Sugars, Starch and Sweeteners
We offer systems with a broad range of membrane configurations to allow
optimisation of specific separation applications. Traditionally membrane
processes in the sugar, starch and sweetener industries have posed difficulties
in regard to membrane construction sue to conditions that are inherently
present in the process environment.
However, significant development
work was directed at the membrane construction – both organic and inorganic,
which has meant that advances in the technology now sees the use of membrane
technology as common place in a number of applications.
Like so many
other established industries, the sugar industry has a need for reduction in
energy and labour costs, with a sustainable environmental process. The
exploration into technologies that improve yields and quality while reducing
energy consumption has lead to the use of membrane technology over the full
range of filtration types.
Applications include:
- Treatment of evaporator condensate and other dilute waste streams for water
re-use (RO)
- Removal of colour bodies and recovery of salts from ion exchange
regenerants (NF)
- Decolourisation of sugar (NF)
- Concentration of raffinate from beet molasses chromatographic separators
(RO)
- Removal of unliquified starch, polysaccharides and proteinaceous matter
from saccharification tank liquor – this process eliminates the use of
diatomaceous earth (kiesglur) in rotary vacuum filters, while producing a
superior quality product (MF)
- Clarification of maltodextrins (MF)
- Depyrogenation of dextrose (MF)
- Final filtration of dextrose and fructose syrups (MF)
- Dextrose enrichment with separation of DP1 from higher sugars (selective
NF)
- Concentration of dilute sugar streams (RO)
Other applications of interest include:
- Modified starch washing
- Steep water filtration
- Mill starch washing
- Protein processing
Our locally based team at GEA Process Engineering (NZ) ltd is able to assist
you with these established applications described above, together with our
global network of technologists throughout GEA Filtration and our mobile pilot
plant facilities we work with our clients to develop and improve new
application processes – contact our team to discuss your application
needs.