Membrane Filtration for Sugar, Starch & Sweetner Industries

Leading Technologies. Individual Solutions.GEA FiltrationMembrane FiltrationSugar, Starch, and Sweetener IndustriesWide Range of Membrane ConfigurationsMembrane applications in the Sugar, Starch and Sweetener industriespose challenges to membrane construction due to the necessity to oper-ate in difficult environments. Recent advances in membrane construction,both in organic and inorganic membranes have significantly contributedto advances in these applications.GEA Filtration offers systems with a broad range of membrane configu-rations to enable customers to fully optimize every specific separationapplication. Most of the time each application offers opportunities for more than one configuration. Each of them needs to be evaluatedcarefully, including on-site pilot tests, to evaluate their advantages and disadvantages.PolymericPolymeric membranes are available for the whole spectrum of the filtrationprocesses – Reverse Osmosis, Nanofiltration,Ultrafiltration and Microfiltration. Specialconstruction features now enable even thespirals work at high temperatures (up to95°C) and high pH (2-12). • Spiral — Due to their compact layout andrelatively large amount of membrane areaper element, spirals are good cost-effectivesolutions to high volume applications with primary advantages being both lowcapital investment and energy costs.• Tubular — Highly resistant to plugging,tubular membranes are typically usedwhen the feed stream contains a largeamount of suspended solids or fibrouscompounds.• Plate & Frame — Open channel designallows it to be used for products with veryhigh viscosity, particularly suited for highsolids protein streams.InorganicInorganic membranes by nature are tolerantto high temperatures (up to sterilizationtemperatures), extreme pH (0-14) and solvents.Their rugged construction makes them idealfor applications involving extreme operatingconditions. They normally have a longer lifetime compared to the organic membranesand in many cases though more capitalintensive, ideal for long term economy.• Ceramic – Suited for value added applications like recovery of products fromfermentation broths. They are available in a variety of well-defined pore sizes in theMicrofiltration and Ultrafiltration ranges.• Stainless Steel – SCEPTER®‚ membranesmade by Graver Technologies are ofrugged construction and can be customdesigned to large size modules. Their openchannel size 3/4" diameter, is ideal for feedstreams with high suspended solids evenat extreme operating conditions. The TiO2sintered layer provides a well-defined poresize of 0.1 micron and is well suited forgross filtration requirements.SCEPTER®‚ stainlesssteel membranesMEMBRALOX®‚ceramic membranesTAMI ISOFLUX®ceramic membranesPolymeric spiralmembranesApplications in the Cane and Beet Sugar IndustriesNot unlike many established industries, the sugar industry in developedcountries has been under pressure for some time due to high-energy andlabor costs, and environmental challenges. Many technologies are beingconstantly explored to improve sugar yields and quality with reducedenergy consumption. Alternatives to the traditional liming and flocculation process for rawjuice clarification are being introduced. Membrane filtration technologyoffers economic and technical advantages, when used either as a standalone process or in combination with other more established technologiessuch as ion exchange and chromatographic separators. UF / MF processin cane sugar production acts as a pretreatment prior to other separationtechnologies by removing impurities from the raw juice, including starch,dextran, gums, waxes, proteins and polysaccharides.Beets WaterExtract RaffinateWhite SugarResin-Based ProcessesMembrane FiltrationPre-TreatmentRaw SugarCane WaterDiffusionJuice PurificationFiltrationEvaporationSugar EndMolasses DesugarizationCrystalizationMilling / DiffusionJuice ClarificationEvaporationBoiling House GEA Filtration is involved in many of thenew application developments in the sugarindustry. Some of the following applicationshave been successfully commercialized while others are in semi-commercial stagesor pilot R&D. • Treatment of evaporator condensates andother dilute waste streams by ReverseOsmosis (RO) to improve effluentdischarges.• Removal of color bodies and recovery ofsalts from ion-exchange regenerants usingNanofiltration (NF).• Decolorization of sugar by Nanofiltration(NF).