Following coarse filtration with pilot plate and frame filter and clarification with high-capacity (up to 200 l/h) continuous centrifuge, for removal of unreacted solids, BBRI1 holds 3 pilot-scale membrane systems to proceed with product recovery and purification from fermentation broths:

• Ultrafiltration– tailor-made with 2 membrane holders, operating up to 400 L/h; tubular ceramic membranes with 300, 15 or 5 kDa-MWCO are available;
• Nanofiltration/reverse osmosis – tailor-made, operating up to 400L/h; polyamide composite membranes NF270-2540 or BW30-2540 are available;
• Pervaporation – OneD-Pervaporation Pilot (ORELIS), providing a permeation flowrate up to 0.55 kg/h; tubular hydrophilic ceramic membrane (Hybsi®) or spiral-wound polymeric membrane module (PERVATECH®’s SR-1 2520) with organophilic PDMS separation layer are available.

A pilot distillation unit is available for ethanol or higher alcohols recovery.