Hollow Fibre Ultrafiltration of Apple Juice: Macroscopic Approach

Abstract

Permeate flux in hollow fibre ultrafiltration of apple juice was modelled using different approaches. The effect of flow velocity (10, 15 and 20 L/min), transmembrane pressure (73.5 and 118 kPa) and molecular weight cut-off (30,000, 50,000 and 100,000) was determined over the 1 to 14 range of volume concentration ratio(VCR). The flux showed an exponential decay behaviour operating at constant VCR and proved to be pressure-independent at a value that increased with flow velocity andVCR. Classical flow-through filtration theory was used to model the flux dependence withVCR. Energy consumption during hollow fibre ultrafiltration of apple juice under different operating conditions was also calculated. It was observed that energy expenses for apple juice ultrafiltrate increased with flow velocity and optimum value should be estimated. Influence in hollow fibre ultrafiltration of different enzymatic treatments was also considered.