Ionic regulation whey protein composition on membrane fouling during ultrafiltration process analyzed by HPLC

Area of Science:

• Membrane science and technology
• Biochemical engineering
• Separation processes

Background:

• Membrane fouling increases operational costs and reduces efficiency in ultrafiltration.
• Controlling protein deposition on membranes is crucial for sustainable ultrafiltration processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the dynamic regulation of ions during ultrafiltration to mitigate membrane fouling.
• To understand the effect of ion addition on membrane surface protein composition and fouling resistance.

Main Methods:

• Ultrafiltration of whey protein solutions with controlled addition of Na+, Zn2+, and K+ ions at specific time points.
• Analysis of membrane surface protein composition using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
• Monitoring of membrane flux decline and post-filtration ion concentrations.

Main Results:

• Continuous ion regulation (Na+, Zn2+, K+) significantly slowed membrane flux decline.
• Reduced adsorption of α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin A, and β-lactoglobulin B on the membrane surface.
• Minimized irreversible membrane fouling caused by protein cake resistance.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic ionic regulation is a simple and effective strategy to control protein fouling during whey ultrafiltration.
• This approach offers a technical basis for optimizing membrane technology and reducing operational expenses.