Novel PVDF hollow-fiber membranes for the recovery of valuable compounds from pomegranate juice

Polyvinylidenfluoride (PVDF) hollow fibers were prepared by the dry/wet spinning technique, as described elsewhere. The effect of the composition and injection rate of the bore fluid on the morphology and properties of the prepared membranes was investigated. The produced fibres were used to clarify the raw pomegranate juice in order to preserve some high-added value compounds, such as anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds, and to produce a clarified fraction suitable for further purification/concentration processes. The idea was to tailor the morphological characteristics (i.e. structure, pore size, porosity, etc.) of the prepared membranes for evaluating the possibility of producing fractions of interest for cosmeceutical and/or nutraceutical applications (fortification of food and beverages). The pomegranate juice (Punica granatum L.) has been chosen due to its significant anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-inflammatory activities. All these activities can be attributed to its remarkably high antioxidant capacity which is correlated to the presence of different phenolic compounds including gallagyl-type tannins, ellagic acid derivatives and anthocyanins. The produced hollow-fibers were characterized for evaluate their performance by water permeability (PWP), fouling index and rejection (R) towards compounds of interest.