Separation of whey components by using ceramic composite membranes

Ceramic supports were prepared from alumina powder and dip-coated with zirconia sol. The ceramic composite membranes prepared were characterized with respect to their microstructure/pore structures. The supports were 40% porous of which 87% were open pores. The average particle size of the sol particles was 35 nm. The prepared membrane has good protein lactose separation properties with a relatively high protein content (PR similar to 80%) and with relatively low lactose retention (LR similar to 7%). The permeate flux value was around 40 l/m(2)h. These results indicate the possibility of the preparation of ceramic composite membranes for separation of whey components with higher yields.