Ultrafiltration is a membrane type process enabling the separation, clarifying, purification and concentration of organic substances with high molecular weight.
Main applications in the milk-dairy field are:
• Regeneration/sanitation of the brine by microfiltration/ultrafiltration
• Cheese whey concentration
• Skim milk ultrafiltration for its proteic standardizing
Microfiltration
Milk microfiltration is a purely mechanical treatment where filtration is carried out through ceramic membranes with 1-2,5 micron mesh. This filtration process, which may physically separate the microbes, is made on the skim matter of milk. Milk fat matter is separated by centrifugation at about 50°C. Skim milk, separated from cream, is microfiltered on a porous membrane eliminating almost all of the microbial flora present in the milk as soon as it leaves the udder during milking. The obtained milk has excellent microbiological characteristics and it can be stored at 4°C. Microfiltration can remove almost completely the somatic cells (99.8% to 99.9%) the TBC total bacterial count (99.95%), the count of Bacillus Cereus at values lower than 3 spores/liter of spores and anaerobic bacteria.