Filtration Technology for the Food and Beverage Industry

  PHONE   FAX   WEB  

4941  Allison  Parkway  ,  Vacaville,  CA  95688   (707)  451-­‐6060   (707)  451-­‐6064   http://www.synderfiltration.com  

Synder  Filtration  

Filtration  Technology  for  the  Food  and  Beverage  Industry  

Filtration  Technology  for  the  Food  and  Beverage  Industry   2  

Synder  Filtration  

Filtration  Technology  for  the  Food  and  Beverage  Industry  

Executive  Summary    Membrane  technology  is  used  in  the  food  and  beverage  industry  to  separate,  concentrate,  and  clarify  liquids.  Though  separation  and  clarification  processes  are  commonly  used  in  the  dairy  industry,  a  "one  size  fits  all"  solution  does  not  exist.  This  makes  it  important  to  choose  the  right  solution  for  the  task  at  hand.  

The  Growth  of  Filtration  and  Market  Trends  

Membrane  technology  has  matured  since  its  commercialization  in  the  1970s,  and  it  continues  to  evolve  with  innovative  applications.  The  membrane  filtration  market  is  expanding  as  new  uses  for  current  and  emerging  technologies  are  discovered.  Pressing  environmental  issues  have  prompted  global  reductions  in  natural  resource  consumption  and  energy  usage.  For  example,  global  sustainability  requirements  and  an  increased  interest  in  clean  drinking  water  and  improved  fuel  efficiency  are  driving  demand  for  improved  filtration  systems.  

In  addition  to  concern  about  the  environment  and  sustainability  in  general,  growth  in  Asia  is  another  market  trend  impacting  the  filtration  industry.  Several  filtration  market  leaders  are  expanding  their  operations  into  Asia  as  a  result  of  Asia's  growth  including  Alhstrom,  Freudenberg,  Andrew  Industries,  and  H&V.  

According  to  Avedon  Capital  Partners'  Filtration  &  Separation  Industry  report,  the  fastest-­‐growing  geographic  markets  are  China,  India,  and  South  America  and  the  fastest  growing  end-­‐use  is  expected  to  be  fresh  and  wastewater  treatment,  followed  by  fine  chemical  processing  and  life  sciences/  pharmaceuticals.    

While  the  demand  for  water  filtration  is  increasing,  the  market  is  subject  to  heavy  regulation.  These  regulations  affect  many  industries  including  the  food  and  beverage  processing  industries.  In  addition  to  population  growth,  industrial  expansion,  and  stricter  environmental  regulations,  other  trends  driving  global  growth  include  the  proliferation  of  filter  applications  across  all  types  of  end-­‐markets,  filtration  awareness,  health  awareness,  and  the  growing  importance  of  consumer  brands.    

The  food  and  beverage  industry  has  its  own  set  of  trends,  processes,  and  technologies.  For  example,  according  to  Filtration  in  the  Food  and  Beverage  Industries,  an  article  published  in  Filtration+Separation,  the  organic  farming  and  food  production  trend  has  prompted  concerns  about  food  safety;  artificial  sweeteners  continue  to  threaten  the  sugar  industry;  and  an  increased  awareness  of  sustainability  has  also  affected  the  food  and  beverage  industry  as  more  consumers  endeavor  to  decrease  their  carbon  footprints  by  choosing  foods  with  low  "food  miles."  In  addition,  disposal  of  food  wastes  and  excess  product  packaging  designed  to  keep  products  fresh  are  affecting  food  production.      

Filtration  Technology  for  the  Food  and  Beverage  Industry   3  

Synder  Filtration  

Filtration  technologies  can  filter,  separate,  concentrate,  and  clarify  liquid  solutions  as  well  as  comply  with  regulations  –  if  the  correct  technologies  are  selected.    

Some  of  the  more  common  beverages  that  rely  on  filtration  technology  include:  � Wine  

� Soda  

� Beer  

� De-­‐alcoholization  (for  non-­‐alcoholic  beverages)  

� Juice  

� Water  

� Milk  

Some  of  the  more  common  foods  that  rely  on  filtration  technology  include:  

� Cheese  and  other  dairy  products  

� Meat,  fish,  and  their  solid  products  (not  including  oils,  fat,  and  juices)  

� Fruits  and  vegetables  (not  including  oils,  fat,  and  juices)  

� Oils  and  fats  

� Grains,  cereals,  and  starches  

� Gelatin  concentration  

� Corn  wet  milling  

� Xanthan  gum  

� Maple  syrup  

� Animal  feed  

A  variety  of  dry  and  liquid  separation  processes  are  used  in  food  and  beverage  production.  Below  are  a  few  common  applications:  � Salt  production  –  Basket  centrifuges  are  commonly  used  in  salt  production.  

