Beer recovery - its justification.

Hoggan, J., Ricketts, R.N. and Spillane, M.H.

Abstract
Considerable financial advantages are gained if beer losses are reduced provided that the quality of recovered beer falls within the limits set for mainstream beer. This has been achieved at Trumans by installing large vertical storage vessels, OMD filters, automatic routing computer control and associated engineering modifications to the existing system. The manpower level was reduced from 56 to 22. OMD filters are horizontal tank pressure filters fitted with vertical filter elements, their operation is described in detail. Tank bottoms are transferred to the OMD's feedstock tank and filter aid (kieselguhr) added at the rate of 0.4 lb/1% solids per barrel before filtering. Beer recovered at this point has a pH approaching 5.0 and its flavour is unacceptable (bitter and astringent). Haze is satisfactory but unacceptable on blending. The quality is improved to an acceptable level by adjusting the pH to 4.4 with orthophosphoric acid (MAFF approved). After pasteurisation recovered beer can be blended with mainstream beer. The savings in beer loss, effluent costs and manning levels are worth about U.S. $1.5 m/annum.
Keywords: beer costs effluent filter aid filtration horizon pressure leaf filter loss recovery