Filtration is an essential link in the process of food and beverage processing, which directly affects the appearance and taste of products. The selection of filtration equipment is the subject that manufacturers must study.
Ⅰ. Reasons for affecting the turbidity of food and drink:
- Turbidity caused by solid particles and suspended solids in raw materials.
- Poor water quality, turbidity caused by plasma precipitation of calcium, magnesium and iron after heating.
- Turbidity caused by macromolecular protein.
Ⅱ. Selection of filtering method:
- Rough filtration
Coarse filtration is the first step of the filtration system in food and beverage processing, which mainly removes large particles and suspended solids. Generally, bag filter is used for primary filtration, and 100-300 mesh nylon mesh bag is selected. After coarse filtration, it will still be turbid, and there will be sedimentation after standing. The low cost of this link can provide protection for subsequent fine filtration and extend the service life of fine filtration equipment.
- Precision filtration
Fine filtration is an important part of the filtration system in food and beverage processing, which mainly removes micro particles above 0.1 μ M. The fine filtration generally adopts microporous membrane core filter and diatomite filter. After fine filtration, the product can be clear and transparent, but some products with macromolecular protein will still have some small floccules after standing, which requires a more refined filtration link – ultrafiltration.
- Ultrafiltration
Ultrafiltration is a supplementary part of the filtration system in the process of food and beverage processing, mainly to remove macromolecular particles. Generally, RO membrane core filter is used. After fine filtration, the macromolecular particles of 0.0001 μ M can be removed. After ultrafiltration, the appearance effect is clear, but at the same time, part of the protein nutrition in the product will be removed. The use cost is also high.
III. Selection of filtering equipment and consumables:
- Process requirements for stainless steel cylinder: mirror polishing. The welding seam is one-time welding and double-sided forming, without sanitary dead angle.
- Process requirements for filtering consumables: the consumables used for filtering must meet the requirements for food contact materials.