Ceramic ultrafiltration membrane is a new type of membrane separation technology, generally made of porous ceramic film. It features small pore sizes, high flux, acid and alkali resistance, high-temperature tolerance, long service life, among other advantages. Its operation principle is simple, as it achieves material separation and purification based on the pressure differential across the membrane. Hence, ceramic ultrafiltration membranes can be widely used in the production processes in the food, pharmaceutical, and health care industries, and can also provide environmentally friendly treatment technologies for certain industrial wastewater.
The small pore size of ceramic ultrafiltration membranes enables them to separate and remove suspended particles and solid impurities from solutions, and effectively retain organic compounds, heavy metal ions, bacteria, and microorganisms. Due to their strong chemical stability, they are resistant to acids and alkalis, can withstand high temperatures, and are not easily corroded by acidic or alkaline substances. They also resist scaling and have a long service life, resulting in relatively low maintenance and cleaning burdens. The operation of ceramic ultrafiltration membranes generally does not require thermal energy or chemical reactions, making it a filtration technology that can operate under ambient physical conditions. Therefore, in industrial wastewater treatment, they pose a low risk of generating new pollutants, virtually eliminating secondary pollution and boasting outstanding environmental performance.
In the juice production sector, ceramic ultrafiltration membranes are often used to filter and separate pulp, pectin, bacteria, and microorganisms from juice, thus extending the juice's shelf life and reducing the likelihood of spoilage during the sales period. Their application can eliminate the traditional high-temperature sterilization step in juice production, significantly benefiting the retention of vitamins, iron, zinc, and other nutritional elements and minerals in the juice.
When used for biological fermentation liquid filtration, ceramic ultrafiltration membranes can fully separate soluble organic compounds and inorganic salts, enhancing the concentration of target products in the biological fermentation liquid and reducing impurity interference in the extraction quality. This, in turn, improves product quality, addresses the insufficient solvent extraction issue, reduces pollution risks, and stabilizes operation, thereby enhancing economic benefits for enterprises.
The long-term impact of ceramic ultrafiltration membrane technology on the pharmaceutical industry is profound and positive, enhancing wastewater treatment efficiency and quality while promoting the industry's sustainable development.
Improving Resource Recycling Rate
Ceramic ultrafiltration membranes can effectively separate fine suspended particles, macromolecular organic compounds, and certain microorganisms from pharmaceutical wastewater, achieving high-standard purification and improving water resource reuse rates. This reduces the consumption of fresh water resources and alleviates the environmental pressure caused by the discharge of untreated or partially treated wastewater, aligning with the development concept of a green circular economy.
Reducing Pollutant Emission
Through its refined filtration mechanism, ceramic ultrafiltration membranes can effectively remove harmful substances from wastewater, including drug residues and heavy metal ions, significantly reducing the pollutant content in the final discharge water, mitigating the damage to natural aquatic ecosystems, protecting biodiversity, and promoting harmonious coexistence with the environment.
Lowering Energy Consumption and Carbon Footprint
Compared with some traditional wastewater treatment processes requiring high temperatures, high pressure, or large amounts of chemical agents, ceramic ultrafiltration membrane technology usually operates under mild conditions with lower energy consumption. This helps reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the production process, aligning with the global trend of carbon reduction and emission reductions, and is important for achieving carbon neutrality goals in the pharmaceutical industry.
In summary, ceramic ultrafiltration membranes possess great development prospects as a membrane separation technology, bringing numerous conveniences to production activities and high promotion value.