Ceramic Membranes for Citrus Fruit Juice Clarification: A Systematic Review

Membrane separation processes are becoming a significant part of fruit juice processing industries because of their excellent selectivity, absence of thermal and chemical treatments, and energy efficiency. Specifically, the applicability of ceramic membranes in citrus fruit juice clarification is more promising as they are highly stable in a corrosive environment and have a longer lifetime. However, ceramic membranes are costlier than polymeric membranes due to the high cost of raw materials. Therefore, numerous alternative low-cost precursors for making the ceramic membrane are being utilized. Accordingly, the current review is focused on the different low-cost raw materials and various fabrication methods to synthesize different ceramic membranes. Further, the ceramic membrane's application in fruit juice clarification is intensely discussed. In any membrane separation process, fouling is an unavoidable constraint. In the current review, various mechanisms involved in fouling are emphasized in detail. In addition, a variety of techniques to reduce fouling are extensively deliberated. Furthermore, ceramic membranes' challenges and future perspectives for further development are also systematically highlighted.