• Concentration of raffinate from beetmolasses chromatographic separators by Reverse Osmosis (RO).GEA Filtration with an extensive knowledgeand experience in membrane filtration andunderstanding of the sugar industry, is readyto assist with your new application ideas.Applications in the Starch and Sweetener IndustriesIn a very short duration, cross flow membrane filtration has become amainstream process unit operation in the Starch & Sweetener industry.Membrane filtration processes, namely Reverse Osmosis, Nanofiltration,Ultrafiltration and Microfiltration, by their versatility have gainedacceptance. New products are produced and more are being developedusing the unique separation techniques made available by this technol-ogy. Membrane filtration find its niche either by itself or in combinationwith other more established technologies. GEA Filtration has been in the forefront of development of many appli-cations, some of which are described below.• Microfiltration of saccharification tankliquor to remove unliquified starch, poly-saccharides, proteinaceous matter andother impurities. The process has beensuccessfully applied to sweetenersderived from various starch sources –corn, wheat, tapioca, potatoes or cassava.The process eliminates use of diatoma-ceous earth (kieselgur) in rotary vacuumfilters, while at the same time producinga superior quality product.Spiral wound, ceramic or stainless steelmembranes can be used depending onthe operating parameters.• Microfiltration is also used for clarificationof maltodextrins, depyrogenation ofdextrose, final filtration of dextrose and fructose syrups.• Dextrose enrichment with the separationof DP1 from the higher sugars usingselective Nanofiltration membranes• Reverse Osmosis is used for concentrationof dilute sugar streams and in some casesas a preconcentration step prior to anevaporator.• Other applications of interest are:- Modified starch washing and recovery,- Steep water filtration,- Mill starch washing,- Protein processing.GEA Filtration can assist you with theseestablished applications and also work withcustomers to develop new applications.Purified StarchLIQUEFACTION?Starch HydrolyzateClarified DextroseHIgh FructoseCorn Syrups Microbial cellsChemicalsOrganic acids???SACCHARIFICATION?FERMENTATION???UF/MF??UF/MFUF/MFMFMF PURIFICATIONNF/ROED/MFDOWNSTREAMPROCESSINGA Reliable PartnerGEA Filtration is part of GEA, an international process engineering leaderin the life sciences industry with more than 150 companies operatingworldwide. As a team member with other technology leaders within thegroup, GEA Filtration is uniquely positioned to provide both customizedmembrane filtration plants as well as complete process lines specificallytailored to each customer’s specific needs and requirements.Global Experience, Local PresenceGEA Filtration specializes in cross-flow membrane filtration technologies,namely Reverse Osmosis (RO), Nanofiltration (NF), Ultrafiltration (UF)and Microfiltration (MF). We also offer a wide range of system configura-tions and membrane types to provide you with the best possible solutionfor each application.GEA Filtration has extensiveexperience in the followingindustries: • Dairy• Food including Sugar,Starch and Sweetener • Beverage • Pharmaceutical /Biotechnology• Environmental / ChemicalMulti-disciplined teams atdedicated GEA Filtrationcenters in USA, Europe, andAustralAsia can provide the following value-addedservices:• Pilot trials and applicationdevelopment• System scale-up• Project engineering• Process integration• Controls and automation• System fabrication• System installation and start-up• Service and plant audits• Replacement membraneinventory.GEA Filtration also has a wide selection of pilot plants in all membrane types available for on-sitetrials at any customer’s location, from bench topmodels to continuous, semi-automated pilot plants designed for largeflow scale-up capability.For more details on the specifications for each of these pilot units, consult our website at www.geafiltration.com.P i l o t P l a n t s GEA FiltrationGEA Filtration • Niro Inc. • 1600 O’Keefe Road • Hudson, Wisconsin 54016, USA • TEL 1 715 386 9371 • FAX 1 715 386 9376E-MAIL info@geafiltration.com • WEB www.geafiltration.comGEA Filtration • GEA Liquid Processing Scandinavia A/S • Noerskovvej 1b • DK-8660 Skanderborg, DenmarkTEL 45 70 15 22 00 • FAX 45 70 15 22 44 • E-MAIL post@gea-liquid.dk • WEB www.gea-liquid.dkFor more information on all theproducts and servicesprovided by GEA Filtration,access our website www.geafiltration.com.