Ceramic Membrane Filtration for Fermented Malt Beverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cross-flow filtration using ceramic membrane filters in fermented malt beverage production experiences a rapid increase in transmembrane pressure when silica xerogel with low drying loss is added, making long-term filtration operations challenging.

Innovation Solution

The method involves cross-flow filtering a fermented liquid containing malt through a monolithic ceramic membrane filter with a pore size of 0.5 µm or less, using silica gel with a drying loss of 10% or less, and maintaining a transmembrane pressure of 0.6 MPa or less, allowing for continuous filtration for 3 hours or more without additional disinfection or sterilization treatments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If silica xerogel with low drying loss is added as a stabilizer to fermented liquid, then stabilizing effect is improved, but transmembrane pressure increases rapidly making long-term filtration difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestabilizing effectVSAvoidfiltration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pore size parameter of the ceramic membrane filter to 0.5 μm or less, which is a specific parameter adjustment that resolves the contradiction between stabilizing effect and filtration duration. This parameter change allows the system to maintain effective stabilization while preventing rapid TMP increase during long-term filtration operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If ceramic membrane filter with small pore size is used, then filtration precision is improved, but permeation flux decreases making long-term operation difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration precisionVSAvoidpermeation flux
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies a pore size of 0.5 μm or less for the ceramic membrane filter, which is a critical parameter change that simultaneously achieves high filtration precision and maintains adequate permeation flux for long-term operations. This specific parameter value resolves the contradiction between precision and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If cross-flow filtration is performed through ceramic membrane filter, then filtration efficiency is improved, but transmembrane pressure increases rapidly requiring frequent maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidoperational continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a ceramic membrane filter with pore size of 0.5 μm or less, which is a parameter change that maintains high filtration efficiency while preventing rapid TMP increase. This enables continuous operation for 3 hours or more without additional disinfection or sterilization, thereby improving operational continuity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach effectively suppresses the rapid increase in transmembrane pressure, enabling a long-term filtration operation while maintaining the quality and filterability of the fermented malt beverage.

Implementation Method 1

cross-flow filtering a fermented liquid containing malt as a raw material through a monolithic ceramic membrane filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCross-flow filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

allowing the fermented liquid to permeate through at least one of the monolithic ceramic membrane filters

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 3

silica gel, polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) or the like is generally used as a stabilizer in order to adsorb and remove causative substances of turbidity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3909671B1Production method for fermented malt beverage
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 NGK FILTECH
  • EP3909671B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3909671B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3909671B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provide is a method of producing a fermented malt beverage, which includes a cross-flow filtration step using a ceramic membrane filter, contains silica xerogel in a fermented liquid, suppresses a rapid increase in transmembrane pressure, and enables a long-term filtration operation. The method of producing a fermented malt beverage, which includes cross-flow filtering a fermented liquid containing malt as a raw material. In this production method, the cross-flow filtration is performed through a monolithic ceramic membrane filter disposed apart from a flow path of the fermented liquid, including a slit having an opening in its side surface, and having a membrane pore size of 0.5 µm or less. The fermented liquid contains silica gel having a drying loss of 10% or less.