Concentration of raspberry (Rubus idaeusL.) juice using membrane processes

Abstract

Concentration of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) juice by combination of membrane processes was investigated. The pre-treatment steps were crushing, enzyme treatment, pressing and clarification by microfiltration (MF). Ceramic tube MF membrane was used at low pressure and temperature (3.9 bar and 30 °C).Nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) process with flatsheet membranes was studied to pre-concentrate the clarified and sterilized raspberry juice. The NF experiments were carried out at different flow-rates (400 l h−1 and 600 l h−1). Any significant effect of flow-rate was not experienced. Both pre-concentration processes were used at low temperature (30 °C) for a mild concentration of raspberry juice. For further concentration osmotic distillation (OD) was applied. The initial total soluble solid content of the raspberry juice was 8–10 °Brix, the final concentrate of OD was 70–80 °Brix.The membrane-, fouling- and the polarization layer resistance were determined in case of micro-, nanofiltration and r...