Evaluation of the reducing phenomena of the permeate flux rate in pineapple (Ananas comosus) juice micro-filtrations

Abstract

The membrane separation process is used to recover, concentrate and/or even purify macromolecules. The reduction of the permeate fluxrate during the operation time is one of the most important limiting factors in that process. It is associated to some phenomena such as the concentration polarization, the adsorption and the fouling. The Ananas comosus L. Merril is a source of bromelain enzyme (EC 3.4.22.5) with high commercial value and it is not produced in Brazil. In this work, the aim was to study the parameters that cause the reduction of the permeate flow rate in the bromelain enzyme recovering process through tangential microfiltrations of Ananas comosus juice using plane membranes and hollow fiber. Results showed that, at neutral pH, the effects of protein adsorption decreased and that the increase in pressure contributed to the fouling and enzyme denaturing.