CLARIFICATION OF WATERMELON JUICE BY MICROFILTRATION WITH CELLULOSE ACETATE MEMBRANES

Abstract

One of the main applications of microfiltration is the clarification and concentration of juices. The objective of this paper was to study the process of clarification ofwatermelon juice utilizing commercial membranes made of cellulose acetate 0,45 μm. Inorder to evaluate the efficiency of the process, the mass transfer resistances and theproperties of the juice were determined. The hydraulic permeability of the membrane was1.5x10-3 m/sPa considering water as the fluid and 2.2x10-4 m/sPa considering the juice. Theproperties analyzed in the permeate juice were color, transparency, turbidity, pH, density,viscosity, total soluble solids and acidity. The permeate flux of the juice assumed values from61 to 21 L/m2h during the experiment. This reduction was linked to the increase of theresistances with time. The membrane resistance assumed values of 1x106 m2/kg, while theresistance associated with concentration polarization and cake formation assumed valuesone order of magnitude higher. It was not possible to detect irreversible resistance.

Keywords

• Processos de separação por membranas
• Citrullus lanatus
• Polarização de concentração
• Torta
• Resistência à transferência de massa.