Phase equilibrium and separation processes of fatty and aqueous food solutions

Abstract

This research project aims to investigate the phase equilibrium and the corresponding separation processes applied to fatty systems, which are involved in the refining of edible oils and in the manufacturing of biodiesel and partial glycerides, and to aqueous systems involved in the concentration of aroma solutions and alcoholic beverages or in the purification of biomolecules. In relation to fatty systems it would be investigated the physical refining of edible oils by computer simulation, the deacidification of crude oils by solvent extraction, including the determination of phase equilibrium data, modeling of the experimental data and deacidification in a continuous equipment; the solid-liquid equilibrium of model fatty systems and the phase equilibrium involved in the production of biodiesel and partial glycerides. Concerning to aqueous systems the intention is to determine phase equilibrium data for aqueous two-phase systems containing natural and synthetic polymers or polymer and salts, systems that are used in the purification of biomolecules, as weIl as to investigate the concentration of aroma solutions and alcoholic mixtures by distillation. The project involves experimental measurements and modeling of equilibrium data, the investigation of purification processes in batch and continuous equipments, including the evaluation of mass transfer parameters and process performance, as well as the simulation of those processes. The simultaneous investigation of various processes, in the context of a unique research project and a research group involving several researchers, may contribute to obtain economies of scope, so that the results obtained in a specific subject can benefit other topics and vice-versa, generating positive results in the productivity of the whole set of research topics. (AU)