Downstream processing

Separation technology

How to get your valuable product out of your process or waste stream? At NIZO food research, we have a broad range of food grade, scalable separation technologies like membrane filtration, pervaporation and chromatography.

Membrane filtration

Membrane filtration’s mild processing conditions guarantee retention or even enhancement of functional product properties. We are currently developing a micro-scale, universal membrane filtration unit that will enable you to test and functionally compare membranes from different suppliers. NIZO also has equipment and expertise in the complete range of pressure-driven membrane filtration techniques (microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis) at both lab and pilot scale. We are therefore well suited to be your partner in the design of new membrane filtration processes for innovative products.

Pervaporation

Pervaporation is a membrane separation process involving partial vaporization of a liquid mixture through a non-porous, permeability-selective membrane. Pervaporation is low in energy consumption and provides a mild processing environment (no solvents, low temperatures and pressures), and is therefore a good alternative to the traditional thermal or solvent-related isolation techniques.

Chromatography

NIZO food research can provide in-house isolation and purification at kg-level of high value biological components like proteins, peptides, amino acids, (oligo)saccharides, (iso)flavonoids, and a range of other bioactive ingredients. Designing and scaling up of chromatography from lab (ml range) to pilot plant scale (200 l) can be facilitated.