Integrated membrane processes for the concentration of tomato juice Original Research Article

The results of preliminary experiments for the production of new tomato juices based on the introduction of a microfiltration (MF) stage before the reverse osmosis (RO) stage are reported. Ceramic multichannel membranes with an average pore size in the micrometer tenths were used in the MF stage to obtain a clarified serum to be concentrated by RO and a concentrated pulp to be used for remixing with the RO concentrate, in order to formulate new tomato juices. High temperature and pressure resistant spiral-wound RO membranes were used to concentrate the clarified serum up to 14–15 Brix with permeate fluxes around 20 L/m2h..