Membrane ultrafiltration of crude soybean oil

In the present work, it is evaluated the influence of temperature and transmembrane pressure on the crude soybean oil permeate flux through a ceramic tubular membrane (pore size 0.01 µm) and a polysulphone hollow fiber membrane (pore size 100 KDa). Temperatures and pressures values are 50, 60 and 70°C, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 bar, for the ceramic membrane; 50, 60 and 70°C, 0.7 and 1.4 bar, for the polysulphone one. Furthermore, it is also verified some physical properties of the permeate.

Analysis Feed concent. Permeate concent. R, % Analysis FFA, % Soaps, ppm Phosphorus, ppm Chlorophyll, ppm Color 0.80 463.32 0.882 50Y 5.0R 0.36 3.97 0.685 35Y 3.5R 54.45 97.91 99.14 22.34 42.00 FFA, % 0.855 Soaps, ppm Phosphorus, ppm 646 Chlorophyll, ppm 1.10 Color 72Y 5.2R Feed concent.