
Water reuse in the distillation process of essential oils in Trakia Land Distillery
4 June, 2050

Waste water source
The distillation process of the rose blossoms produces liquid wastewater and solid waste.
The wastewater originates from the following process streams:
- of rose blossom (rose marble). The expected amount of this flow is 3 m3/h.
- cleaning water of equipment and premises. The water is discharged to the mixer tank via the buildings sewer. The expected volume of this flow is 1,5 m3/h.
- waste water from the boiler (used to extract the oils). The water is relatively clean but has a high temperature. The expected amount of this flow is 1,6 m3/ h.
Distribution System
The treated wastewater is collected in a tank. For a 90-day irrigation season, 360 m3 of reclaimed water is used for irrigation of ornamental shrubs and grasses in the property where the facilities of the distillation and extraction plant and the treatment plant are located. The total irrigation area of the grass and shrubs is 0.1 ha. The rest of the water is transported to a reservoir via a centrifugal pump and a pipeline of about 415 meters. The water is used to irrigate plantations of essential oil plants. Irrigation of herbaceous essential oil plants is done by sprinklers before and after each mowing. The reuse of the water reduces the use of groundwater. In total 12,600 m³ of reclaimed water is used to irrigate the fields.
Farming system
The farm cultivates essential oil crops such as roses, herbaceous oil plants that are irrigated with reclaimed water during the rose picking campaign. Some of the treated water is used for irrigation of ornamental shrubs and lawns.
Waste water treatment description
Nutrient removal : none
Pesticide removal : none
Disinfection : none
Suspended solids removal : A separator removes the large amounts of oil and suspended solids from the wastewater. It is followed by a coagulation process, separating the insoluble matter. The quality of wastewater, after purification from the treatment plant meets the quality requirements for irrigation water of agricultural crops according to Bulgarian legislation.
Other :
Capacity
The total projected maximum wastewater flow is 6,1 m3/h.
Extent of the agricultural beneficiaries
In total 8.5 ha of land is irrigated using reclaimed water.