Selecting ultrafiltration membranes for fractionation of high added value compounds from grape pomace extracts

Abstract

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the use of ultrafiltration membrane for the fractionation of phenolic compounds from subcritical water grape pomace extract and the separation of these compounds from other co-extracted components. The extract was assayed in a cross-flow apparatus against eleven membranes with molecular weight ranging from 100 to 2 kDa. Monitoring of the process was executed by determining performance parameters and retention coefficients of proteins, polysaccharides, sugars, phenolic and anthocyanin classes. Results indicated that retention of solutes was affected, not by size exclusion, but primarily by severe fouling phenomena due to polar solutes adsorption on the membrane surface. With the exception of the separation obtained between polymeric and monomeric proanthocyanidins, polysulfone membranes were not able to fractionate phenolic classes. Membranes starting of 20 kDa and over retained high percentages (>60%) of polysaccharides and proteins.