Microfiltration of wheat starch suspensions using multichannel ceramic membrane

This work investigates the influence of different process parameters such as transmembrane pressure, flow rate and concentration of wheat starch suspension on the average permeate flux and permeate flux decline. The membrane used in all the experiments was 19 channels ceramic membrane with 0.2 mu m pore size. Experimental results were analyzed using response surface methodology. It was observed that the significant average permeate flux enhancement of 200% was achieved by the increase of the transmembrane pressure, while the increase of flow rate and concentration affected the increase in average permeate flux in the range of 40-100%. Permeate flux decline was almost independent of the transmembrane pressure, but the increase of the flow rate, as well as the decrease of the concentration led to a decrease of permeate flux decline in the range of 20-50%.