Abstract: A method of treating dairy wastewater includes receiving a dairy wastewater stream at a first pH from a dairy processing facility at an equalization tank, receiving the dairy wastewater stream from the equalization tank at a pump, and, based on at least one of the first pH or a second pH of the dairy wastewater stream upon exiting the equalization tank, receiving an acid to the dairy wastewater stream prior to the pump. A pump outlet stream includes a mixture of the dairy wastewater stream and the acid at a third pH that is lower than the first pH. The method also includes receiving the pump outlet stream at a pipe reactor in fluidic communication with the pump, then receiving the pipe reactor outlet stream at a dissolved air flotation (DAF) unit, and then outputting a liquid stream at a final pH from the DAF unit.

Abstract: Systems for treating dairy wastewater. The systems typically include an equalization tank configured to receive a dairy wastewater stream; a flash pump in fluidic communication with the equalization tank to receive the dairy wastewater stream, wherein the dairy wastewater stream includes dairy wastewater and an acid; and a pipe reactor in fluidic communication with the flash pump and configured to receive the pump outlet stream. The pipe reactor is fluidically coupled to a cationic coagulant feed stream conduit to receive a cationic coagulant feed stream and fluidically coupled to a flocculation feed stream conduit to receive the flocculation feed stream. The system also includes a dissolved air flotation unit configured to produce a liquid stream by separating coagulated and/or flocculated materials from a pipe reactor outlet stream.