Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1. Membrane pore size and operational pressure for pressure-driven membrane
processes
Pore size
(μm)
Applied pressure
(bar)
Process
MF
0.05-10
0.1-2
UF
0.05-0.002
1-10
NF
0.002-0.001
5-20
RO
<0.001
10-100
These pressure-driven membrane processes are used in the following exemplificative
operations:
Microfiltration:
•
Cold sterilization of beverages and pharmaceuticals
•
Clarification of fruit juice, wines and beer
•
Separation of bacteria from water (biological wastewater treatment)
•
Effluent treatment
•
Separation of oil/ water emulsions
•
Pre-treatment of water for nanofiltration or reverse osmosis
Ultrafiltration:
•
Juice clarification
•
Enzymatic depectinization
•
Fractionation of milk for cheese manufacture
•
Fractionation of whey for whey protein concentrates
•
Protein recovery in meat, fish and poultry industry
•
Blood protein concentration
•
Gelatin concentration
•
Starch recovery
•
High fructose corn syrup from corn starch (enzymatic membrane reactor)
•
Solvent recovery and particle removal in oil industry
Nanofiltration:
•
Partial demineralization and concentration of whey
•
Caustic/acid cleaning recovery solutions
•
Brine cleaning in fish industry
Reverse osmosis:
•
Fruit juice concentration
•
Milk concentration (drying, transport)
•
Low-alcohol beer
•
Recovery of protiens from soy whey
•
Downstream process in corn refining
•
Water recycling
•
Production of high quality water
