TY - CONF
T1 - The fouling of ultrafiltration membranes during the fractionation of phytosterols from orange juice
AU - Abd Razak, Nurul Hainiza
AU - Chew, Yong-Min
AU - Bird, Michael
PY - 2018/4/17
Y1 - 2018/4/17
N2 - Ultrafiltration (UF) offers the possibility of separating bioactive compounds from by-products
of agro-industrial applications. Plant bioactive compounds such as phytosterols are well
known for their health benefits, including the lowering of blood cholesterol levels and a
decreased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Natural rubber serum (NRS) contains
phytosterols which have a great potential to be used as an alternative source for the
nutraceutical industry. Orange juice was selected as a model solution to NRS due to the
presence of a similar profile of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study is to separate
phytosterol compounds from orange juice using UF. Flat sheet UF membranes (Alfa Laval)
with molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) values of 10 kDa fabricated from regenerated
cellulose (code RC70PP), polyethersulfone (code GR80PP) and fluoropolymer (code
ETNA10PP) were tested to determine the feasibility of isolation of phytosterols. The
experiments were performed in a cross flow filtration rig at a transmembrane pressure (TMP)
range of 0.5 - 2 bar, and a cross flow velocity (CFV) range of 0.5 - 1.5 m s-1, and at an
ambient temperature. Total phytosterol content was analysed using a Liebermann-Burchard
based assay. Permeate flux and fouling index was determined. Membrane rejection towards
total phytosterols, proteins and sugars was determined, along with antioxidant activity. The
regenerated cellulose membrane displayed the highest permeate flux of those tested (22 L/m2
h), along with a higher fouling index (100%) and a good separation efficiency of phytosterols
(45% rejection towards phytosterols) from orange juice. Although the yield of phytosterols
was relatively low (40 mg/L), there is potential to modify the filtration process and optimise
the analysis procedure to produce a greater amount of phytosterols. However, fouling limits
the filtration process, and understanding the nature of fouling will be the key to determining
the viability of the technology. The effects of cleaning agent upon the restoration of permeate
flux is also reported. All membranes investigated displayed cleaning efficiencies of > 95%.
AB - Ultrafiltration (UF) offers the possibility of separating bioactive compounds from by-products
of agro-industrial applications. Plant bioactive compounds such as phytosterols are well
known for their health benefits, including the lowering of blood cholesterol levels and a
decreased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Natural rubber serum (NRS) contains
phytosterols which have a great potential to be used as an alternative source for the
nutraceutical industry. Orange juice was selected as a model solution to NRS due to the
presence of a similar profile of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study is to separate
phytosterol compounds from orange juice using UF. Flat sheet UF membranes (Alfa Laval)
with molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) values of 10 kDa fabricated from regenerated
cellulose (code RC70PP), polyethersulfone (code GR80PP) and fluoropolymer (code
ETNA10PP) were tested to determine the feasibility of isolation of phytosterols. The
experiments were performed in a cross flow filtration rig at a transmembrane pressure (TMP)
range of 0.5 - 2 bar, and a cross flow velocity (CFV) range of 0.5 - 1.5 m s-1, and at an
ambient temperature. Total phytosterol content was analysed using a Liebermann-Burchard
based assay. Permeate flux and fouling index was determined. Membrane rejection towards
total phytosterols, proteins and sugars was determined, along with antioxidant activity. The
regenerated cellulose membrane displayed the highest permeate flux of those tested (22 L/m2
h), along with a higher fouling index (100%) and a good separation efficiency of phytosterols
(45% rejection towards phytosterols) from orange juice. Although the yield of phytosterols
was relatively low (40 mg/L), there is potential to modify the filtration process and optimise
the analysis procedure to produce a greater amount of phytosterols. However, fouling limits
the filtration process, and understanding the nature of fouling will be the key to determining
the viability of the technology. The effects of cleaning agent upon the restoration of permeate
flux is also reported. All membranes investigated displayed cleaning efficiencies of > 95%.
M3 - Paper
ER -