Effect of operating parameters on sugarcane juice ultrafiltration: resultsof a field experience

The purification of sugarcane juice in the manufacture of plantation white sugar can be accomplished by juice ultrafiltration (UF). Though this concep t has been suggested earlier, there is little experimental data that is rep resentative of the actual processing conditions in a sugar mill. This work describes the results of field tests using a crossflow membrane module empl oying polysulphone and polyethersulphone membranes. The influence of differ ent operating parameters, viz. transmembrane pressure (TMP), crossflow velo city, feed pH and feed pre-treatment procedure was investigated. The effect iveness of the ultrafiltration process was evaluated by monitoring the flux and permeate properties under varying operating conditions. The UF was cha racterised by a significant flux decline due to the membrane fouling combin ed with bagacillo deposition on the membrane surface. However, the permeate colour acid clarity were superior to the mill's clarified juice and the pu rity rise was consistently higher than that obtained in the conventional li ming-sulphitation process. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.