GEA applications

Since the introduction of membrane processing to the dairy industry in the late 1960`s, separation of dairy fluids using semi-permeable membranes has been used to clarify, concentrate and fractionate a variety of dairy products. The time honored and tested applications involving whey processing, the by-product of cheese making, have introduced a plethora of refined proteins and commercial uses for a once wasted by-product. The membrane applications for fluid milk have been understood for as long as the whey applications but have been underutilized in commercial applications.

Before the innovation of membrane processing was introduced to the dairy industry, in the late 1960`s, whey was truly a waste product of cheese making. Three important events have driven whey towards further processing; increased cost of dumping whey into the environment; new technologies to separate the proteins in whey and scientific research that has uncovered the wide range of nutritional and biological properties of whey that have ultimately added value to a once wasted product.

Salt brine is used to cure many different varieties of cheese. Disposal of salt brine is expensive and often prohibited due to high salt content. Ultrafiltration rejects the fats and proteins that are expelled from cheese into the brine and allows continuous re-use of salt brine baths.

Reverse Osmosis Polishers can concentrate BOD/COD from evaporator condensate and RO permeate streams to reduce waste water. Polished water can also be re-used in plant for boiler water make-up and CIP systems. In Dairy Industry applications, `polishing` of these process water streams aids in the production of Class I water for re-use from dairy products as defined and regulated under Food & Drug Administration rules. Water produced with this technique is also very soft, generally resulting in lower cleaning chemical consumption.

The product knowledge we gained by this experience is indicated by the following list of products suitable for processing on a GEA Filtration membrane filtration system. These systems include microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis with either spiral-wound, stainless steel, ceramic, tubular, or plate-and-frame configurations.

GEA Filtration is experienced in processing a wide range of products on a commercial basis and by testing products at the plant site or in our pilot plant testing facility. Definition of the Industrial Biotech and Environmental Biotech Sector. This sector uses living organisms to manufacture a variety of products that result in the reduction of pollution, resource consumption and waste. Typical products include bioethanol, industrial enzymes, biological fuel cells, enzymes for bioremediation, biodegradable plastics and much more.