Chicory juice clarification by membrane filtration using rotating disk module

Clarification is the first step of inulin production from chicory juice, and membrane filtration as an alternative can greatly simplify this process, increase juice yield, improve product quality, and reduce the cost and waste volume. In this study, a rotating disk module (RDM) was used to investigate the clarification of chicory juice by four micro- and ultrafiltration membranes. Compared with dead end filtration, the RDM had a much higher permeate flux and product quality. High rotating speeds produced high permeate fluxes and reduced flux decline, because of the strong back transport of foulant from fouling layer to feed solution. At high rotating speeds of 1500–2000rpm, the permeate flux increased with membrane pore size and transmembrane pressure (TMP), while at low rotating speeds (