Rest beer filtration with ceramic membranes

By using ceramic membranes in the beer production, higher yield can be achieved. Removal of yeast cell from rest beer

Preferred type of beer should always tast exactly the same

Beer is a versatile consumer product. Unlike wine, whose taste depends not only on the climatic conditions of the particular vintage, consumers expect their preferred type of beer to always taste exactly the same. To ensure this stability over the long term, breweries all over the world have been working with mechanical separation technology for generations. Waste-free filtration with ceramic membranes is becoming increasingly important and has already proven its advantages in beer recovery.

Advantages of atech ceramic membranes in rest beer filtration

  • Removal of yeast cell from rest beer
  • More efficient beer production
  • Increase in yield
  • High reliability under difficult operating conditions
  • Long service life, high sustainability
  • Energy and cost savings
  • Constant process stability
  • Low operating costs

Microfiltration with atech ceramic membranes can increase total beer production

Membrane filtration is a process using pressure to separate particulate matter from soluble components in feed water.  Membranes act as semi-permeable barriers that allow particles to be captured or pass through, based on the pore size. Suspended solids and dissolved substances of high molecular weight in feed water are retained by the membrane, while water and low molecular weight substances pass through the membrane as product water.

  • Microfiltration can increase the total beer production by 1 - 1.5 %.
  • Up to 50 % of the filtered rest beer can be returned to the main beer stream.
  • VCF (Volume Concentration Factor) = 2
  • Membrane material is absolutely food-neutral
  • Can be regenerated at any time in the filtration system

Specifications

Channel Diameter (mm) Pore size Permeate performance (l/m²h) Temperature TMP Velocity in channel (m/s)
6 - 8 MF approx. 20-30 (depending on pollution level) <5 °C <41 °F approx. 1,5 – 3 bar approx. 21,7 - 43,5 PSI approx. 4 - 6
Left: raw residual beer, Right: filtered permeate

Comparison of beer quality before and after filtration

Comparison of beer quality: raw rest beer on the left, filtered permeate on the right

Advantages and added value for the customer:

  • The ceramic membranes are capable of treating rest beer in a stable long-term operation and the membranes were successfully regenerated.
  • Cleaning intervals were able to keep the FLUX value constant over a long period of time.
  • The ceramic membranes are chemical resistance – ready for use in a range between 0 – 14.