Review on Membrane Technology Applications in Food and Dairy Processing

Abstract

The use of membrane technology as a processing and separation method in food industry is gaining wide application. Membrane separations can be used either as alternatives to conventional techniques or as novel technology for processing new ingredients and foods. Membrane separations are considered green technologies. In many cases, membrane processes are more advantageous than traditional technologies. For example, using cold pasteurization and sterilization with suitable membranes instead of high temperature treatment for the removal of microorganisms is more economical in terms of energy consumption. Using membrane filtration to remove microorganisms for shelf-life extension of foods instead of using additives and preservatives also create a green image for the processed foods as well as for the processing procedure. Concentration by membrane filtration instead of thermal evaporation does not employ severe heating and that it preserves the natural taste of food products and the nutritional value of heat-sensitive components. The recovery of valuable components in diluted effluents and wastewater treatment applications are among the most useful and currently active aspects of membrane technology. Pressure-driven membrane processes, namely MF, UF, NF and RO facilitate separation of components with a large range of particle sizes. It is for this reason that they find wide range of applications in food processing industry. The first part of this manuscript is to give introduction about very basic knowledge in membrane separation technology. More importantly, this review presents up-to-date commercial and potential applications of pressure-driven membrane separation processes in dairy processing industry.