Membrane filtration of food streams: mechanisms and modelling

The mechanisms behind membrane processes such as ultrafiltration and nanofiltration are not yet completely understood when multicomponent, concentrated solutions are used as feed, as is usually the case in the food and biotechnology industry. Under concentrated conditions, the interactions between the mixture components become important and the prediction of permeate flux and rejection is not possible using currently available models. This PhD thesis reduces the gap in the understanding of these complex systems, enabling a better process design and optimization. The aim of the studies contained in this thesis is to improve the accuracy of the predictions of pressure driven filtration by implementing new concepts and descriptions that result from considering the fundamental underlying phenomena acting under realistic concentrated conditions.