Südzucker AG, Zeitz, Saxony-Anhalt - Germany

Südzucker AG is Germany's largest producer of sugar and sugar surrogates and leader of the European sugar market with 17,500 employees at 47 sugar production sites in Europe.

CropEnergies AG, a division of Südzucker AG, is producing Bioethanol for the energy sector at three (3) production sites in Europe, one of them is located in Zeitz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Production started in 2005 with the aim to produce Bioethanol to be used as a fuel additive, and protein-rich animal feedstuff from wheat. In 2006, the plant was the largest bioethanol production plant in Europe, with a production capacity of 260,000 m³ biofuel per year.

Following the extension of the bio-ethanol production plant, the initial wastewater plant was far too small, so they needed an extension of the anaerobic part urgently for further organic pollutant (COD) removal.

In 2006, Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies provided a complete turnkey anaerobic pre-treatment plant as an extension of the existing aerobic plant (MBBR + activated sludge) plant in five (5) months, including:

• Mixing tank, 5,000 m³.
• Two anaerobic Biobed™ reactors, each 850m³, which remove more than 90% of organic pollutants.
• Building facility with dosing station, aerobic sludge dewatering by centrifuge, pumping stations

The designed anaerobic plant now provides sufficient capability for the production extension. The organic pollutants are removed, and the cleansed residues are used for the production of energy-rich biogas. The plant final effluent is discharged to river.