Reusable Microfiltration Apparatus in Mineral Water Production

Currently, Mineral Water Bottling Enterprises use disposable paper filters containing asbestos for the filtration of mineral waters, which is medically unacceptable.The aim of this study was to examine the filtration quality, the performance of a membrane apparatus developed by us, and the regularities of filtrate volume reduction during the filtration of mineral waters (Borjomi, Nabeghlavi, Kokotauri).In our filtration apparatus, a fluoroplastic membrane was used, which is approved for use in food technology and medicine.Through modification, a membrane with pore sizes ensuring the disinfection of mineral waters during filtration was obtained.The composition, concentrations, and technological regimes of regeneration solutions for the membranes were determined, making it possible to reuse the microfiltration apparatus multiple times, thereby reducing the cost of mineral water filtration.Analysis results confirmed that the filtrate does not contain suspended or undissolved substances and is characterized by clarity and transparency.The initial ion composition of the mineral waters is fully preserved after filtration.