Application of pervaporation and osmotic membrane distillation to the regeneration of spent solutions from the osmotic food dehydration

Results of pervaporation (PV) of sucrose and calcium chloride spent solutions were presented. Additionally, osmotic membrane distillation (OMD) of sucrose solutions was investigated. It was found that the regeneration of spent sucrose solution for the reuse is possible by using PV or OMD processes. However, OMD process produces another spent stream i.e. CaCl₂. Pervaporation membranes showed fluxes in the range of 0.5 - 0.9 kg m^-2 h^-1 in contact with 40° Brix sucrose solution, whereas OMD water permeate fluxes were in the range of 4 - 5 kg m^-2 h^-1 for the same feed concentration.

Two different hybrid processes were suggested: i) pretreatment followed by OMD reconcentration of spent sucrose solution and independently PV for CaCl₂ regeneration; ii) membrane pretreatment (MP) followed by PV of sucrose solution. Based on the experimental results, the membrane areas for both systems were calculated and compared. MP-PV system seems to be a better solution for the spent mixtures management.