Case Study 03; A Tale Of Blood

The Client
A Modern Abattoir, United Kingdom
 
The Challenge
The animal blood that is inevitably spilled during the processing of meat in modern abattoirs is not wasted. It is collected and stored by the abattoir then supplied to processors who use it in by-products such as animal feed.  Unfortunately foam is generated at each stage, especially when the blood is pumped into road tankers for transport. This excessive foam reduces efficiency and often discolours the blood itself.
 
The Solution
Because our client, a busy modern abattoir, sells the blood to a customer that uses membrane filtration in its downstream process, we recommended Foamdoctor F2960, a food-grade antifoam specially developed for use in such applications. F2960’s ability to inhibit foaming when used at low doses made it even more suitable for the abattoir’s needs.
 
The Outcome
When a low dosage of Foamdoctor F2960 was introduced into the Abattoir’s blood recirculation system it eliminated the foam generated during collection, storage and transfer of the blood. More significantly it allowed our client to fill each delivery tanker to full capacity with just blood, instead of blood and foam. Foamdoctor F2960 has reduced our client’s transport costs and improved service to their customer.

Case Study 03, PDF

 

Case Study 02; Component Recovery

The Client
Specialist Electrical Recyclers

The Challenge
In an increasingly disposable society, many consumer electronics have a short lifespan. Most discarded electrical items are now sent to specialist recycling plants where their valuable components are removed before being disposed off. Unfortunately many components are protected by a durable insulator; silicone sealant. The difficulty of removing silicone made the recovery of many components uneconomic and the recycling industry required a simple and efficient method of stripping out silicone insulation.

The Solution
Our technicians used their expertise in silicones to develop a product that would attack silicone sealant at a molecular level, effectively dissolving it without compromising the electrical component itself. Initial trials of a liquid silicone remover were carried out and several formulations tested. Eventually a formulation was developed that successfully removed silicone insulation while leaving the electrical component undamaged.

The Outcome
PennWhite's Silstrip silicone remover is now used by electrical recyclers throughout the world to increase material and component recovery rates, maximising their profits, reducing landfill and protecting natural resources. Silstrip is not just limited to the recycling industry. Many high-tech manufacturers benefit from its ability to remove silicone while leaving delicate components unharmed. A major manufacturer of solar panels, who uses silicone sealant in its fabrication process, uses Silstrip to remove excess silicone for just this reason.

Case Study 02, PDF

Case Study 01; Beating The Cold

The Client
Barentz NV, Belguim

The Challenge
A client of our European partner Barentz was using a locally sourced antifoam for latex emulsion polymerisation. The product, based on mineral oils and fats, inevitably became solid when the thermometer dropped. Heating the oil and fat based antifoam was inpractical for operational reasons. The unreliability of the product was impacting the clients manufacturing process and PennWhite were asked to develop a food-contact antifoam that was workable and effective at cold ambient temperatures.

The Solution
We began our development process with an existing PennWhite silicone based antifoam, Foamdoctor F2025. Our cold temperature testing of F2025 highlighted potential gelling and filtration issues with some of the latex polymers used by Barentz's client. Our development team produced and tested a revised formulation called ST2920. This overcame the gelling and filtration issues but failed to provide adequate foam control with some latex lattices. Working closely with the client, we refined the formulation into a new antifoam with development number ST925R.

The Outcome
In cold temperature tests ST925R performed effectively as an antifoam and resisted gelling. When tested in all foreseeable process conditions, the product remained liquid and easy to work with. Now renamed to Foamdoctor F2925, the antifoam is used by our original client and many similar commercial operations.

Case Study 01, PDF