Concentration of blackcurrant juice by reverse osmosis Original Research Article

The aim of this study was to examine the applicability of reverse osmosis (RO) for the concentration of blackcurrant juice by AFC-80 polyamide tubular membrane that has a salt rejection greater than 80%. The fresh juice had a total soluble solids content of about 16.5°Brix. The effect of centrifugation followed by depectinization with two commercially available pectinase enzyme preparations (Panzym Super E and Trenolin Rot DF) on the permeate flux has been evaluated. For the description of the concentration process, the resistance-in-series model has been used. It was concluded that the applied RO membrane is suitable for concentration of blackcurrant juice up to 28.6°Brix, which was achieved with the juice that had been treated with Panzym Super E. The total resistances were calculated and compared, taking into account membrane fouling and polarization layer resistance.