Apple Juice Clarification using Mineral Membranes: Fouling Control by Backwashing and Pulsating Flow

New mineral membranes of ceramic (Ceraflo) and carbon (Carbone Lorraine), were used for apple juice clarification using cross flow microfiltration. Effect on performance of the parameters transmembrane pressure, inlet flow velocity, membrane nature, and temperature were studied. Optimum permeate flux was at a transmembrane pressure of about 3.5 bar for both membranes. Formation of a concentration layer of rejected particles was reduced by using techniques backwashing and pulsating inlet flow. These techniques provided a major flux restoration and steady state permeate flux increased by 30–50% with backwash and up to 100% with pulsating inlet flow.