Ultrafiltration of Ethanol-water solutions

(Downstream Processing:
Isolation/Purification)

Ultrafiltration of Ethanol-water solutions

(Downstream Processing:
Isolation/Purification)

Findings:

Findings:

Organic solvents are being

increasingly used in extraction,
purification and processing of
pharmaceuticals, food, nutraceuticals
and flavor compounds.
Membrane technology would be the
method of choice for separating the
desired compounds and for recycling
the solvent
The method of conditioning the
membrane has a major effect on
solvent flux, membrane integrity and
their pressure ratings
Gradual solvent exchange with
successively higher concentrations
increased in small doses appears to
work best with completely miscible
solvents (ethanolwater mixtures)
Rapid solvent exchange between
water and high concentrations of
alcohol disrupts the polymer matrix
in many cases
Exposure to organic solvents
significantly reduces the pressure
rating of the membranes.
Several membranes that provided
acceptable rejection of ethanolsoluble proteins at low pressures lose
its properties at higher pressures if
conditioned incorrectly, and vice
versa

Organic solvents are being

increasingly used in extraction,
purification and processing of
pharmaceuticals, food, nutraceuticals
and flavor compounds.
Membrane technology would be the
method of choice for separating the
desired compounds and for recycling
the solvent
The method of conditioning the
membrane has a major effect on
solvent flux, membrane integrity and
their pressure ratings
Gradual solvent exchange with
successively higher concentrations
increased in small doses appears to
work best with completely miscible
solvents (ethanolwater mixtures)
Rapid solvent exchange between
water and high concentrations of
alcohol disrupts the polymer matrix
in many cases
Exposure to organic solvents
significantly reduces the pressure
rating of the membranes.
Several membranes that provided
acceptable rejection of ethanolsoluble proteins at low pressures lose
its properties at higher pressures if
conditioned incorrectly, and vice
versa