Learn about forward osmosis technology

CSIRO and Porifera will present a showcase of forward osmosis (FO) technology at the CSIRO’s food innovation centre in Werribee, Victoria.

FO is a membrane filtration technology where a net movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane is driven by differences in osmotic pressure. FO works differently to hydraulic pressure used in other membrane processes. Dewatering using FO results in a significant reduction in the use of energy compared to current methods such as evaporation, resulting in lower operating costs and retention of volatile flavour components. As a result, FO maintains aroma properties and improved sensory, physical and functional properties of products better than other technologies.

Attendees will learn about the technology and its laboratory-scale proof-of-concept applications for dairy fluids and fruit and vegetable extracts and hear a preliminary cost-benefit analysis comparing FO and evaporation to concentrate milk.

There will be a demonstration of FO at pilot scale to concentrate milk and at laboratory scale to concentrate vegetable juice and the opportunity to inspect a commercial FO scale unit configuration, and hear details of scaling up technology.

For more information, click here.