What is Membrane Separation?
A membrane separates two phases by acting as a selective barrier. In general, it's a semi-permeable polymer membrane that uses the pressure difference effect to selectively separate the feed. It differs from traditional filters in that molecules inside the membrane may be separated. This is a physical process that does not need phase shift or the addition of chemicals.
Membrane Classification
1: Membranes are classified as solid membranes or liquid membranes based on the substance they are made of.
2: Membranes are categorized into natural and synthetic membranes based on their material sources; synthetic membranes are further separated into inorganic and organic membranes.
3: Membranes are classified as porous membranes or dense membranes based on their structure.
4: Membranes are classified into four types based on the form of the solid membrane: flat membrane, spiral membrane, tubular membrane, and hollow fiber membrane.
5: Membranes are classified as microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO) based on pore size and function.
System process principles in general
For fruit juice clarification, our system uses modern membrane separation technology with an ultrafiltration membrane or RO membrane as its basic component. The membrane acts as a selective barrier between the two phases, allowing the feed to be separated selectively using the pressure difference effect.
Ultrafiltration (UF) may capture soluble big macromolecular organic compounds (such as proteins, polymer materials, oils, polysaccharides, and other macromolecular organic substances) as well as colloidal particles. Other micro molecular compounds that can flow through the membrane include soluble salts, monosaccharide’s, oligosaccharides, sugar, and organic acids.
When clarifying concentrated fruit juice, it is necessary to remove not only the visible suspended particles in the juice, but also the protein, starch, dextrin, and tannin molecules that create turbidity and secondary precipitation during the storage term of the fruit juice product.
Protein, starch, dextrin, and tannin molecules are caught during fruit juice ultrafiltration clarification, while other components pass through the membrane and flow into the clear juice.
Ultrafiltration, as a novel separation process, offers a high degree of clarity, good fruit juice quality, VC retention, soluble protein and pectin interception, low browning, and other benefits.
Ultrafiltration Technology's main function
The fruit juice contains macromolecules such as glue, carbohydrate, protein, and tannin, among others. Molecules clash due to thermal motion, accumulating through covalent bonds and electrostatic interactions to generate turbidity, which then aggregate to form precipitates.
Turbidity induced by microbial action and turbidity caused by non-microbial action are the two primary forms of turbidity’s generated by non-microbial processes include turbidity caused by ageing soluble starch and dextrin, protein-tannin complexes, tannins (or polyphenol) polymerization, and plant gelatine. The answer to the secondary turbidity problem is to utilize filtration and clarity to eliminate the macromolecules that might induce secondary turbidity and precipitation.
The filtering and clarity procedure is mostly used to solve the secondary turbidity and precipitation problem in concentrated juice manufacturing.
Ultrafiltration Technology is the Main Clarification Method in Fruit and Vegetable Juice Production
Membrane separation technology has been a rapidly emerging chemical separation unit since early 1960s. It is driven by the pressure difference on both sides of the membrane to separate, concentrate and purify solute and solvent at room temperature
In recent years, there have been extensive studies on ultrafiltration clarification of apple juice, grape juice, kiwi juice, sugarcane juice, passion fruit juice and mulberry juice, many of which have been industrialized.
Technical assistance and guidance
Netsol Water collaborate with a wide range of international organizations to tackle complicated commercial and industrial water/wastewater problems by strategically integrating modern treatment technology with practical solutions. We can provide you the best water purification systems in the world with proper customization as per the requirements.
