Abstract: Poultry carcasses are contacted with water treated with one or more specified dihalodialkylhydantoin biocides in a processing operation downstream from a scalding tank. The aqueous effluent from that downstream operation or from any location further downstream is recycled to the scalding tank. Surprisingly, the bromine residues from the dihalodialkylhydantoin biocides are much more thermally unstable than, for example, the commonly used microbiocide, sodium hypochlorite. Thus, the effluent from the scalding tank has its active bromine content significantly reduced before it is sent to a water purification facility wherein microbial action is used to reduce the BOD of the waste water before its release to the environment. Thus, injury to this desired microbial action is reduced. In addition, the recycle reduces water consumption in the overall poultry processing operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for the vertical scalding of animal carcasses on a continuously moving conveyor line and having at least one chamber, a conveyor system supported in the chamber forming a path through the chamber, and for suspending carcasses at spaced intervals along the conveyor, and continuously moving them within the chamber, a first hot water deluge located along a first portion of the conveyor, and a first supply for supplying hot water so that hot water may pour continuously downwardly alongside each side of the first portion of the conveyor, a collector beneath the first conveyor portion for collecting water, and a filter for filtering the water collected, and a pump for pumping the water back upwardly, a further hot water deluge, and collector, and filter, and pump for a further conveyor portion, so that hot water may be separately poured downwardly around the further conveyor portion, and collected therebeneath and filtered and pumped therefrom upwardly once more, and a heat source for each of the water su

Abstract: A poultry scalding tank has one wall with a lateral pocket that receives the breast of the bird suspended by the feet from a shackle conveyor running above the tank. The top of the pocket produces a force normal to the breast upon contact, which force has a downward component sufficient to overcome buoyancy forces that tend to raise portions of the bird out of the water. Air injector heads disposed below the path of the bird, and offset away from the breast side thereof, agitate the scalding water to penetrate the feathers. A more thorough and even scalding results.

Abstract: A poultry scalding tank has one wall with a lateral pocket that receives the breast of the bird suspended by the feet from a shackle conveyor running above the tank. The top of the pocket produces a force normal to the breast upon contact, which force has a downward component sufficient to overcome buoyancy forces that tend to raise portions of the bird out of the water. A more thorough and even scalding results.

Abstract: A method of heat treatment of products advanced through a chamber by circulation through the chamber of hot, humid air that is evacuated, is supplied with humidity and heat and then blown back to the chamber, includes the step of supplying heat and humidity to the air by atomization into the circulating air of excess water of a temperature higher than that intended in the chamber. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes a chamber comprising one or more subunits, through which subunit(s) the products to be thermally treated are passed, a fan which on its draught side is connected with the subunit for exhaustion of the humid air and on its delivery side with a flow passage for blowback of the humid air to the subunit, and a water atomizer for water of a higher temperature than that desired in the scalding chamber. The method provides for obtaining a stable heat treatment at varying load and actions of heat and cold.