Filtration of lager beer with microsieves: Flux, permeate haze and in-line microscope observations

S. Kuiper, C.J.M. van Rijn, W. Nijdam, Onno Raspe, Hendricus A.G.M. van Wolferen, Gijsbertus J.M. Krijnen, Michael Curt Elwenspoek

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    Abstract

    Membrane fouling during filtration of lager beer with microsieves was studied through in-line microscope observations. It was observed that the main fouling was caused by micrometre-sized particles, presumably aggregated proteins. These particles formed flocks covering parts of the membrane surface. Most of the flocks could be removed by a strong temporary increase in crossflow. Underneath the flocks a permanent fouling layer was formed inside the pores. This made frequent removal of the flocks crucial in delaying the process of permanent in-pore fouling.Besides the fouling process the influence of pore size on permeate flux and turbidity was investigated. Centrifuged beer appeared to give a significantly clearer permeate than rough beer. For centrifuged beer and a microsieve with a pore diameter of 0.55μm a haze of 0.23 EBC was obtained during 10.5h of filtration at an average flux of 2.21×103l/m2h. For a sieve with slit-shaped perforations of 0.70μm×3.0μm a haze of 0.46 EBC was obtained during 9h of filtration at an average flux of 1.43×104l/m2h. This flux is more than two-orders of magnitude higher than is commonly obtained with membrane-filtration of lager beer. Concentration of the beer by a factor of 12 hardly influenced the magnitude of the flux
    Original languageUndefined
    Pages (from-to)159-170
    Number of pages12
    JournalJournal of membrane science
    Volume196
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 28 Feb 2002

    Keywords

    • EWI-12710
    • IR-42339
    • METIS-201115

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