Method for highly concentrating aqueous solutions

• Main Authors: Scholz, Reinhard, van Beek, Timo, van Esch, Jan A. M. V
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 24.08.2021
• Subjects: DAIRY PRODUCTS, e.g. MILK, BUTTER, CHEESE; FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; MAKING THEREOF; MILK OR CHEESE SUBSTITUTES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; SEPARATION; THEIR TREATMENT, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES; TRANSPORTING

A method for highly concentrating aqueous solutions containing thermally sensitive organic constituents and with or without mineral constituents, wherein firstly, a major portion of the water is extracted by membrane filtration from the solution for pre-concentration and is discharged from the process and the solution which is pre-concentrated is then subjected to a freeze concentration procedure, in which, in the form of separated ice crystallisate, further water is extracted from the solution. To promote results, that concentration may be effected in the freeze concentration procedure until a viscosity of the mother solution of at least 0.0002 m2/s is achieved, and in that the separated ice crystallisate from the freeze concentration with the mother solution adhering thereto as a suspension is returned to the membrane filtration upstream of the membrane filtration or after melting of the ice crystallisate.