Microfiltration of Corn Starch Hydrolysate Using Ceramic Membranes

Abstract

A microfiltration membrane plant was designed for clarification of 500 gallons per minute (113.6 m$\sp3$/hour) of corn starch hydrolysate based on the process model and various capital and operating costs. The optimum membrane plant would have two feed-and-bleed stages with a total area of 883.2 m$\sp2,$ both stages having equal area. Total capital cost of the ceramic membrane plant, including CIP (clean-in-place) system would be $2.08 million, with operating costs of \$517,408/year. In contrast, operating costs for rotary vacuum precoat filtration, which uses diatomaceous earth as a filter aid, would be $1.8 million per year.