Ultrafiltration for recovery of rice protein: Fouling analysis and technical assessment

This research focused on the rice protein recovery from rice starch production wastewater by ultrafiltration. The effect of operating pressure was performed at different feed pressure from 2 to 10 bar. The suitable condition was chosen based on permeate flux; retention of protein, carbohydrate, reducing sugar, total dissolved solids (TDS); and purity of protein. The operating pressure of 6 and 8 bar was selected to conduct the study of batch operation mode with recycling of retentate. The permeate flux was highest at 6 bar, while the recovery yield and purity of protein reached a peak at 8 bar. Hermia's models were applied to analyze the fouling mechanisms in ultrafiltration (UF) of rice protein. Cake layer formation and intermediate blocking were found to occur during the UF depending on the operating pressure. The model developed in fouling analysis was used to estimate the change in component content in rice protein refinery. As result, the excellent agreement between the experimental and the model-simulated values for the solute concentrations in feed at various times of the UF operation was observed. Results indicate that UF is a potential technique for recovering rice protein.

Automated summary

This research focused on the recovery of rice protein from rice starch production wastewater using ultrafiltration. The suitable operating pressure was determined at 6 and 8 bar, with the highest permeate flux observed at 6 bar and the peak recovery yield and purity of protein at 8 bar. Model analysis revealed the fouling mechanisms in ultrafiltration, indicating that UF is a potential technique for recovering rice protein with excellent agreement between experimental and model-simulated values.