A new integrated membrane process for producing clarified apple juice and apple juice aroma concentrate

An integrated membrane process for producing apple juice and apple juice aroma concentrates is proposed. The process involves the following operations: an integrated membrane reactor to clarify the raw juice; reverse osmosis (RO) to preconcentrate the juice up to 25°Brix; pervaporation (PV) to recover and concentrate aroma compounds, and a final evaporation step to concentrate apple juice up to 72°Brix. These operations were tested in laboratory and pilot plant units. Promising results were obtained with the membrane operations involved. In order to have an economic process assessment, the pilot plant units were assembled into an integrated unit and operated with raw apple juice. The products were more clear and brilliant than apple juice produced by conventional methods. The integrated membrane process also seemed to be more advantageous on the basis of economics than the conventional one.