EFFECTS ON MEMBRANE PROCESSING OF PRETREATMENTS OF WHEY

Alteration or control of the chemical and physical characteristics of the various types of whey has been shown to have a marked influence on the operating characteristics of ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis plants. Whey treatments which have improved performance during ultrafiltration include clarification, centrifugation (sometimes preceded by calcium addition), heating under conditions determined by type of whey and pH, demineralization, pH control, and preconcentration. With reverse osmosis, only demineralization and pH adjustment have been reported to be effective. While the data on plant performance as related to pretreatment are fairly comprehensive, the understanding of how the changes in the whey influence the interactions at the membrane surface is far from complete. There is some evidence, especially with minerals, of binding to the membrane being influenced by both type of membrane and components of the whey system. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.