Using targeted microdroplets for bird carcass washing could reduce water consumption levels during poultry processing, which could result in both sustainability and economic benefits.
“A lot of the time, we see contaminations and the cleaning step is at the end of the process,” said Twan Koenen, Undine process expert, Innovative Water Concepts. “But with water microdroplets, we can do the same with a lot less water.
According to a presentation Koenen gave at the 2023 Poultry Tech Summit, the decontamination approach mixes compressed air and water droplets into microdroplets that are applied to poultry carcasses at a high velocity between every step of poultry processing.
Microdroplets are just 5-25 µm, compared to the size of a regular water droplet that is 250-500 µm. When combined with compressed air, flow is increased so microdroplets can travel up to 560 mph, much faster than water alone, which can only move at 75 mph. The microscopic size of these microdroplets means that it can reach much deeper into microcavities on the bird carcass, such as skin pores or feather follicles.
Using a more efficient inside/out (IO) washer means that many processors can save money by only needing one piece of equipment to decontaminate even if the washer is used several times throughout processing, Koenen said.
“Because you clean only at the contamination, you can do it very effectively with just a little bit of water,” he added.
Call for innovations now open
The 2025 Poultry Tech Summit, scheduled for November 3-5, 2025, at the Atlanta Airport Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia, brings together inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs, poultry industry professionals and established technology providers to discuss challenges and solutions for all aspects of the poultry supply chain. The event focuses on the transition of innovative technologies from researchers and entrepreneurs into commercial applications for the benefit of the poultry industry.
The call for innovations for this event is now open, with a deadline of April 10. Submit your ideas now at www.poultrytechsummit.com.
Attend the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit
The Poultry Tech Summit will return as an in-person event on November 3-5, 2025, at the Atlanta Airport Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia. The Poultry Tech Summit brings together inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs, poultry industry professionals and established technology providers to discuss challenges and solutions for all aspects of the poultry supply chain. The event focuses on the transition of innovative technologies from researchers and entrepreneurs into commercial applications for the benefit of the poultry industry.
NEW in 2025, Poultry Tech Summit will be held in collaboration with the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs (US-RSPE) annual meeting held November 5-6, 2025.
The Call for Innovations is NOW OPEN. Submit here: www.poultrytechsummit.com.
Registration for the 2025 Poultry Tech Summit opens in June. For more information, go to www.poultrytechsummit.com.
