Characterize the feed
Analyze fat, protein, and total solids in raw milk, skim milk, or whey.
Food & Beverage · APPLICATION GUIDE
Milk & Whey
Microbial reduction and protein concentration require different filtration approaches. Define the final product and the components to recover first.
Review selection pointsDiscuss this applicationFIELD APPLICATION & FLOW
See the application in its industrial setting.
Review product locations and fluid paths.
APPLICATION IN CONTEXT
- 1 Closed reception/storage · 2 Separation/pretreatment · 3 Dairy-UF example
- 4 Product storage and subsequent processing · 5 CIP separate from production
- The cylindrical ceramic element reference and installed housing in scene 3 are distinct.
- Reception and storage
- Separation and pretreatment
- Dairy UF · element and installed circuit
- Product storage and finishing
- CIP and process utilities
Connections to review
- 01 → 02 Feed
- 02 → 03 Skim milk or pretreated whey
- 03 → 04 Selected product outlet
- 03 → 03 Retentate recycle
- 05 → 03 CIP after production
An illustrative installed context informed by manufacturer product exteriors, not an actual product/installation photograph or piping design. Ceramic elements and installed housings are distinct; dimensions, channel counts and ports are not specifications. Confirm protein retention and lactose passage for the selected UF grade and conditions. UF alone does not guarantee a final lactose-free product. MF, NF and RO are separately selected for their purpose, not the same product or mandatory serial stages. CIP is a cleaning mode separate from production.
A conceptual illustration created to explain equipment and application locations. It is not an actual product photograph, installation photograph or piping/wiring design.
Exterior reference: PHILOS ceramic membrane photograph and selection criteria ↗
Connection principles and operating/test methods
UF · Protein concentration
FluidPermeateRetentate / return
Scroll horizontally to see the complete flow.
Concept diagram of UF concentration. Separation depends on product composition and membrane properties. UF alone does not establish that the finished product is lactose-free.
MF · Microbial-load reduction
FluidPermeateRetentate / return
Scroll horizontally to see the complete flow.
An MF example for microbial-load reduction. Check reduction performance for each feed composition, membrane, and operating condition, together with subsequent heat treatment. The permeate is the treated liquid; microbes and particles concentrate in the retentate.
NF · Concentration and partial demineralization
FluidPermeateRetentate / return
Scroll horizontally to see the complete flow.
Salt passage and retention depend on ion type, membrane, and feed conditions. Retained components concentrate in the retentate. Confirm actual selectivity and cleanability through testing.
RO · Water removal
FluidPermeateRetentate / return
Scroll horizontally to see the complete flow.
An example of RO concentration. Review osmotic pressure, maximum concentration, and membrane fouling using the actual feed.
These conceptual views explain flow direction. Actual piping, wiring and physical flow rates require a separate design.
01 — PROCESS
Where does each step fit?
Define the intended use and conditions to identify the required role of each item.
Select membrane separation by objective
Evaluate MF, UF, NF, and RO for microbial reduction, protein fractionation and concentration, or water removal.
Verify the finished product
Assess composition, microbiology, and storage stability in conjunction with downstream heat treatment, blending, and filling.
02 — SELECTION
What should be selected and verified?
First distinguish whether the aim is to reduce the microbial load in drinking milk, recover whey proteins, or adjust the composition of lactose and minerals. Rather than filtering all raw milk under the same conditions, check whether it is skimmed and determine its fat and protein content.
Scroll horizontally to review all columns.
| Process objective | Step to review | Selection evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Microbial load reduction | MF suitability | Microbial reduction performance with the actual feed, such as skim milk; temperature and membrane fouling |
| Protein concentration | UF / DF | Recovery, lactose and mineral passage, and target protein concentration |
| Component fractionation | MF or UF combinations | Selectivity for casein and whey proteins; composition of each fraction |
| Concentration and partial demineralization | RO / NF | Salt rejection, osmotic pressure, concentration limits, and cleanability |
These examples start the application review. Pore size or nominal rating alone does not establish suitability or retention; confirm with the actual process fluid and supplier evidence.
03 — OPERATING CHECKS
Use operating data to identify improvements.
If flow drops rapidly
Record permeate flux and transmembrane pressure (TMP) together over time. Before increasing pressure, compare feed temperature, protein deposition, and recovery after cleaning.
Taste and composition are acceptance criteria too
Combine fat, protein, and lactose analysis with sensory evaluation. Even when filtration reduces microorganisms, downstream recontamination and distribution conditions require separate controls.
Include cleaning when assessing productivity
Include CIP time, chemical consumption, membrane life, and conditions for reuse in the assessment of batch processing time.
04 — QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Does UF alone produce lactose-free milk?
Lactose passes into the permeate in many UF processes, but the residual amount depends on the process. Design the full process, including DF, enzyme treatment, and blending as appropriate, and analyze lactose in the finished product.
Does MF replace heat treatment?
It does not automatically replace it. Consider the product type, microbial risk, process validation, and applicable manufacturing requirements together.
05 — APPLICATION REVIEW
Prepare the conditions for a technical discussion.
These details help narrow the configuration and the evidence to review.
- Feed type; fat, protein, and total solids
- Hourly throughput and target concentration factor
- Target components and microbial levels
- Operating temperature and CIP conditions
- Current membrane format, area, and changes in flow
MANUFACTURER PRODUCTS
Explore product applications and their official sources.
Confirm model suitability and supply scope through a technical review. Use each card to make an enquiry or review official manufacturer information.
Detail photograph of the Megaflux-CRM ceramic membrane family. Confirm the dairy-UF grade/MWCO and actual supplied configuration separately.
PHILOS
Megaflux-CRM · dairy-UF application review
A ceramic-membrane family to evaluate for the UF stage of lactose-free milk production. Confirm the dairy-UF grade/MWCO, protein retention and lactose passage, required later steps and final residual lactose.
Enquire about this productOfficial manufacturer product information ↗Manufacturer dairy-UF application article ↗Product photographs and manufacturer images use permitted official materials and source links. Original explanatory schematics are identified separately from actual product photographs.