Reduction of the losses in citric acid and related side streams, to improve the functional properties of co-products and to conceptualize a more sustainable downstream process

2018 - 2021
1 762 892

VITO's role

Improvement of betaine over dry matter ratio of one of the existing co-products coming from the production of citric acid by using two different membrane technologies: nanofiltration and electrodialysis. Extensive laboratory studies and pilot demonstrations.


Abstract

The overall goal of Citrique Belge is to use separation techniques (i) to reduce the losses of citric acid in the by-products, (ii) to improve the functional properties of the by-product Citrocol, and (iii) to achieve more sustainable downstream processing. This requires a thorough and substantiated redesign of the current FaB processes. This project must generate the necessary knowledge that such restructuration will enable in the long term. The major impact of these changes on the current process, infrastructure and quality of the new co-products immediately indicates the challenging nature of this project proposal.