Applications and benefits of Membrane Filtration for the austraian Sugar Industry

摘要

There have been significant developments in membrane technology in recent years, both by manufactures and suppliers of membranes and by sugar industry groups working in collaboration with research organisations and suppliers. Polymeric, stainless steel, ceramic and carbon membranes are being developed that are more suited to sugar industry applications. Most investigations have focused on filtering clarified juice either for improvements in plant capacity, sugar quality or for the production of specialiy products. Membrane filtration is also being applied to refinery streams and filtrate from rotary drum mud filters. The New Applexion Process installed at Puunene factory (Maui, Hawaii) has operated since late 1994 and is recognised as the current benchmark for filtration performance in the cane sugar industry.Results obtained overseas report the complete removal of polysaccharides including dextrans, enhanced het and mass transfer coefficients in evaporators and pans, pan boiling time reduction of 20-30