Membranes for the Downstreaming of Lactic Acid from Grain

Abstract

In addition to lactic acid, which is present as sodium lactate, the reaction mixture which results from the production of lactic acid from grain hydrolysates through fermentation contains impurities which must be removed depending on the kind of product and the purity requirements it must fulfill. Membrane techniques are increasingly being used as an alternative to conventional methods. Nanofiltration in the form of diafiltration and electrodialysis count among these techniques. They not only allow uncharged components, such as sugar and proteins, but also foreign ions, such as chloride ions, to be removed from the target product.