� Cream  separation  (from  milk)  –  Disc  centrifuges  were  designed  for  cream  separation  and  still  used  to  this  day.  

� Water  purification  –  Membranes  are  used  to  purify  water  before  use  as  a  food  or  beverage  ingredient.  

� Wastewater  treatment  –  Wastewater  is  treated  at  facilities.  

� Corn  wet  milling  –  A  variety  of  filtration  steps,  including  micro  and  nanofiltration,  are  required  in  the  wet  milling  of  corn.  For  example,  filtration  is  used  to  remove  microorganisms  as  well  as  to  concentrate  and  clarify  corn  syrup.  

� Sugar  juice  and  crystals  –  Rotary  vacuum  drum  filters  separate  sugar  juice  from  settled  muds  before  a  centrifuge  is  used  to  recover  sugar  crystals.  

� Vegetable  seed  oil  refinement  –  Tubular  or  disc  centrifuges  and  vacuum  filters  are  commonly  used  to  refine  and  de-­‐wax  vegetable  seed  oils.  

Filtration  Technology  for  the  Food  and  Beverage  Industry   4  

Synder  Filtration  

� Beer  and  spirits  production  –  Numerous  separation  activities  take  place  including  separation  and  dewatering  of  grains  and  clarifying  liquids.  Filter  presses,  decanter  centrifuges,  and  sheet  filters  are  used.  

Not  only  must  the  filtration  equipment  used  be  efficient,  it  must  be  able  to  operate  in  a  continuous  state  of  cleanliness.  According  to  the  Filtration  in  the  Food  and  Beverage  Industries  article  mentioned  earlier,  the  estimated  global  sales  volume  in  2009  for  food  and  beverage  filtration/separation  equipment  is  estimated  to  have  been  approximately  $3.6  billion.  In  addition,  most  food  and  beverage  producers  must  treat  and  properly  dispose  of  concentrated  liquid  wastes.  Examples  of  these  processes  include  oil  and  grease  separation,  sedimentation,  sludge  filtering,  and  membrane  filtration.  

In  some  cases,  what  was  previously  considered  a  waste  stream  has  become  a  revenue  stream.  For  example,  the  dairy  industry's  whey  disposal  problem  has  been  eased  thanks  to  increased  demand  for  whey-­‐based  products  such  as  whey  protein.  In  other  cases,  such  as  recycled  water,  liquid  waste  can  be  further  purified  until  it  reaches  an  acceptable  standard.    

According  to  Avedon  Capital  Partners'  Filtration  &  Separation  Industry  report,  the  filtration  market  is  worth  $60  billion  and  is  expected  to  grow  at  a  rate  of  two  times  the  growth  of  GDP.  Global  expansion,  stronger  environmental  regulations,  and  increased  health  awareness  drive  this  growth.  The  filtration  industry  has  responded  with  a  diverse  range  of  filtration  technology  capable  of  separating  everything  from  coarse  contaminants  such  as  sediment  or  sand  to  microscopic  bacteria  and  viruses.  Filtration  and  separation  technology  are  used  to  improve  food  and  beverage  production  processes,  produce  safer  products,  minimize  waste,  and  much  more.  

How  Filtration  Benefits  the  Food  and  Beverage  Industry  Below  are  just  a  few  of  the  many  examples  of  how  the  food  and  beverage  industry  is  using  and  benefiting  from  filtration  technology:  

� Wine  production  –  Consumers  expect  robust,  clear  wines  free  of  sedimentation  and  clouding.  Filtration  technologies  used  in  wine  production  include:    

o Clarifying  or  trap  filtration  –  Removes  earth  powders  and  particles  as  well  as  "polishes"  the  wine  

o Fine  filtration  –  Removes  yeast  and  is  often  used  as  a  pre-­‐sterilization  process    

o Sterile  membrane  filtration  –  Removes  spoilage  organisms  

� Beer  production  –  Beer  undergoes  similar  clarification  and  fine  filtration  processes  as  wine.  Sterilization  processes  used  in  beer  production  include  sterile  membrane  filtration  and  cold  stabilization.    

� Soda  production  –  Filtration  is  used  to  filter  and  de-­‐chlorinate  water,  clarify  ingredients  and  the  final  product,  and  control  microorganisms.    

