Modelling, Experimental Validation and Process Design of Forward Osmosis Process for Sugarcane Juice Concentration

Abstract The viability of the FO process for concentration of sugarcane juice by using a commercially available aquaporin embedded hollow fibre membrane module (HFFO) (active area, 2.3 m2) is presented. NaCl is used as a draw solution (DS), and the selection of suitable DS concentration, flow conditions and flow configuration are observed to be vital aspects to minimize the reverse solute flux (RSF) and energy consumption. Further, the one dimensional mathematical model for the batch and continuous FO process using HF module is developed and validated with experimental data within the error limit of 5% for water flux and RSF. Based on the flowsheet modelling, the method for establishing the optimized FO process is presented. The optimized FO flowsheet presented in this study can concentrate the sugarcane juice from 150 g L−1 to 531 g L−1 with energy consumption of 92.14 WL-1 of permeate and specific RSF = 1.57 g L−1. Further, to commercialize FO process for sugarcane juice concentration application, the selection of suitable food-grade draw solute that can provide high osmotic pressure and low RSF is a very important aspect.