M. Balakrishnan et al., Effect of operating parameters on sugarcane juice ultrafiltration: resultsof a field experience, SEP PURIF T, 19(3), 2000, pp. 209-220
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.