Saving Energy Just Got A Little Sweeter

Located in Keokuk on the Iowa/Illinois border, the heart of corn production country, Roquette America is a leading producer of starch products, syrups, and polyols (sugar alcohols) who previously utilized coarse bubble aerators powered by large blowers and several surface mixers to aerate and mix their primary and secondary oxidation tanks.

However, this standard industry practice meant constant cleaning and replacing of diffuser membranes. Since Roquette operates 24/7, seven days per week, the process could not be suspended in order to drain the tanks. This resulted in the substantial outlay of having to hire divers to enter the tanks to carry out maintenance.

Searching for new technology to reduce maintenance time and costs associated with his aeration tanks, Rob Decker, Senior Project Coordinator at Roquette called in Landia, who created a design for the installation of nine AirJets and one mixer per tank. Landia manufactured and delivered all 20 units in less than eight weeks, enabling construction to flow smoothly.

Landia is the only AirJet manufacturer that utilizes heavy-duty chopper pumps as the standard of design for their self-aspirating AirJets. The result is a completely clog-free operation and a homogenous mixture for higher air-to-water transfer.

The reduction in energy and maintenance costs has been of great benefit to Roquette America, who produce some 700 by-products made from maize, wheat, potatoes, peas, and other agricultural commodities. The company's products are used in a wide variety of applications, including animal feeds, chemical products, and food ingredients. As part of its business, Roquette America also makes items for use by industrial products makers and pharmaceutical companies.