Concentration of sediments on the ceramic membranes after ultrafiltration

KJ – Apple juice concentrate
KK – Berry concentrate

In response to our customers’ expectations, we have developed and implemented a technology for concentration of retentate using ceramic membranes. We have combined the traditional ultrafiltration carried out on the polymeric membranes with the concentration of sediments on the ceramic membranes. While using the polymer membranes, ultrafiltration is carried out to filtration.

Prior to the diafiltration, the retentate concentrated approximately 30 times is pumped into the filtration system using the ceramic membranes where 75-80% of juice ready to be concentrated of NTU 0.4 is regained. It is easy to count that after pumping out the juice approximately 20%, in comparison to the original amount, of the sediment concentrate is left. The sediment has a form of a dense suspension and can be easily managed. By using this technology, we reduce the amount of condensate water added during diafiltration, which has to be evaporated afterwards. The amount of the extract that is irretrievably lost after diafiltration is also significantly reduced. Due to the fact that the sediment concentrate has a form of a thick suspension, it can be easily managed, it is not sent to the sewage treatment plant and it does not overload it.

In addition, since diafiltration is not carried out with use of the polymer membranes, after pumping the retentate, the system is ready for washing and further work, which increases the UF performance by approximately 10%. The investment in this project enables recovering the costs in just one season.

The investment is carried out in various variants:

• In a comprehensive manner, i.e., traditional polymer UF combined with the installation based on the ceramic membranes.
• By combining the ceramic installation with the existing polymer UF.

Advantages of the ceramic membranes:

• Possibility of sterilisation by means of steam and backwash
• High damage resistance;
• High flow rates;
• High durability;
• Resistance to bacteria;
• Storage in the dry state after rinsing
• Chemical, mechanical and thermal stability

Other advantages:

• Increase in the capacity of the existing UF installation by approximately 10%
• Rare exploitation of the polymeric membranes because diafiltration would be carried out only with use of the ceramic system
• High durability of the ceramic membranes
• Ease of washing membranes – they are not sensitive to temperature, pH
• Reduction of sewage; savings in the utilisation of the sewage treatment plant
• Sale of concentrated sediment to biogas plant

Examples of realisation:

UF installation based on the ceramic membranes
Region: Mazowieckie Voivodeship
Performance: 12 m3 of retentate/24h

UF installation based on the ceramic membranes
Region: Mazowieckie Voivodeship
Performance: 12 m3 of retentate/24h

UF installation based on the ceramic membranes
Region: Mazowieckie Voivodeship
Performance: 400 m3 juce/24h

UF installation based on the ceramic membranes
Region: Mazowieckie Voivodeship
Performance: 40 m3 of retentate/24h

UF installation based on the ceramic membranes
Region: Mazowieckie Voivodeship
Performance: 25 m3 of retentate/24h

UF installation based on the ceramic membranes
Region: Mazowieckie Voivodeship
Performance: 12 m3 of retentate/24h