Filtration  offers  various  advantages  over  traditional  food  and  beverage  production.  For  example,  cold  stabilization  in  beer  production  is  a  viable,  affordable  alternative  to  flash  pasteurization.  Using  filtration  technology  allows  wine  producers  to  optimize  the  wine  production  process,  resulting  in  high  quality  wines  in  less  time.  Clarification  filtration  can  also  reduce  labor  costs  as  there's  less  of  a  reliance  on  kieselguhr  filters,  which  need  to  be  cleaned  frequently.  

� Filtration  and  separation  technology  can:  

o Filter  unwanted  materials  from  food  and  beverages  

o Separate  desirable  materials  from  ingredients,  food  and  beverage  products,  and  waste  streams  

o Concentrate  ingredients  such  as  tea  or  protein  

Filtration  Technology  for  the  Food  and  Beverage  Industry   5  

Synder  Filtration  

o Clarify  food  and  beverage  products  

o Purify  food  and  beverage  products  

o Recover  aromas      

In  addition,  filtration  and  separation  technology  helps  the  food  and  beverage  industry  comply  with  global  sustainability  regulations  and/or  their  own  internal  sustainability  initiatives.  

Tips  for  Choosing  a  Filtration  System    Filtration  technology  has  been  developed  for  specific  uses.  While  some  types  of  filtration  and  separation  systems  have  numerous  applications,  it's  crucial  to  select  a  solution  that  is  capable  of  meeting  your  specific  needs.    

In  many  cases,  this  will  require  a  custom  or  semi-­‐custom  solution.  It  is  important  to  do  pilot  tests  for  food  and  beverage  applications.  Doing  so  helps  to  ensure  proper  membrane  and  system  configuration  and  operating  parameters.  Synder  Filtration  offers  an  extensive  pilot  study  program  along  with  engineering  support  to  help  develop  innovative  applications  that  will  ultimately  lead  to  an  operational  and/or  capital  cost  savings.    

In  addition  to  selecting  a  filtration  system  designed  for  the  filtration,  concentration,  or  separation  task  at  hand,  the  most  important  factors  to  consider  include:  

� Hygienic  standards  –  Does  the  technology  allow  for  scrupulous  cleanliness  in  a  continuous  operation  environment?  Does  it  comply  with  all  applicable  hygienic  standards?      

� Reliability  –  How  reliable  is  the  system?  What  is  its  expected  lifetime?  How  will  breakdowns,  service,  and  maintenance  be  handled?  

� Efficiency  –  Does  the  technology  work  efficiently?  Does  it  improve  the  efficiencies  of  your  food  and  beverage  production  processes?  

� Quality  of  the  final  product  –  Does  the  technology  significantly  improve  the  quality  of  your  final  product?  As  an  added  bonus,  does  it  allow  you  to  create  additional  products  such  as  concentrates  or  extracts?  

The  Clear  Solution:  Synder  Filtration  Numerous  trends  have  impacted  both  the  food  and  beverage  and  the  filtration  product  industries.  As  demand  for  purer,  clearer,  and  more  sustainable  food  and  beverage  products  has  grown,  innovative  solutions  from  leading  filtration  systems  manufacturers  have  followed.  Synder  Filtration  has  developed  custom  membranes  and  filtration  technologies  specifically  for  the  food  and  beverage  industry.  Our  micro,  ultra,  and  nano  filtration  membranes  are  designed  to  solve  problems  and  open  the  doors  to  opportunity.    

We  offer  a  comprehensive  pilot  program  including:  

Pilot  system  rentals  

Systems  for  purchase  

In-­‐house  feasibility  teskng  and  pilot  teskng  

Engineering  support  

Filtration  Technology  for  the  Food  and  Beverage  Industry   6  

Synder  Filtration  

Our  pilot  studies  are  conducted  onsite,  allowing  for  the  most  realistic  operating  conditions  and  flexibility.    

Contact  us  today  to  learn  more  about  our  food  and  beverage  filtration  technologies  and  pilot  testing.  

Sources:  

http://www.nonwovens-­‐industry.com/issues/2011-­‐11/view_features/filtration-­‐focus-­‐of-­‐many/#sthash.8GUoejDd.dpuf  

Filtration  in  the  Food  and  Beverage  Industries,  an  article  published  in  Filtration+Separation  

Filtration  &  Separation  Industry  CP  Industry  Analysis  Summary  Version  –  Avedon  Capital  Partners  

http://www.synderfiltration.com/industries/food-­‐beverage