Modelling the clarification of lactic acid fermentation broths by cross-flow microfiltration

This work is focused on modelling microfiltration for clarifying fermentation broths for the production of lactic acid. The hydraulic resistance-in-series model was used with membrane resistance, bacterial cell cake resistance, adsorption resistance and solute concentration polarisation resistance. Most of the model parameters were determined from independent experiments. This model was applied for microfiltrations operated either under constant transmembrane pressure or under constant permeate flux. Resistances due to adsorption and to solute concentration polarisation dominated. Bacterial cake resistance was found to be very low or equal to zero when microfiltration was below the critical flux. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.