The Use of a Submerged Microfiltration System for Regeneration and Reuse of Wastewater in a Fresh‐cut Vegetable Operation

Abstract

Abstract Wash water from a fresh‐cut vegetable processing plant was filtered using a submerged microfiltration module containing PVDF membranes. The unfiltered water and permeate were analyzed and the flux and fouling rate were monitored in an effort to find the ideal parameters for the system. The study found the system had a pure water rate of 24 L/hm2 which was reduced to 19 L/hm2 after 6 hours with cleaning, when run at 40–50 kPa. The ideal cleaning regime was found to be every 1 hour for a period of 120 seconds at 200 kPa. Keywords: Filtrationsubmerged membranesfresh‐cut vegetable wastewater