Avaliação do fouling na microfiltração de cerveja – estudo das resistências - DOI: 10.4025/actascitechnol.v29i2.694

Cross-flow microfiltration is an attractive alternative method for fluid clarification and sterilization in the brewing industries. The advantages are: elimination of filter aids, reduced beer losses and better product quality. The performance is still limited in flux terms due to membrane fouling. This work aimed to study the mechanism of fouling in beer microfiltration by means of calculating resistances. The experiments were conducted in batch with raw beer, in a cross flow ultrafiltration pilot unit. The membranes were tubular ceramics, with mean pore diameter of 0.2; 0.3; 0.4; 0.6 and 0.8 m and the pressures work were from 1.0 to 4.0 bar, at a temperature of 6±1oC. From the model of resistances in series, the values obtained were of membrane intrinsic resistance, resistances due to polarization of concentration and colmatage.