Free Access
| Issue |
Lait
Volume 80, Number 1, January-February 2000
New applications of membrane technology in the dairy industry
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|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 129 - 138 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/lait:2000114 | |
DOI: 10.1051/lait:2000114
Lait 80 (2000) 129-138
Critical stability conditions in skimmed milk crossflow microfiltration: impact on operating modes
Geneviève Gésan-Guiziou, Georges Daufin, Evelyne Boyaval
Laboratoire de recherches de technologie laitière, INRA, 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
Abstract:
There exists a critical ratio (convection towards the membrane/erosion) in crossflow microfiltration, MF,
below which there is no marked fouling by colloidal particles and above which performance are altered:
sharp increase of fouling, reduced operating time, large decrease in permeability and solute transmission.
This paper outlines the impact of the critical ratio on skimmed milk MF processing (separation of casein
micelles from the soluble proteins) and gives objective elements (taking into account the critical ratio)
for the selection of start-up procedures and stationary modes of operation: controlled transmembrane
pressure or permeation flux; "static" or "dynamic" counter-pressure, the latter achieved by circulating
the permeate co-current to the retentate to maintain an equal transmembrane pressure profile along the
filtering path. Results showed that the controlled transmembrane pressure mode of operation was
appropriate for conducting skimmed milk filtration, since it prevented from sharp increase of the
hydraulic resistance of fouling and maintained nearly constant performances (permeability, selectivity)
over the course of the time. In order to determine the more appropriate counter pressure mode and to
predict skimmed milk performances, a four step method was proposed: i) assessment of the critical ratio;
ii) selection of the critical flux at the required wall shear stress; iii) determination of the
corresponding critical transmembrane pressure in "dynamic" counter-pressure; iv) calculation of the MF
performance in "static" mode taking into account the gradient of transmembrane pressure induced by the
retentate pressure drop.
hydrodynamics / crossflow microfiltration / operating mode / critical permeation flux / milk
Correspondence and reprints: G. Gésan-Guiziou
gesan@labtechno.roazhon.inra.fr
Copyright INRA, EDP Sciences