Water is a fundamental component in liquor bottling. The bottle washing/rinsing process and the dilution process are the two steps for water consumption. The wastewater from the bottle washing process is often let out into the drain. Similarly, the wastewater from the Reverse Osmosis and demineralization processes is drained.
1. Glass Bottle Rinsing
Glass bottles are recycled for liquor bottling. The recycled glass bottles are washed thoroughly before filling. The washing step is critical to ensure contamination-free bottles and is vital for maintaining product quality and safety. The water used for rinsing must meet high purity standards to remove any impurities affecting the alcohol’s flavour or safety.
(consists of broken glass, packing filaments, and mud)
Salient Benefits: –
- No extra manpower is required. Completely automated system.
- Sustainable operation. No chemicals are used.
- 25 to 30% reduction in fresh water consumption.
- The Water Recovery System capital expenditure payback period is less than one year.
2. Dilution (Proofing)
Post-distillation, spirits are often diluted with water to achieve the desired alcohol content, a process known as proofing. The quality of water used in this stage is critical as it directly influences the spirit’s clarity, taste, and overall quality. Impurities in the water can introduce off-flavours and compromise the integrity of the final product. Majorly demineralized water is used in this process.
Sustainable Practices in Liquor Bottling
To enhance sustainability and reduce water consumption, many distilleries/bottling units are implementing measures such as:
- Water Recycling Systems: Implementing closed-loop systems to recycle water, particularly in the bottle washing process and recycling of Reverse Osmosis reject water.
- Rain Water Harvesting when available: The rain water from the rooftop is collected in a sump and the same is used for bottle washing and as a feed to the Reverse Osmosis process before the Demineralization.
Dr. Udayan Shrouti
+91 942 280 1901
udayan@libra-agencies.com
