Wine clarification fine filtration

Study on ultrafiltration of wine with ceramic membranes

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of filtration in a wine production process, specifically targeting the removal of suspended solids. A ceramic silicon carbide ultrafiltration membrane from BOLLFILTER was used to assess its ability to improve wine clarity and stability without compromising aroma or flavor profiles. To address this, we offer an innovative cross-flow ceramic membrane system designed for small to mid-sized wineries, with flow capacities ranging from 1.2 to 3.5 m³/h. The system is modular and scalable, allowing upgrades in 1.2 m³/h increments to meet the needs of larger operations.

Our ultrafiltration system is used in the clarification stage of wine production, typically after fermentation and before final filtration or bottling. It reliably removes suspended solids, yeast, and colloids, helping to stabilize the wine and improve clarity. The system uses chemically and thermally resistant ceramic membranes and is designed for easy integration into existing winery processes. Its modular design allows flexible scaling based on production volume, while automated cleaning and low maintenance requirements ensure efficient and consistent operation. The presence of sedimentation in the fermentation tank has shown no negative impact on filtration performance, highlighting the system’s robustness and reliability under real production conditions.

Upon testing our Fine Filtration Unit, we successfully addressed several challenges:

Stable filtration with consistent flux and low TMP (avg. 0.35 bar)

• High product recovery of over 95%
• No performance loss despite high turbidity and sedimentation or bentonite addition
• Particle-free permeate, suitable for direct bottling
• No membrane fouling observed during the entire test duration
• All analytical parameters within target range – no sensory degradation
• Process is scalable and reproducible under real winery conditions

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