality norms imposed by the legislation for treated wastewater discharge into sewerage systems or natural receivers. Therefore, when proteins recovery and reuse is wanted, the membrane processes represent only the first step of wastewater treatment and should be followed by biological processes in order to obtain the organic loading quality indicators required for wastewater treatment plants discharges.