OPTIMIZATION OF BEER DIALYSIS WITH CUPROPHANE MEMBRANES

Abstract

Theoretically dialysis as a technique for dealcoholization of beer operates with no transmembrane pressure difference, but to avoid osmotic flux of dialysate into the beer it is necessary to achieve a small pressure on the beer side of the membrane. Clearance and selectivity parameters: sieving coefficient and permeability constitute the useful screening system for optimization of industrial process for beer dialysis under pressure. The clearance of a dialyser is calculated under the most general conditions, allowing for a variation of the local ultrafiltration along the membrane to reach relatively simple expressions for membrane permeability and the sieving coefficient. These values are necessary to establish optimal conditions which will be the compromise between investment cost for the total membrane area and the medium flow rates as a measure of the plant capacity and the quality of dealcoholized beer. 1994 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling